Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-01-05
Looking Backward.

Nineteen hundred and twelve was
year of remarkable achievement in
agriculture, in trade and in industry.
1t saw set up many new records of
crop yield, of commodity price move
ment. of foreign and domestic trade
and of manufacture. 1t observed some
notable changes along political lines,
witnessing the overwhelming defeat
of the party dominating the country
absolutely for sixteen years, and with
the exception of two presidential terms
had controlled national affairs for over
half a century, the birth of a new po-
litical organization, while heralding the
return to national power of an organ-
ization which had lain dormant prac-
tically since 1896. 1t saw registered
some great changes in legislation and
some new legal definitions of existing
laws, which, however, seemed to De
received with equanimity, if not with
actual Indifference. Despite the inter
est, approaching excitement. appar-
emily inseparable from American na-
tional elections, the country's business
moved forward with some irregulari-
ties visible at times, it is true, but, on
the whole, with a steadiness and an
indifference to clamor, whether of po-
litical or of quasi-economic origin,
which was refreshing to those who had
not lost faith in the republic, and COM
forting to those who believe that in
benefcient crop returns and sober,
solid hard work and industry, rather
than in political nostrums, is to be
found true conservatism and real ma
tional progress. The country's parti-
cipation in international politics was
along peaceful lines, and while the
interdependence of the nations sub
jected it to strains growing out of Eu-
ropean war and financial disturbance.
it was spared the alarms or the open
hostilities which afflicted all the ma
tions of the old world, and some couu-
tries in the western hemisphere. Brief
ly stated, it was a period of peaceful
progress and plenteous production dur
ing which were laid some firm foun-
dations for season of prosperity IN
the current year.
Perhaps the most notable develop
ment in the years commercial history
"a really new happening as it proved
was the serenity with which the bus
mess world awaited and surveyed the
years domestic political changes The
presidential election and threatened ta-
riff changes were alike contemplated
almost with indifference, and, indeed,
the most active month of the year in
wholesale lines was that Immediately
preceding the election OF the real
substantial drawbacks of the year
might be mentioned cold. weather ear
ly; wet cold, backward spring and
delayed agricultural operations, which
acted as repressive elements. The first
five months of the year were periods
of relative dullness in demand in many
lines, and especially in retail distri-
button, but with the growth of assur-
ance of large crops, trade and indus
try gathered confidence; demand,
though tempered by conservatism, ex-
panded greatly and he last seven
months comprised season of activ-
ity; this despite drawbacks, such as
an unseasonably mild fall, which re-
stricted retail operations; the high,
in fact record, levels of commodity
prices, which concededly narrowed
margins Of profits; deficiencies In
transportation inseparable from the
distribution Of record crops and enor.
nous industrial outputs, and the tight