Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1910-09-30
JAMES ]. HILL ON
FUTURE BUSINESS
Continued from First Page.)
CONTINUED from First Page.)

iron: it's too bad somebody didn't
say a word about conserving common
sense.
"That's what this country needs
right now-tO conserve common sense.
There's an article by Col George
Harvey in the September North AM
erican Review dealing with the con-
servation of Common Sense, that well
illustrates the business condition of
this country right now and gives as
the panacea for the business paral-
ysis, the suggestion that our business
men use little common sense-just
ordinary sound common sense.
wish business men everywhere would
take that advice.
~ can see no reason for the fears
which seem to possess our business
men. l have preached Il return to
the farm policy for years and expect
to continue to do so: but that's no
reason for fear OIL the part of bust
ness.
"MOnev and business are, OfcOurse,
very careful and it is right that they
should be, but not to the extent of
cutting off their noses to spite their
faces. Especially when it is SO I'M
necessary and they need the noses,
too.
"lIere's a little excerpt which
bears down hard and strikes at the
core of our present ills:
''In the disestablishment of credit
we find the most obvious cause Of the
prevailing depression. The link that
connects labor with capital is not
broken, but we may not deny that it
is less cohesive than it should be or
than conditions warrant. Financial
", the country is stronger than ever
before in it's history. Recovery from
panic so severe as that Of three
years ago was never before so prompt
and comparatively complete. The
masses are practically free from debt.
Money is held by the banks in album
dance and rates are low
why then does capital pause up
on the threshold of investment? The
answer we believe to he plain. 1t
awaits adjustment of the relations of
government to business. Such. at
any rate, is the plea, and pressure is
constantly brought to bear upon ex
ecutives and courts to make haste
haste which. in our Judgment, would
result in less speed. Great complica-
tions growing out Of nightly chang
ed conditions call for the most seri-
Gus consideration. 70 settle a grave
question offhand is only to invite dis
aster. Better not settle it at all until
reasonable certainty can be felt
that it can be settled right. Stabil-
ity is ever capitals primary require
ment. But the adjustment which
it now demands cannot be eff
| fected in Il month or Il year and never
can or should be complete. Elastici-
ty is the prime requisite of changes
essential to development
But capital Is VIGOROUSLY tlmld.
In the present instance, too, it is alb
solutely foolish. No decision of any
court can permanently impairany so
called vested interest. COnliscation
is undreamed of, as compared with
only IA few years ago. The disintegra-
tion OF properties does not involve
their destruction. Moreover, the
sharp revolt against all combinations
those that achieve great good no less
than those that work injury-is clear
" yielding to study and reason. Nc
sane person now maintains that bust
especially manufacturing-cal
or should be done rs it was done hal
Il century ago. In a broad sense, tn.