The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-03-26
POIICQ| CONNECT

d ~Isiness i'm the Presidential Year.
Proverbially, 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 thar material
causes, and is allowed more weight
than it is entitled to. A vague dread
of radical changes in government pol
lcles 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, nor 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 10 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
whelming political o%verturn at n blow
is baseless. The most that could be
done by a sweeping Democratic victory
in November next would be to halt leg
i~slation for a 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
VIE 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 4 a Congress
largely Republican in both branches
could put matters in shape for the i'm
pending situation. Prevailing Republic
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 probabil.
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 II
has passed be modified during the next
four years without its concurrence
Nothing startlingly radical can happier
at Washington. Business men can bt
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 viii say. This is admitted, though
the causes are still somewhat obscure
One reason was a shortage OF currency
In a sudden emergency. Congress i.
dealing with this matter. and it is no
conceivable that the majority will fai
TO pass a measure of relief. The furry
has been attended with some remar:,
able facts. Over n billion In gold |.
held by the treasury, the largest tota'
ever collected in one place, and 81,
times as large as the amount In thu
possession of the government in 1894
Our exports exceed imports by more
than $100,000,000 a month; another
record exhibit. The crop outlook !.
favorable. In this great country a gen
eral crop failure is scarcely feared
American arners are better able thai
formerly to deal with adverse features
of the season. Exports of manufac
lures are at the highest point. The
real estate situation is excellent. Tn,
country is at peace, and peaceable, bu
not ~unprepared. Business in 190'
ought t o be good ON the face Of thu
facts. regardless of the political cam
paign.-St. Louis Globe Democrat.