The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-02-26

CIV "a iNA VI tL0 GtatC vi MEN bCA SSy.
Mr.. Wilson has very decided and pro-
gressive theories upon the most vital
economic questions OF the day. All
sound and disinterested thinkers will
agree with him upon the necessity of
arresting monopoly and getting back
+. reasonable and equitable competi-
ton, Il we wish to avert political
and social crisis of the most danger
Gus character. Such economic move
ments. however, as have been at
work in the last fifteen or twenty
years cannot be arrested suddenly or
violently, any moEs than the TWEEN
tieth Century limited" could be
stopped within the length Of a city
block without disastrous results. The
brakes will have to be applied judo
iously. Mr.. Taft has been highly eff
ficient In arresting the trust mania,
restraint has been steadily applied.
Thus far no serious results have fol-
lowed, and the dire consequences pre-
dicted over the dissolution of our
great corporations have not material
lied. and are further from sight than.
ever. Should Mr.. Wilson carry out
tho policy Of his predecessors In mod
ierate but persistent manner, he will
avoid business decentralization. Should
he, however, start In too vigorously
| to break up the present industrial
! system he may provoke serious con-
I III
his party. but also to the prosperity
Of the country as whole. The Sher-
man law Is being gradually and sound
ily interpreted by the supreme court
of the United States, which is build
ing up step by step an effective bar
rier against monopoly. It is. to be
/ hoped that Mr.. Wilson will recog-
/ iiize tie delicacies as we'll as the diff
j ficulties of the problem which he
proposes to solve. and will be satisfied
by progressing one step at a time. Mr..
4 Wilson's book on the New Freedom
Just of the press, reflects his partic-
Iular theories. and they will probably
be extensively incorporated into his
inaugural address. Needless to say,
ia sudden application of these theor-
lies would be revolutionary and highly
ldemoralizing.
General business showed a slacken
ing tendency; not more so. however
!, than is usual at this period of the
year. In fact bank clearings las
!; week we're about per cent larger
: than a year ago, and In the weei
: previous the increase vas 12 per cent
| Railroad earnings in the fourth weel
-lof January were about 10 per cen
D ahead OF a year ago. Our foreign
commerce continues upon a heav.
j scale. Merchants in the west are an
/ iticipating normal season. Shelye
generally are bare of merchandise II
S nearly all parts of the country; mel
II chants and manufacturers alike hay
Il ing pursued hand to mouth polio
/ for months past. Tariff uncertaintie
d have had much to do with this tent
it ency, and 1t Is safe to say that an
E. probable tariff reductions have bee
e thoroughly discounted. Business. how
h ever, is not likely TO resume its GU
e. tc mary activity until that all-impor
ant issue is settled-a consummatio
IS which 1t is TO be feared is a: lea.
,e two or three months distant. 1t Wa
III hoped that the extra session would |
lie limited to the tariff issue. If a fair
ID satisfactory banking bill can be pas
ed, it might be desirable to tai
II action on that subject also during Il
ed special session. The proposal, no
st ever. to bring UP the antitrust que
elk ton at that time is undesirable II
lie country badly needs rest from leg
W. iative changes. and the antitrust que
tion might safely be left alone for
an few months 10 be dealt with at [
as regular session Of congress. beginni
December next. In the merchandi
markets the tendency has been son
5. what toward lower prices In ma
On. s:derably cheaper than a year as
ing Lately we have had important
sut clines in copper. coffee and rubb
&C The two first named articles have !
Ri several years been under the
ult- fuence of very powerful information
sly manipulation The natural workin
syi- of supply and demand were persi
cy. emil. ignored. Prices were held
lso normally high. The result has be
md to unduly stimulate production, pr
ed, ent or prospective: so that with o
CT CT weakening influences added, th,
avs articles have lost much of their for
lite er strength. There is a considera'
be oversupply Of copper. and every il
in cation that an excessive supply
of coffee is also not far distant.
Gus In the money market the tender
an is toward firm rates. The agriculi
at al demand in the west has subsi,
ent as usual at this season, but n
Jap chants and manufacturers In that
in trict are preparing earlier than US
len, ror resumption of activity next spri
,uld The result has been a wider comm
cial demand for money. In abou