Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1909-03-10
BIG CROPS AND
 NEW PRESIDENT

Wall Street Authority Thinks COmlf.
 nation Will Have Effect oi Bring.
 ing Back the Prosperity That 9th.
 CT Conditions Temporarily Eclipse.l.
 New York March S.-Tne coming of the new administration will have soothing effect upon the nerves of the financial community, says Henry C1eWS. MT. Roosevelt introduced many reforms that were necessary for public welfare, and pushed them with vigor that was often unset ting to vested interests. Certain tendencies arising from an undue concentration of wealth were threat ening the political horizon and no matter who undertook the initiative in restraining or regulating them the effect was sure to be disturbing. Yet the purposes of Mr. Roosevelt were always of high order, and with few exceptions were conducive to public good.
 1t is safe to say that Mir. Roose- welt will 20 down into history as one of our greatest Presidents, ranking close to Washington and Lincoln; but his methods Of carrying out these purposes were, as already said, often very Irritating anl unsettling So long as these restraints had to be applied it is perhaps as we'll that their initiation should have fallen into the hands of MT Roosevelt, for it easil, conceivable that had the task been un- dertaken by one of less force and more radical the end might have been disastrous. Our ex-Presidents poli- cles were never destructive; they were always progressive and have done more to check extreme ralical- ism and socialism than any move ment that the country has ever es- perienced.
 Larger Crops Needed.
 As soon as the dust of conflict sub sides clearer vision Of Mr Rocse- yelt's character will be obtained. and ten years hence it is safe to say that he will have attained a much higher position in the regard of his fellow countrymen than he holds at the pres ent time. The country is fortunate in having a successor who will con- tinue these policies in q firm but more tactful and judicious manner. President Taft's ideas and methods are well understood. 1Io has the faculty of winning by attraction rather than eompulsion, and now that the current of reform has been turned in the direction in which he distinctly led there is every reason to expect a healthy progress in political develop ments.
 One of the country's greatest needs at this time is large crops, and much depends upon the next harvest. A poor yield will surely prolong depres- sion and bring much hardship among the working classes, while a big yield will prove an incalcuable advantage and do much towards insuring a re- turn to real prosperity. The high cost of living must be largely attrib- uted to the high prices prevailing for agricultural products. Wheat, flour, oats, hay, meats, vegetables, butter, eggs, etc, are all unusually expensive because there is not a sufficient abun- dance of these articles to keep prices at more normal level.
 Available supplies are so limited and cheap money so abundant that unhealthy speculation is fostered, It is altogether too easy to corner the markets. The only cure for this sit uation is larger crops the world over and higher rates for money. 1t is generally recognized that the growth Of agriculture in the United States has not kept pace with the growth of population, partly because Of .sie drift towards the great cities. The re- suit is that today cur farmers IS d class are the most prosperous people in the country; in fact, they have rad several years of prosperity and the prosects are that this will continue for some time to come.
 No one begrudges cur agriculture! classes, their good fortune, for they have been, and must continue to he, the backbone of the country. But this prosperity has not been shared by others; it has been chiefly class pros perity, whereas true prosperity is tlas which is shared by all classes in things approaching equitable propor- tions. Just now the farmers ate thriving upon the necessities of | helpless public, whirN is passing oF af-