The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1908-07-11
A Recipe for Prosperity.

The crop of 1908 is beginning to move. AS it takes
cars to move the crop, the also moving.
The report of the car service bureau of the Amer-
can Railway association for the closing fortnight OF
June says that the decrease in idle cars during the
month approximately 10000 cars
With the close of May there 3S1,779 freight
cars standing on the side tracks of the railroads OF
the country waiting for employment Now there are
less than 35OOOO By the time October arrives, 1t is
anticipated that there will be shortage OF cars,
which will represent the normal condition of the
transportation service
The looked for increase in traffic will be due to the
labor of grain growers stockmen and orchardStS'
whose industry is unimpared by business depression
or financial panics The soil continues to produce,
though other activities may be prosraed, and it IS
out of the fruits of the earth that the entire industrial
system rejuvenates ITSELF and responds to
the tonic.
In these DAYS of the convaescng of the business
invalid it is not difficult understand that the rail
road corporations of the country dependent on
fields ranges and orchards for their existence, main
tenance and growth.
The situation it presents itself invokes the log1-
cal conclusion that the railroad corporations ought
to extend the presidential square deal to their chief
patron without the coercion that has been found
necessary through the enforcement of laws that have
gress and the legislatures of the states.
circular letter from the National Prosperity
association of ST. Louis contains this paragraph:
Our prosperity came with the prosperity of the
railroads. declined when adversely struck the rail
roads. We do not believe can have the tull
of prosperity again until the railroads are
prosperous
Which is hardly a fair presentation of the situation
All the arteries of commerce cogged with
hrcio the 70 IA
nations financial center The railroads never
more prosperous. They could not begin to supply
the demand for traffic. The great industrial army
of the soil was straining its snews to feed the NAV
of corporate greed, and that what made pros
perity for the railroads. The railroads were the
recipient not the
The ST. Louis prosperity association administers
its sophstries in liberal doses and finally reaches
the kernel of its endeavor, remarking:
On all sides we find expressions of favorable sent-
ment to the effect that further legislation against
railroads and large corporations should cease; that
the business interests of the country should be given
a rest and that the department of justice may be
allowed to proceed with its work in a quiet manner
which, of course, is greatly to be desired
This is campaign literature pure and simple. 1t
seeks to build sentiment for the corporations at
time when the voters mind is plastic sentiment in
opposition to the warmly endorsed policy of ad-
that has not given much rest to preda-
tory corporations, railroad otherwise.
The design of the prosperity association is deft-
ly covered by its expression in behalf of quet work.
by the department of justice, though affairs in
court could be quiet
The suspicion that "the adversely that struck the
railroads" was part of the plan of men behind the
railroads is strengthened by the offer of the St.
Louis organization restore the prosperity that is
wanting if the American people will take their hands