The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1910-09-20
j. j. Hill Says Conservation
Congress Should Have
Discussed This Subject

St. Paul, Mimi, Sept. 20.-James
]. Hill, the Empire Builder" the
Father of the Northwest" cannot
see why the business men of the
country should at present fear TO en-
gage in new enterprises, nor can he
see any reason whatever for the
semi-paralysis which is gradually
creeping over the United States. -.
Its only senseless lack of con-
fidence," said Mr.. Hill, in an inter-
view just given out.
And why this lack of confidence?
Some man, somewhere, has grown
timid over something or other, and
has cried boo at his neighbor, and
neighbor probably jumped and the
next fellow took fright without
knowing why he was frightened.
And so on.
It's just like flock Of sheep. If
one starts to run, every sheep in the
flock will follow, even if they die
for it.
During this big national conser-
Walton congress we have talked about
conserving water and conserving
land; conserving coal and conserving
iron; it's too bad somebody didn't
say a word about conserving COM
mon sense.
That's what this country needs
right now-to conserve common
sense There's an article by Col. G.
Harvey in the September North
American Review dealing with the
Conservation of Common Sense that
well illustrates the business condi-
ton of this country right now and
gives as the panacea for the bust
ness paralysis, the suggestion that
our business men use a little COM
mon sense-just ordinary sound
common sense. | wish business men
everywhere would take that advice.
Il can see no reason for the fears
which seem to possess our business
men. | have preached a return TO
the farm policy for years and expect
to continue to do so; but that's no
reason for fear on the part of bust
ness.
Money and business are, of
course, 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 unnecessary and they need
the noses, too.
Here's a little excerpt which, to
my mind, bears down hard and
strikes at the core of our present
ills:
LIN the disestablishment Of Gre
dit we find the most obvious cause
of the prevailing depression. The
link that connects labor with capt.
tai is not broken, but we may not
deny that it is less cohesive than 1t
should be or than conditions war
rant. Financially, the country is
stronger than ever before in its his
tory Recovery from panic so Sc
we're as that of three years ago was
never before so prompt and COM
paratively complete. The masses
are practically free from debt. Money
is held by the banks in abundance
and rates are low.
why then does capital pause
upon the threshold of investment?
The answer we believe to be 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 compli-
cations growing out of nightly
changed conditions call for the most
serious consideration. To settle a
grave question offhand is only to
invite disaster. Better not settle it
at all until a reasonable certainty
can be felt that it can be settled
right. Stability is ever capitals pri-
mary requirement. But the adjust
ment which it now demands cannot
be effected in a month or year and
never can or should be complete.
Elasticity is the prime requisite Of
changes essential to development.
But capital is VIGOROUSLY timid.
In the present instance, too, it is alb
solutely foolish. No decision of any
court can permanently impair any
so-called vested interest. Confisca-
ton is undreamed of, as compared
with only few years ago. The dis
Indignation of properties does not in
volve their destruction. Moreover,