The silver state news. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1907-1909, 1907-11-18
TALKING HARD TIMES
(From the Battle Mountain Herald.)

CFrom the Battle Mountain Herad)
1t cannot be disputed that people sometimes talk sickness until they
really become i'll. While we do not subscribe to the creed of Mother Eddy
and believe that all disorders are only mental W do believe that cicum.
stances and events are often controlled, and sometimes entirely produced
by mental attitude. This applies % the affairs of society as a whole as
well as to those of the individual
For som weeks past now, the financial organism of the country has been
ut of order, and the period of convalscence is liable to be indefinitely
prolonged if the people loset their confidence and begin talking hard lines
A very sensible and timely realization of this situation is expressed in an
article in the current issue of Success magazine.
..Good times, says that journal, depend not only upon the great
laws of supply and demand, but also upon the maintenance of public o
fdence. The moment business men get scared and people begin to talk
hard times, diNrust spreads like wndfre. Levelheaded business men say
they zee n real cause for alarm, but at thu same i'm me perpetual Ss
gestion that is being passed along influences them, and they grow m@e
cautious. Bankers see nc breakers ahead, yet they think they sho0io .
conservative, and they begin to call in their loans, which are nt quite 50
gltedged as before They are also more careful about accommodating
heir borrowing customers, so they may be a little better prepared in case
anything adverse should happen.
1.-THE precautions spread. Dsrust fear, anxiety and a feeling u uncer'
tautv. like the rising tide of gossip, sweep like wndfre all over the conn
try Soon everybody is talking hardtimes; all ire influenced by tn %
taGon of the perpetual fear of suggestion. Cautious mel think perhaps
they have been spreading ut a little too much, and they begin to fe'rencn'
to discharge heir. and % tut down expenses and salaries generally. Mf
camille houses, manufactures, railroads, and other concerns stop extensions
and improvements, and take in sail until danger is past.
.As a consequence public confidence is shaken, and there is a general
strangulation of business all I've the country. Important contracts me
erection of large buildings, and extension negotiations arr called of. There
is a marked decline in business transactions of all kinds. Nobody has 20
fdence to branch out; everybody is hedging
..sucb a condition of things began with the recent investigation and
prosecution of certaing great combina tions Of capital After the inVeSiga
ton these concerns began to retrnch, and when the whole country caught
:, -. g canton stocks began to drop, business houses began to fail,
~ ert week W 9 knew there was a sort OF mental business panic, a
49, whonv uucaued for, unwarranted. Crop prospects were ms.
.sno md the country At large al in superb condition. The panic
u.nv mental caused by far and anxiety resulting from lack IF con
saen.e an general dstrust of the future.
e.rharo !. q real condition in this country today to produce hard times,
M warrant for them but the peoples talk. When people are scare none
-. svr had that the people began to whisper, Hard times are coming
.p,.;ns.. has been toe good to last Such a boom Of prosperity
possibly hold OUT
ere ~ entire press of the country had refused to pass along the pessi
,h.. III manic was mainly a mental one, the public confidence would lot
have been shaken 20 any great extent
Gas a mattero of fact the actual condition of or great nation vas never
better thar it is today. There are n 20 real hard times among U.S. m mere
are not going to be any. Just as quickly as public confidence IS rs't'isd'
everything will 60 N as before.
ness mel has to do with hard times and good timesl Prosperity IS IN IN
mir when everybody has confidence. When there is n o doubt or uncertainty
in the public faith, times are good. But let the least doubt creep 'to n
mind. Of a few prominent business men; let a few noted fnancies prophesy
confidence, and everything begins totghMn up.
Business rests SC largely upon confidence that anything which dse'uros