Omaha daily bee., 1912-08-13

There is something strangely paradox
ical about the present situation in the
business world. Ordinarily at this time In
presidential year" there is a feeling
Of uncertainty and hesitation on account
of doubts concerning the results OF the
campaign. Since the panic of 1907 and
the depression that followed 1t there mas
been only slew and irregular recovery.
This has been attributed to agitation
over trust prosecutions and further anti
trust legislation. changes in the tariff.
actual and apprehended, Increased ex-
penses and diminished earnings of rail-
roads and the denial of the privilege OF
advancing. rates, etc. These things may
have had their influence incidentally. but
they are not fundamental causes. The
recovery was bound to be slow and to
have It's painful Incidents. The situation
caused by reaction from "boom times
had to be worked out by liquidation OF
expanded obligations and production of
new values on lowered basis, STILL the
time had apparently come for genuine
revival this year II the country should
be blessed with good crops, but there was
the shadow of the ever-disturbing presi-
Dental campaign, and 1t was expected
that doubt and hesitation would defer all
prospect OF renewed prosperity until the
excitement was over, and, after that,
much would depend upon the result of
the election. h's'
Somehow the customary perturbed state
of mind, which was expected to be rather
aggravated than otherwise this year, does
not seem to exist. The crop prospects are
more than fairly good for the season, and
that fact appears to be having It's full ef-
feet, In spite of campaign that has been
regarded as unusually confused and dis
turbing to the general equanimity. Indus
tries have become more active and their
profits are improving. Railroad earnings
have been increasing and there is every
Indication of a growing traffice which
will soon tax the facilities of the roads
General business necessarily feels the
impulse and even the stock, market is
cheered up. This is not because the pre-
liminary canvass of the, parties In pre-
pairing for their tickets and platforms
has been more serene than usual and
there has been specially restful feeling
In regard TO politics or an assured cer-
tainty about results. As everybody
knows. the excitement over caucuses and
primaries and nominations has been
greater and not less than usual. The
chief disturbing element. to be sure, has
been the Roosevelt raid upon the repub-
lican party for a third-term nomination,
but that had peculiarly perturbing
and confusing effect while II lasted. and
it was hardly to be supposed that its
failure and the forming of new party
to keep up the third-term racket would
cause things to quiet down or produce
feeling of ease and confidence
The forces that make for renewed ac-
tivity in industry and trade appear to
be moving and to promise a return of
prosperity without regard to the results
of the November election. At a time
when there is reason to look for more
uneasiness than usual. there is every IN
dication OF less. The unrest is visihly
subsiding and feeling of confidence is
perceptibly rising. Does this not signify
growing tendency among the people to
withdraw support from radical and dras-
tic policies In the treatment OF abuses
that have been put In the way Of cor
rection, and to give their support rather