The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-10-23
THE MAN WHO LOOKS BACK
WARD. 8s5

Men remember an injury, physical
or otherwise, long after the blow has
been struck. We hear much about the
panic of last year, but little about the
prosperity that preceded it, or that
has followed 1t.
There were several weeks last year
when money was mighty scarce, and
we complained bitterly Of conditions
but no one lost a dollar.
Business went right along in the
same channels as before, and in a
short time we were on a cash basis
again. OF course, everybody was
pinched, and there were some who
blamed the government, others the
politicians, some the Socialists, others
the ~agitators, the trusts and goodness
only knows what else.
Few people looked the matter
squarely in the face, admitted that the
panic was worldwide. Hundreds OF
thousands were starving in indiana
such condition prevailed in this coun-
try. Thousands were ruined in the
Orient-no such thing happened in
this country. Destitution was written
on nearly every door in South Africa,
but not in America. Famine stalked
through the streets Of Glasgow and
London-and does yet----but not in the
United States. Mexico suffered great
|ly, but this country did not. Factories
all over the world-everywhere, closed
and have not reopened yet-except in
the United States. Bonds have been
issued by many governments to meet
current expenses, while we have mil
lions in our treasury.
Everywhere, in all portions of the
world, there is want and misery, ex'
cept in the United States. Our facto'
ries are reopening, Y people are well
fed, warmly clothed, securely housed
and wisely governed.
Crops are worth 5000, 0O0, 900 more
this year than they yer last, more
men are employed today than vas the
case Just one year ago.
It has been impossible to secure sui
ficient labor to harvest them.
The railroads have given orders fol
more freight cars to handle the traf
1c. Coal mine products have beer
contracted ahead, the steel mills arr
all running-the business of the coan
try is expanding and growing. But
there is the memory of that squeeze
last fall-the painful few days, ii
which many were apprehensive, but
during which time no one lost a dol
lar-and somehow or other, the dispo
sition to complain will not permit III
to forget it.
t When a man speaks Of %prosperit,
J now, how often do we hear the an
swer, "Yes-but just thing of what W,
went through last fall.'
! If we remembered the good things
, in place of the unpleasant how mucl
t better of we would be.
Now let's take stock Of what ha,
happened since one year ago:
J, Loans have increased 1902, 000, 900 ii
t the whole country since that time
. New York bank deposits have beel
swelled by $364,179,O 900 in the sam,
3 time. The total amount Of loan
8 made by the New York banks at til,
present time runs to 81, 3s,433,3 300
q the highest figure ever known-an'
. yet we remember. that a year az,
we were worried.
On all sides there are evidences q
t the greatest prosperity and in spite o
8 1t all. we hear men remark, "Oh, yes.
know-but Just think of what nigh
have happened . year ago."
: The majority Of the people look 10,
? ward. but always. IN every crowd
there is one whose face seemed b,
some cruel fate to have been turne,
J toward eternal gloom. and just 40 tn
, sua shines the brightest and the heart