Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-19

Well, which is right-the optimis-
tic West or the conservative East?
Being obliged to breathe the con-
taminated air of the effete East, my
views are doubtless affected thereby
think prudence calls for a careful,
risky course commercially.
The crops are not good.
That is one big. dominating. gov
erning fact. With our rapid growth
in population. we need larger, not
smaller. yields of every variety Of
foodstuff We need more, not fewer,
cattle-but the number is decreas-
ing so alarmingly that law restrict
ing the slaughter of calves should be
promulgated. We need a generous
rather than a niggardly supply OF
cotton.
The airy reply of the blind opti-
mist at amy cost is that prices will
rise enough to compensate the
farmer for short crops. He even i'm
plies that light harvests are. there
fore. blessing instead of a curse.
That is nonsense. People must
have a sufficiency of food II they are
to remain fit and do full days
I'll. l.
mendously serious consideration for
the great majority OF the countrys
inhabitants High prices ARE
curse They spell hardship for the
great body Of the people. They
bring. not general prosperity, but
general depression and discomfort.
on the crop question, therefore,
tho East's disappointment over the
grave damage TO crops Is well based.
Then :he East can not forget that
we are on the eve Of enforcing the
most radical tariff revision our
manufa cturers have ever had to con-
tend with. True there has been less
whining than in former tariff reform
years. But that does not necessarily
mean there will be no disturbances.
Among local banking and business
circles there ts much underground I'M
easiness on this score-far more than
is publicly expressed A good deal
Of scattered trouble is feared.
For my part have great faith in
the ability Of American business men
to adapt their affairs to meet changed
circumstances. DO not believe
foreigners are to NOV down Ameri-
san manufacturers. I do not believe
the total amount. or even value, OF
our manufactured products will be
less I'm 1915 than it was in 1910. 7
believe there will he a quickening Of
effort. a speeding up of energy, a re-
doubling of enterprise, especially in
invading foreign markets. We will
not 60 backward, but forward. We
have the natural resources, we have
the men, we have the capital, we
have the brains and we have the am
bition We lack needful experience
In meeting European competitors In
neutral markets We lack American
banking facilities in the Latin
American countries that are crying
aloud for our exploitation. We lack
courtesy and adaptability in dealing
with other nationaiities. We lack
appreciation of the importance Of
small export orders. We want to run
before we creep in our conquest Of
oversee markets.
There must be a period OF read
iustment to the new conditions pre-
cipitated by the Wilson tariff. The
East's approximations of temporary
uncertainty, nervousness and more
or less embarra ssment. may prove
well founded. Indeed. there have
been quite a number of failures dur
ing the last three months, and more
concerns are being carried" than
the West realizes.
A few fairly high stiles. it seems
to me. have to be surmounted before
the commercial community can hope
to enter d clear, open field.
Red blood need not run riot sim
ply to demonstrate that it is red.