The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1910-02-04
WALL Street
SEEING THINGS
Scared Into a Near Panic by
an Old Story.
HIGH PRICES AS A FACTOR.
Senator Root Alarmed Over Political
Situation-Yet Too Chaotic to Make
Safe Predction-Champ cIark's
Dreams and TroubIes-Even Regu-
lars Abandon Uncle Joe.

Safe Prediction-Champ CIarL's
Dreams and TroubIes-Even Resu-
lars Abandon Uncle Joe.
Washington, Jan. 31.-Considerable
amusement is expressed here over the
fact that Wall street charged its furry
of last week to newspaper story con-
corning what the president was about
to do to the trusts. That sounded like
the Roosevelt days, and the cynical ex-
preston was heard on all sides that it
was only another attempt of certain
high tnanciers to frighten the ad-
ministration and the country away
from interfering with the sacred in
terests AS matter of fact, President
Taft explained In his campaign in his
tour over the country and in his mes
sage what his policy would be on the
trust question. This was all well
known in Wall street, and there was
no change to occasion alarm.
FIurries to Order.
The plain truth is that 1t was public
sentiment, if anything, which scared
Wall street. The growing meat boy
colt and the wave of opposition to the
food trusts sweeping over the country
furnish signs that he who runs may
read. Already this manifestation of
public hostility has caused a drop in
high prices, and it Is not impossible
that 1t may have occasioned a sympa-
thetic movement in the stock market
The agitation against high prices is in
teresting more than the financiers The
politicians are watching it, some with
elation and others with apprehension.
While the movement is in no sense
political, it may have political effects.
Political Outlook Chaotic.
Political prophets are rather at sea |
these days. Champ Clark continues
his jubilant predictions that the next
house will be Democratic, and some
Republicans are at least secretly APP
prehensive, but the fact is that the sit
uation is still too chaotic for any one
to get line on it. 1t is one of those
situations of political unrest out of
which almost anything may develop
4 sign of the uncertainty was the
hrof Senator Elihu Root the other
evening Mt dinner given by the New
York delegation in his honor. The
note of gloom in the senator's remarks
about New York state was not CON
cealed. Leaders from Indiana have
talked in a similar strain, and even the
Ohio delegation is anxiously taking
stock. Another element of uncertainty
is the insurgent movement extending
over the entire central west
Regulars Against Cannon.
The practiced politicians in Wash
ington are too wise to overlook facts
that are so apparent and it is doubt
less for this reason that among the
regulars ia the house the anti-CannOn
has grown so strong. When
the former stanch supporters of the
speaker get to the point that they are
willing to give out an extended list of
regulars who will oppose the speaker
for another term, as was done the 9th
er day, it is a notification to him and
to the country that the movement fol
a new deal has gone far beyond the
insurgent camp.
Efficient Party Machinery.
There is one element in the situa-
ton that should not be overlooked.
The Republicans were never better
than today, and it is open to
question whether the Democrats are
sufficiently well organized in most
northern states to take advantage of
the situation. OF course in landslide {
years organization counts for little {
either way, but landslides come sell ,
1om, and In ordinary times mere eff !
.ient party machinery counts for {
much. Is this liable to prove land !
slide year? 1t is yet too early to an ,
'wer. The only thing certain at this ,
Tine is that the situation contains G
many new and unmeasured factors s
Democratic insurgency. c
The Republicans are not alone in |
having an instruction on their hands I
An incipient insurgency is appearing I
imong the house Democrats. Certain !
# the prominent members of the mi. |
lority have become FESTIVE under '
Jhamp Clark's leadership and say un. o
Ter their breath, If not out loud, that {
hey will no longer follow him. A a
ew days ago it would have been the
ne best bet that If the Democrats
hould capture the house Clark would q
ie the next speaker. That is still a q
but not as certain as IL =
hen appeared. Z
The Senate Outlook. &
AS recently pointed out I'm these dis Z
,atches. the statement that Demo Y
ratio senate is an impossibility is in n
orrect Thirty senators are to be e
lected, twenty-four of whom are Re c,
ublicans. Fourteen changes would p
hange the senate. The states that r,
re to choose senators for the next "
ongress are Rhode Island, Indiana "
Nebraska, Michigan. Mon. "
ina. Minnesota, Wyoming, Texas. Viz. q
inia. Ohio. New York, Delaware, Cal n
iornia, Tennessee. Maine. New Jer. b,
ey. Wisconsin. Massachusetts,, North q.
'akota. Mississippi. Nevada, Pennsyl a
ania, Vermont washington, Mary. II
I'll