The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1898-11-07
1 BUSINESS MANS CAMPAIGN

uQdA AZ w.
merce or manufacturing knows this
to be the case. Our demands in the
treaty negotiations with Spain have
been outlined. 1t is unlikely that the
defeated power can exert any in
fluence to modify them materially.
What will be the results upon the
business of the country and how far
can they be affected favorably or
unfavorably by the election next
Tuesday? The inquiry is one of un-
usual Importance. Under the pres
sureof daily affairs business men
often forget the bearing of elections
upon the course OF trade and in
dustry. Yet they are aware that
periods of depression and prosperity
have intimate relations with parties,
platforms, administrations, treaties
and legislative measures. Occasion
ally campaign is of extraordinary
moment to the business world. That
can be said of the campaign of 1896,
involving the value of the dollar used
by 7O,OOO,OOO people. The currency
issue figures to a threatening extent
in the present contest, but to it has
been added one that is-Aew and re
markable in every sense of the word.
1t is territorial and commercial ex-
pansion.
The Philippines, whose full posses
sion we have asked, have at least a
population of 100000. Porto Rico
and Hawaii. already ours, contain
100000 inhabitants. Cuba, with
100000 people, may not be an
nexed at once, but it Will be under
our military authority for an in
definite period, its ports and custom
houses in our hands, and its COM
merce regulated on a basis making
the United States a preferred nation.
Here are new customers numbering
1O,50O,0OO, all to be under our flag
next year, the most of them per
mauently. 1t is no stretch of Ian
guage to call this an extraordinary
political issue. Business men may
ask how their votes apply to it. The
answer is intimately, vitality. 1t will
make an immense difference whether
the congress to be elected next week
co-operates smoothly and cordially
with President Mckinley and the
state department, or is in the opposi-
ton, with all of strife and obstruc-
tion that would imply in the partisan
sense With Democratic speaker
in the house, and Democratic COM
mittees to originate revenue bills, the
president would be hampered to such
an extent that the whole process of
expansion would he confused and
halted.
Business men are averse to dead
locks in their own vocations. The
law of business is activity and con-
certed action. The president be-
yond question will be backed up by
Republican senate after March 4th.
With the house also Republican The
government will be In effective shape
to deal with every feature of new
era, one differing in certain respects
from any preceding it. By casting a
Republican vote next Tuesday the
business man approves the enlarge
ment of his field of trade, supports a
congress in harmony with the presi-
dent, and helps to end the debased
money movement which, unless dis
couraged now, will come up again in
1900 to unsettle confidence and
paralyze new enterprises. Business
men are practical men. If they give
this subject any thought they cannot
fail to see that the election of 1898 is
one of the greatest consequence to
them. 1t is hard to believe that they
can be indifferent, or that their votes
will be antagonlstlc to a president