Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-07-31

uufmg the hard times enable people
to have some cash ahead; then plung-
ing, going in debt, gambling, panic
same old round
Has our prosperity reached the flood
and is 1t on the ebb? It seems SO.
Even the Globe Democrat confesses to
one sign, as follows:
Contrary TO the general expectation of
six months ago, the railway construction
OF the past half year has not equaled that
Of the corresponding time in 1902. Last
years record for the half year was 2,3l
miles. This year the figures are 2.21
miles The falling off is not great, but
the fact that there has been any falling
of was unexpected, and 1t naturally will
create surprise. The earnings Of the rail-
roads of the country thus far In 1903 have
exceeded those of the same time last year.
In most Of the country's great activities
there has been an expansion.
OF course everybody worthy Of
American citizenship hopes and prays
most fervently that the remarkable
prosperity we are now enjoying may
continue forever, but nobody that has
any sense believes that it will con-
voiced the universal experience of the
human race when he exclaimed, II
have but one lamp by which to be
guided, and that is the lamp Of ex-
perience."
AS he was leaving for Europe the
other day the great Chicago merchant
prince, Marshall Field, gave it as his
opinion that we have reached the high
est point in our prosperity, that bust
ton and that unless the greatest pru-
dence and conservatism prevail there
Is liable to be tremendous smash up.
For making that statement the Globe
Democrat jumps on him in this fash
ion: "In the opinion of Marshall Field
| the top notch has been reached by Cen
eral Prosperity. Mr.. Field will find no
immediate market for his pessimism."
That's awfully tough on Marshall
Field. Hon. Thomas Bracket Reed, in
letter which received from him
shortly before his death, said, "The
wisdom Of the world is to shout with
the majority proposition upon
| which the CD. acts. 1t seems to think
that Marshall Field, who has brains
enough to make millions and who has
very large investments, desires panic
because he gives it as his opinion that
"the top notch has been reached by
General Prosperity" Wonder If the
GID. thinks Noah desired the food be-
cause he predicted it? Has the CD.
forgotten what happened to those wise
acres who scoffed at Noah and his pre-
dictions?
A Confidence Game.
), My good friend, DR.. Richard Bar.
tholdt, representative in congress from
st. Louis, is certainly the Mark Tapley
Of American politics. He is always
cheerful, always hopeful, always ready
to speak an inspiring word to Repub.
licans who are doubtful or in the
dumps. Recently, in fine burst of con-
fdence. DR.. Bartholdt Informed Pres
ident Roosevelt that the Republicans
will probably carry Missouri next year.
What the president said in reply has
not yet been communicated to an eager
world No doubt the doctor was sin
cere. For generation the Republicans
have been blowing around to the effect
that they will carry Missouri next
time" Walloping them does not cure
them Of that wild haliucination. Bar
tholdt has 1t bad, owing to his environ.
ments. His district has some 10000
Republican majority. think he claim
ed once that it contains 10000 major
ity. So that, when in his own bailiwick,
he sees few but Republicans. He knows
little Of the splendid rural population of
Missouri, where Democrats abound. In
truth, the doctor draws general con-
clusion from too few facts. Such I'M
considered talk as he gave the presi-
dent has caused outside gamblers to
"go broke" on several occasions betting
that the Republicans would carry Mis-
souri, for president and governor. To
all concerned 1t may be well to state a
historic fact, and that is that Missouri
has always elected a Democratic gov.
ernor and cast her electoral vote for q
Democrat, when all her voters were al
lowed to vote, and that she will do the
same in 1904 is as certain as anything
can be except death and taxes. While
Colonel Roosevelt is the youngest presi
dent, he is no spring chicken, no tyre
in politics, and the chances are that he
received DR.. Bartholdt's jabber cum
grano sails.
IN n