Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-07-04
THE WALL STREET VIEW.
Fear Expressed That the Presidential
Election Will Create Finan-
ciaI Disturbances

The Wall street view of the bust
ness situation is reported to be more
hopeful than the view entertained at
this time last year, says the Chicago
Inter Ocean.
This hopeful view is due to the fact
that there is no limit to the nat
ural resources of the country or to
the material results of the industry.
energy and inventiveness of our peo-
ple;" to the belief that the situa
ton in the world of labor is much
better than it was a year ago. and.
to the proba bility that, in spite of
floods and drOughts, we shall have
heavy crops of wheat, corn and other
grains.
On the other hand we are told that
this hopefulness is discounted in part
by the fear very general among
what may be called the larger inter-
ests in the financial community Of the
economic and financial disturbances
which may be caused by the forth
coming presidential election
The Wall street theory seems to be
olIdO IhC Will DS d SIJuSSlc
between classes; that the chief topt
ic discussed will be the various meth
DDS Of restraining corporations, and
that this will be unsettling to bust
ness because the republicans will sup
port the policy of the president, and
the democrats will insist upon re-
vision Of the tariff
1t is difficult to understand why
campaign for the continuance of the
prosperity policy and for the proper
regulation of trusts should be called
struggle between classes. Tt is also
difficult to understand Why the great
business interests of the country, If
they fear reopening of the tariff
question, should play into the hands
of the radical tariff reformers.
1t is undoubtedly true that the pos
sibility of reversal of the policies
that have given the country six years
of prosperity will be disturbing ele-
ment ia business, but no more in 1904
than it was in 1900.
In the campaign of 1896 the pros
pect of republican victory CAV. bet
ter tone to business. The victory it.
self, before any legislation had been
enacted, caused perceptible improve
ment in business. In 1900 the reelec-
ton of Mckinley was regarded as
certainty, and there was no business
disturbance.
President Roosevelt has continued
the Mckinley policies which were
supported generally by the business
interests in 1900. If they are sup
ported by the same interests in 1904
there will be as much certainty Of
the election Of the republican candi-
date next year as there was in 1900
The democratic party, no matter
by whom it will be led, no matter
whether the supporters of Mr.. Cleve-
land or the supporters of Mr.. Bryan
are in control, will favor radical
changes in the tariff. This is as we'll
known now as it will be when the
platform is adopted. Therefore, the
business interests represented to be
so much concerned about the over
throw of the tariff may decide now
which party policy they will favor.
If they favor the republican policy.
the presidential election will have lit
tie depressing influence upon the bust
ness situation. If, for political eff
feet, they pretend that they prefer
the policy of the Cleveland admins
tration, they may overreach them
selves. In fact, they will be more
likely than not to overreach them
selves.