Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-03-26
POIiCQ| Comment.

Business in the Presidential Year.
Proverbialiy, the year OF a national
election is a 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. A vague dread
of radical changes in government pol
icles poStpones many new enterprises
and prompts caution in current trans
actions. In many of the things that
go TO make up business conditions a
presidential contest has no actual eff
feet whatever. 1t is not responsible for
the weather, nor the crops. nor the
worlds tide of commerce, nor the prog
ress Of invention. Tor the outbreak of
wars. The real question. therefore. is
how far the disposition to take in sail
is warranted by the risks ahead. con-
Sidered without reference to what is
merely imaginary. In the next four
years there can be no complete Demo-
cratic control at Washington The Sen
ate, in any case, will have a Republican
majority until at least 1912. This much
Is certain. So the fear of an over
whelming political overturn at one blow
Is baseless. The most that could be
done by sweeping Democratic victory
In November next would be to halt leg
islation for long time. except in mat
tiers 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 President
and House. The present Congress and
executive would be at the head of af-
fairs until the Inauguration day ar
rived. Between the first Monday in
December and March Congress
largely Republican in both branches
could put matters in shape for the i'm
pending situation. Prevailing Republi-
can policies cannot be altered without
Republican consent until the opposition
obtains full control. and there is little
prospect that it will get any control In
this years election. In all probable
ity the next House and President will
be Republican and the party now dom
inant will retain complete power to act
as for ten years past. 1t cannot be
entirely displaced, nor can the laws it
has passed be modified during the next
four years without its concurrence.
Nothing startlingly radical can happen
at Washington. Business men can be
easy on this point, which rests on GER
tainties to a greater extent than the
timid suppose.
But there has been a financial furry,
some will say. This is admitted, though
the causes are still somewhat obscure.
L One reason was a shortage of currency
in sudden emergency. Congress is
dealing with this matter. and it is not
conceivable that the majority will foil
to pass a measure of relief. The furry
has been attended with some remark
able facts Over billion in gold is
held by the treasury, the largest total
ever collected in one place, and six
llIneS DIS idISe as ihe aihouhI III 'he
possession Of the government In 1894
Our exports exceed imports by more
than S1OOO00,000 a month; another
record exhibit The crop outlook is
favorable In this great country gen.
era4 crop failure is scarcely feared.
American farmers are better able than
formerly to deal with adverse features
Of the season. Exports Of manufac-
lures are at the highest point. The
real estate situation is excellent. The
country Is at peace, and peaceable, but
not unprepared. Business in 1908
ought to be good on the face of the
facts, regardless Of the political cam
paign.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat.