The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-02
Yea or Nay Regarding
Tariff is Imperative
Theory Advanced That Crops Will Not Render Greater
Support to Trade, and That Development Energy
Must Strengthen Manufacture and Industry.
TBy J. NJ. Filming il

when will business attain ade-
quate proportions?" asked the general
manager OF large plant, representing
an investment of sl0,00o,000. More
than a year ago his company augment
ed its capacity, and he outlined plans
for improvements to cost about
$4,000, 600. Additional expensive bet
terment work was to rollow With
the opening of the general depression
he ordered the suspension of develop
mental operations indefinitely, and, in
al probability, he will not authorize a
resumption for another year.
The question, When will commerce
be all that it should be-" is advanced
not only by the mechanic who re-
mains out of employment. 1t is para
mont with the retail merchant. with
the manufacturer, with the mine
operator, with the lumber producer
with officials of transportation sys-
tens. In few months, unless deter
mfrative action is taken in the interim,
! it will be matter of deep concern
with President Taft and Congress.
/ Ordinarily. it might not be advis-
able to say that the brightness of ex-
cellent mercantile prospects are dim
med. The better rule to follow is that
of stimulating optimism. Expressions
of hope frequently beget promining
conditions, Yet. occasions arise when
the truth, hideous as it may seem to
be, must be stated, for the permanent
good that it may do.
The general managers question adj
mits OF ready answer Given frank
ly, the reply is that the power and the
opportunity to create general com
mercial revival repose at Washington.
Neither good crops nor { plentitude
OF capital can accomplish what the
business interests of the country
want. The cause of the prevailing
trouble is artificial and the remedy
must be applied by those who have
the authority to use it.
The prevailing situation is not dis
couraging. On the contrary, it is de-
cidedly assuring. Never has so much
capital been available in the United
states as now. Never has money had
/ so enormous an ultimate capacity.
Never has capital been more amicaby
disposed toward profitable investment.
Never has business been managed SO
conservatively. Never has there been
SO much developmental work awaiting
Inauguration. Never have the agri-
cultural districts been so prosperous.
All the natural elements for good
times exist. and, according to natural
laws, trade should be approaching the
maximum
commerce has received it's only sup
port in fifteen months from agricul-
sure That part of business which de-
pends on the farm is satisfactory In.
dustry and manufacture have been
weak since the panic of October. 1907
They are not yet recovered, and they
will not attain their normal state un.
til the artificial Instructions watch
have been referred to are removed.
If the truth must be given, it should
u.
not, according to all substantial indi
cations, except greater Strengthening
from agriculture With good sprina
and autumn crops that part of bust
ness depending on the farm will con
tinue to flourish. But this seems tt
be the limit to the benefit that NAV be
anticipated. Good crops will not re
Vive manufacture and industry, and i
is not unlikely that, VITA persistan-
dullness in manufacture and industry
some of the effects of good crops Womb
be detrimental, even to the farmer.
This leads up to the point implied b,
the general manager. There must BIZ
some reason, other than the tcmporar,
ut1llzatlon of the plants present full
capacity for his delay of Improvement,
and extensions, his postponment of th,
investment of s2,000,o0O In this com
pany's case, business comes from tn,
, Merchant and the manufacturer am
the betterment work is not pursued be
cause his customers business is no
l as heavy as it should be, and there i
r no certainty for guidance as to wher
. the demand will be again in eviden
| and necessitate construction in ad
: vance OF requirement
4 The principle must be borne in min,
], that not only is there no progress with
$ out prosperity. but there also is no en-
during prosperity without progress. |
must likewise be remembered tina
[