The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-03-21

ton of foodstuGls here n sncA THAI thu
surplus Of grain availabse for foreign
shipmsne must. even under the most
favorable circumstances. constantly de-
cronDs from nov on and soon coan9 alto
gsther; while thsrs are Also those who
contend that the country never can hope
90 be such an exporter % manufactured
goods a. to turn tho balsncs Of trade In
its favor while tho cost IL labor IN the
country 10 % much higher than Il 70 IN
other lands and moreover displays q
continual tendency to rise. Il 10 not
sought at this time TO enter upon . dia-
cussion q thsss matters. but attention
may psrhaps DO briefly diverted TO the
QUESTION just where tho money 10 ooSu-
ing from In an economic seneo 90 pay
tho largo advances In the compensation
OF railway employees now currently
asked In every State und Territory Of
tho Union. Wall Sc TOet haa at no time
been disturbed in recent mOnshs by the
threats OF railway strikss largely be-
cause OF q general feeling that either
through the Intervention az CoveFnmsnt
arbitration or otherwise a cSrtsin amount
Of incrsass of railway S=y schedules along
with reduction In some caves. Il may
he. OF working houre would nv granted.
The Inference has bs@n that peace In ting
railway world was in no way Esriously
endangerSd. Bat the point recuEs from
whom and by whom the f1nds viii be
supplied TO make all these concessions.
No ono supposes that the railway own
panies will oct from motives OF pure
philanthropy and bsnehcsncs In tbs
q L. IN 49,
they should 90 act. Thsy win undOube-
sdiy make tho increased pay granted |
70 their employees the basis Of q
demand for higher freight schedules. |
and reasonable requests OF this ma |
turs viii just ~ undoubtedly bs justi- |
fied by popular sentiment and allowed |
by thu authorities.
But ell this means in turn that the cost |
Of living i'm the country viii bs CORE |
spondinGly increased. The ultimate CON |
sunasr will have Go pay for tho increased |
railway wages just an he always has done |
In the past. But why should larger pay |
be secured by railway employees al0nsp |
These men have not been herstofors un- /
dsrpaid a. compared with other lAboring |
men In the country. Why II q general \
rise in rEilway pay schedules occurs
should not a general rise taks psmc5 Is
The compensation for all other forms Of /
abor. and how will this affect the problem l
% the cost OF living that our political
economists and philosophers arc now
over 90 gravely7 -It must be
s&id in taking leave Of the question that
serious a. are all tho issues thus raised
.hsre arc few observers OF financial and
Affairs who cannot be Inn
pressed with the general spirit Of opti-
nism which nov underlies the business
nsn and people Of the country az n whole
rhsre 10 everywhere recognition Of the
lifiiculties confronting us. but there
Q everywhere somsthing more than a
atsua spirit Of hope and conf1snCe that
however Troublesome thess difaeultiss
nay 10 American enterprise and in
psuuity and energy will be able 60 tackle
h@m successfully. II is doubtless this
feeling. joined with the fact
hat the money situation has not yet
.0coms stringent. whatever may be It's
tate later Zen the wear. and also with the
circumstance that business an a whole
. still pretty good. that has beDt the stock
Market a. firm ~ " has boon Kept sincP
January :. To this may be adcOd the
.2adual growth Of a conviction that
vhatsver may be the technical character
{ the decisions % :hs sssssTssTsS Court
n the Standard Oil and American To-
,accO cases the court will % constr1e
he anti-tr,lst law a. to allow the business
4 the country to proceed IN substance
long the same general lines Of conduct
hat IL has in recent years