The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-14

felt ass Sd public loss in every quarter
of our vast country, and by persons OF
every shade of political opinion Aside
from the purely personal ceiling Of
grief. il is easy 10 imagine a state Il
affairs in which the tragic death of the
Nations Chief Executive might be
fraught with disaster to the Republic
Fortunately no such condition CON
fronts us now. There is not "a cause
for serious trouble To be discerned IN
either the political or the business sky
Opinions. of course, differ concerning
certain features Of our national policy.
but there is no proposition anywhere
for such a change as need alarm even
the most umorous.
The questions involved in our foreign
policy are not of such character that a
change would be likely 10 have any i'm
mediate effect upon business either
good or bad; while the home problems
affecting our industrial life must, in
the nature of things. be treated with
g fair degree of conservatism. which
ever party happens to be in power. At
this time. however. the death of the
whatever II is hardly to be supposed
that Mr.. Roosevelt thinks exactly as
Mr.. Mckinley did in all matters per
tanning to the administration Of the
Government That would be uunatu-
raj But the new President is Of the
same party faith as his predecess. r..
and no doubt is in fun accord with
the general policy Of the party which
elected both This is in no sense a one
man Government, and the incoming
Executive would not be able to depart
very far from the policy Of his party
even If he desired TO. Of which desire
no evidence has been given. The
change is mainly a personal one and
there is no reason why it should give
the slightest jar TO business.
This is written in view Of the report
from New York that stocks broke vio-
lently upon the news Of Mr.. McKinley's
relapse. which suggests the possibility
of something more serious as a result
of his death. There is no occasion for
the slightest furry of financial excite
ment in Wall Street Any break in
prices is necessarily the result Of pure
" sentimental considerations. The
prices Of the stocks are largely specu-
lative and even trivial causes affecting
the judgment and confidence Of opera
tors wiz have an effect But il is
difficult 10 see Why any intelligent
business man should lose his head at
this time. II the Presidents death Sc
riously disturbs the finances OF Wall
Street, ii viii lead many to believe that
the monetary and business situation is
less secure than il has been supposed
10 be. 1t would tend To shake public
confidence in the permanent and sub
stantial character OF our present pros
peTity-
The sober thought Of the country's
greatest financial centre owes il To the
people as a body hat the business stu
alton be kept well in hand. end every
thing If a panicky tendency be check
ed IN its first stages. The grief which
the whole nation feels over the death
Of the President should not BE- agra
waited by the anxiety and distress
which ALWAYS result from serious fin
ancIal troubles in New York. 1t is said
that the clearing house committee and
the associated banks have a firm grip
upon the situation. and it is earnestly
10 be hoped that the statement is true.
= strike Settlement Hoped For.
On the assurance that if he appeared
at the offices Of the Steel Trust in New
York the officials Of the combination
would not refuse TO receive him and
in the belief that the terms offered by
President Schwab 20 M G0mpers some
days ago were stlI open. President
Shaner left Pittsburg for tn metropo-
lis last night, and TO-DAY is no doubt
in conference with the parties u the
other part.
The dispatches from the strike cen
tire convey the idea that Mr.. ShaTar
started with some hope Of being able
to secure a settlement more favorable
to the Amalgamated Association than
tEat involved in tho latest oher. but il
is also stated that he went prepared 10
accept the best he could secure. II IS
improbable that in present cIrcum-
stances, President Schwab would make
any concessions other than he has pro-
posed already. In any event. il is pre-
dicted in Pittsburg that the strike viii
be called off and that the strikers VIII
return 20 work within the next forty
eight hours.
In this hour Of "a great peoples uni
versaI sorrow, strife and contention are
out Of place II is no time for disor-
der and incipieut rioting such as we
have seen in Pittsburr and at M-Ke-s-
port The trust officials and the strik-
ers in common owe it 10 themselves and
TO the country To- get together and
compose their differences. even if in
So doing each side must sacrifice some
thing Of pride. The steel strike has
seriously affected business conditions
Throughout the country. The assassi-
nation Of the President threatens them
with further mischief If not disaster
unless all classes and interests shall
see the menace of existing conditions
and work together 10 avert danger. We
trust that this thought will occur
strongly To the negotiatuIs in New
York today. and that the result OF their
conference may be immediate indus
trial peace and activity in the strike
region.
Agriculture the Bnsic Industry.
The total money value Of the coun-
try's agricultural products is far less