New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-10
REVIEW AND DIGEST
Few Developments of a Re-
assuring ChaTaCter-PoIitiCS
Threaten Business.

Pursuing course Of indecision in its
movements, the stock market during
the last week has not differed mate
rally in its action from other previous
weeks. Events have been recorded
which have had a bearing on opera
tons and the business Of the Stock En-
change, but prices have failed to re-
fleet in any marked degree the develop
ments of the week. Attempts to an
alyze the speculative technical position
in stocks have not resulted in any sat
isfactory deductions, and traders were
so uncertain in their minds regarding
the probable trend that the market was
a mixed affair, each day displaying an
lrreguarity that was a reflex of The
prevailing fluctuating sentiment. Curl
Gus indeed is a situation caused by the
worlds moving picture show of pol
itics' which has combined to check
business on both sides of the sea.
The sanguine statements from all
parts of the country that were so
fiuently expressed prior to and just
following the Presidential election
are being succeeded in some dis
tricts by complaints and predictions in
some instances of dark future, While
other views are more hopeful and fore
cast only a moderate slowing down Of
I the impulse in trade and industry
which invaded 1918 with apparently
an Overwhelming force 1t cannot be
estimated just how much alarm has
been caused as numerous interests are
struggling to keep up courageous be-
lief that a new administration and
tariff legislation will be so conserva-
tive in the introduction Of measures
having an economic bearing that the
country at large will hardly realize
that changes are in process which will
form new basis of manufacturing
cost. OF course, there are some arti-
cles which will not be affected by re-
vised tariff, but indirectly several
trades and industries will feel H.
Strong hope has been in evidence that
the West would maintain It's business
activity and its wonderfully prosperous
condition due TO the bountiful crops
which last year were harvested. the
benefits of which must be felt during
large part of 1913. But in the West
and South il is said that there
are few evidences of contrac-
ton Of business in certain sec
tons, and the very strong tone
Of optimism which was sounded in
every Western city up To the first Of
this year and later is beginning to lose
little of its clearness, and some bus
ness men are wondering what the fut-
ure has in store Even in the most
confident statements of those who be-
lieve that the year 1913 gives excellent
promise of continued business pros
perity and that we rest on a basis fully
as substantial as that which character
lied the year 1912, there is clause
a possible change. In letter re-
ceived from Professor Rockwell ID.
Hunt, Of the department Of economies
and sociology in the Universit. Of
Southern California, after expressing
great confidence regarding the outlook
for 1913. the enormous crops which
should be followed by fun measure
Of prosperity, the near completion ~
the Panama Canal, etc, the professor
has the following paragraph, rejecting
an element Of doubt, which is the key
note Of the situation to-day:
"To be sure, we must not ignore the
tional change in political complexion,
which may prove more potent as a dis
tUrbing element than all the steadyins
factors put together. 1t is possible that
Mr. Wilson may not prove sufficiently
conservative in his policies to insure
the measure of prosperity hoped for; il
is possible. again, that the national
Legislature may in its zeal make laws
not always according 10 wisdom But
striking the balance, as best we may,
/ between all forces and influences likely
| TO be effective i'm the premises, ] am
/ pleased TO state that with so excellent
man and able a publicist as Wood
row Wilson at the White house, and so
sensitive a body of legislators as the
F. incoming Congress in the Capitol, |
see no cause for serious apprehension.
! / believe the present business pros
perity is founded on a substantial basis,
and nothing now seen on the horizon
is likely to check this prosperity in the
months 10 come"
Fundamentally there should be moth
! ing the matter with this country, and
there isn't except the microbe fear,
which is eating It's way into the minds
Of the business interests. They are
| forced 10 hesitate in their prepara-
tons for the next year and pos
sibly the year after, as good bust
ness judgment demands that they
dare not rush in on an elaborate scale
Of business engagements which may be
/ turned into heavy losses 10y changed
economical conditions. From another
letter received from the president of
one Of the largest institutions in Del
aware, who has requested that his
name be not published, the following is
taken:
our business, which reaches midi