Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-07-02

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made up of good intentions New
Years resolutions and some real earn
est desire for reform 1t is driven be-
fore a tornado Of enthusiasm. misguided
and uncomfortable Let US hope that
it may not be as destructive as its
appearance portends.
We are apt to forget that civilization
has been a growth-slow and steady,
but sure. Revolutions have ever been
the blast of the whrlwind which has
torn down and destroyed the growth
OF years. For the reason that they
have removed some evils and that their
path has to some extent grown over
we are won't to think that revolutions
have been productive of good and have
worked reform.
But let us not deceive ourselves into
errors that may again mislead. The
history of the world shows that in
human as well as in the physical field,
action and reaction are equal, and in
extreme The stimuant is followed
by depression. Delight is followed by
sadness Enthusiasm by ennui. Growth
bv decay Saintliness by sin. and revO-
buttons of supposed reform are followed
by stagnation and Indifference 1t is
only in the steady sweep of years that
progress is noted, and lasting reforms
are the product of development. 1t is
safe to say that no revolution ever
accomplished any good that would not
have been better attained by steady
| growth.
Such are the lessons of experience
taught by history now for their prac-
teal application:
The prosperity of this country is rep
resented it's accumulationso of wealth.
The prosperity of any country has been
thus measured by nearly all men for
ali time. These accumulations, public
and private, have enabled us to assume
gigantic undertakings and enterprises
BY furnishing employment to labor
they have distributed the benefit of
prosperity until the laboring man of
today, if he has been prudent, industri-
ous and intelligent, shares privileges
not known to kings Of the past.
especially in education, and modern
conveniences, in travel and ready com
munication, as we'll as in the real luxu-
ries that administer to the comfort of
man.
We are apt to forget how trail a plant
this great commercial and Industrial
activity is. We see some evils, some
oppression, some point of irritation on
that border land between labor and
capital which has ever been and prob
ably ever viii be place of friction.
We theorizc and devise plans. laws and
| We fail to understand that the source
of trouble is Inherent in human nature,
and in the very essence and condition
of things, and that we might as well
! try to change the leopard to a camel or
a camel to horse as to try to change
the course of nature inherent in hui
mainly.
| Yes, our experiments will have effect.
| The man of business and affairs must
needs project his plans far into the
future. Many of our best enterprises
require years to develope them and
reap returns. lie who has means to
invest must be assured that conditions
will remain as he has found and calcu-
lated or he will not venture. II he
sees the people wrought up into a
| frenzy for experimental legislation and
untried reform he will not risk the
Accommodations of years any more than
the farmer who sees the weather
Threatening would cut his meadow and
risk his hay crop.
Threaten the business man with rash
and experimental legislation and YOU
will see him curtail his investments.
decline new ventures, refuse to engage
the labor of more men, aud discharge
those he already has, for how does he
know in the face of such odds, that
under the changed conditions, he viii
be able to market his product when it
is made? Propose changes in tariff
which affect the prices and value of
goods, changes in railway rates, threat
ened legislation as to hours OF labor.
new regulations of trade, all frighten
the owner of capital. and the laboring
man is the first 10 suffer and the last
to recover. Take the ease OF manu- /
faeturer who is seeking to locate his
plant, To compete with others and
ensure the best returns he must locate
where he is sure of an abundant and
lasting supply of raw material obtain
able at lowest rates OF cost and trans
portation. 1t must be where he can
get his product to Il ready market at
lowest rates. He is about to decide