The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-12-31
Much Material, Moral and
Political Progress This Year
asor, cs~s Who Reviews
Country Never More Brilliant

Indication OF the years business ac-
! tVity is shown in bank clearings,
which for the eleven months of this
year tOtalled sl5s. 0O0. 100000. as
against sl46.0oo, 100000 for eleven
months Of last year. As Tor railroad
earnings the gross thus far reported
ion the first ten months amounted Ia
S2s3. OOO, 600, an increase of sS5,0OO,OOO
over the same period last Year. Dur
ing the same eleven months the net
earnings were Sls.O00.OOO, an increase
OF over l4,OoO 600 compared with last
wear This very gratifying gain was,
OF course, due Ia the stimulus Of a
masnificent harvest and was mainly
observed in the last TWO or three
months. IT. is hardly probable that
this rate oi expansion will be contin-
ued throughout the year.
Tariff. Trusts, Currency.
The new Year promises 10 open with
distinct Improvement in political
conditions. In the United States We
have had a peaceful revolution follow
ing an era Of very disturbing radical
alive. there are signs of its modera
ton The people expressed their de-
sire for change at the polls last
November by again bringing the OPP
position party into power, led by
man of progressive yet moderate ten
denotes. All good citizens will await
the outcome patiently AS a whole
the chief issues are stu the tariff
trusts and currency. Fortunately ",
have selected for president man of
ability, integrity and courage, "a man
of rational progressive tendencies and
strictly temperate in action. Ii is tC
be hoped that business will not re-
ceiye any severe shocks from Mr.. vii.
son. AS TO what may be expected from
the national legislature, ii is not YET
| safe u predict There is altogether
too strong a tendency 10 use the probe
! by unskillful hands and for question
able purposes. We are suffering from
too much hasty ill-cosidered legisa.
ton. Ii may be that now the cam
paign is over congress will moderate
| rs persecution of big business anG
! coniine itself 10 some constructiv,
Already congress shows "a disposition
To handle the tariff judiciously and tC
enforce such a reduction in the sched'
ules as will produce as little harm a
possible. Ii may be six months be
fore a new bill will De passed, ano
. 20, int. toll Ia.
regarded as a deterrent upon business
activity. especially in the textile in.
dustry, but the Democratic party
which now includes considerable,
protective element, is not likely Il
ruin ITS political future at the outse
by smashing the tariff. Revenue ne
cessities will also preveAt any serious
lowering Of schedules
! on the trust question there is "a
present little demand for legislation
The monopolistic movement reached
it's zenith in 1910 at the time Of tn
> Oil and Tobacco decisions. Those de
r cisions not only brought about dis
solution Of two of the largest so-caile
l monopoies in the country but wha
was of more Importance they prevent
ed the contamination of many ne'
!. combinations then merely dreams /
e the minds of ambitious men. TIL
@ Supreme Court has since then hande
$ down other important decisions, not
I ably the Union Pacific merger sup
porting the antitrust law. II is mo-
n quite certain that the trend toWar
II undue monopoly has been severel
II checked Time will be required 1,
h the restoration of competition on rea
II sonable lines; just as time was re
y quired To create many CT the grei
81 combinations. The important thin
to remember in connection with II
Sherman antitrust law is that vel
IS menacing political danger has bee
= restrained for it is quite certain, tn;
l. had the monopoly movement gof
a much further the country would hay
lie had to face "A grave political upheavi
Is ending either In much more objection
~, able government control than is
ar prospect today, or in an immediate II
J. PRODUCTION To absolute socialism
H. is not to be supposed that the count
j. can do without big corporations
Ill that future consultations may ~
90 be justified; but the elimination
ur competition outside of national mo-
x opolies and patents will now he
t. much more difficult matter. and q
ST chances of success i'm new enterpris
TN are vastly better today than in maj
/
= Continued en- Page FNe.)
de