The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-05-16
BUSINESS IN TIE PRESIDENTIAL
YEAR.
81. Louis Glo1e-Democrat.

cts LOUIS dt0De-D enVOcJ0t
Proverbially the year of national election is
q check upon many of the activities Of the
people. Yet this fact is due rather to mental
than material causes. and is allowed more weight
than it is entitled to. vague dread Of radical
changes In Government policies postpones many
new enterprises and prompts caution in current
transactions. In many of the things that 60 to
make up business conditions Presidential con-
test has no actual erect whatever. It is not re-
sponsible for the weather. nor the crops, nor the
worlds tide of commerce. nor the progress of
invention, nor the outbreak of wars. The real
question, therefore, is how far the disposition
to take in sail is warranted by the risks ahead,
considered without reference to what is merely
imaginary. In the next four years there can be
no complete Democratic control In Washington.
The Senate, in any case, will have Republican
majority until at least 1912. This much Is GER
tain. So the fear Of an overwhelming political
overturn at one blow is baseless. The most that
could be done by a sweeping Democratic VIC
tory in November next would be to halt legisla-
ton for long time. except in matters on which
both parties could agree.
Another point of importance to keep in mind
is that the Republican party will continue to
control all departments of the Government for
four months after the election of the next Presi-
dent and House. The present Congress and
Executive would be at the head of affairs until
the Inauguration day arrived. Between the first
Monday In December and March 4th Congress
largely Republican in both branches could put
matters in shape for the impending situation.
Prevailing Republican policies cannot be altered
without Republican consent until the opposi-
ton obtains full CONTROL and there is little pros
pect that it will get any control in this years
election. In all probability the next House and
President will be Republican, and the party
now d0MlHane- VIII retain -oOInpfete powefSto
act, as for ten years past. 1t cannot be entirely
displaced, nor can the laws 1t has passed be
modified during the next fourSyears without its
concurrence. Nothing startlingly radical can
happen at Washington. Business men can be
easy on this point, which rests on certainties to
greater extent than the timid suppose.
But there has been financial furry, some will
say. This is admitted, though the causes are
still somewhat obscure. One reason was a short
age of currency in a sudden emergency. Con-
gress is dealing with this matter. and it is not
conceivable that the majority will fail to pass q
measure of relief. The furry has been attended
with some remarkable facts. Over billion in
gold is held by the treasury, the largest total
ever collected in one place. and six times as
large as the amount in the possession of the
Government in 1894. Our exports exceed i'm
ports by more than 500 OOO, 0OOa month; another
record exhibit. The crop outlook is favorable.
In this great country general crop failure is
scarcely feared. American farmers are better
able than formerly to deal with adverse features
of the season. Exports of manufactures are at
the highest point. The real estate situation is
excellent. The country is at peace, and peacea-
BILE, but not unprepared. Business in 1908 ought
to be good on the face of the facts regardless of
the political campaign