The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1914-06-16
TUESDAY, JUNE 1s, 1914
THE GENERAL OUTLOOK

An easier feeling in transpOr~
lduon, a promise of activity ip
iron and steel, sustained satisfqt
ton among textile industries and
nattering predictions from the
rural regions all go TO make up IL
wholesome general outlook for
The immediate future. Among
some of the exporters and manu-
facturers the dread of furihtl
legislation has operated as a
drawback. But this, which has
been characterized by one OF
the commercial publications as
"Washingtonitis' is by no means
general. A peculiar phase of
the business situation is that the
depression which is acutely fell
in some lines is entirely absent
in others; for example, the rail
roads of the New England terri
tory may be sorely in need of in
creased revenues, whereas the
cotton, silk and wooden mills are
making a satisfactory showing.
What pessimism one branch of
industry reflects is largely offset
hy optimism from another.
There is reason for anticipu,-
ing a sound and widespread re-
sumption of confidence. Per-
haps the most powerful and graf
flying of present factors is the
crop report. Rains the latter
part Of the week have made sec
ure the excellent stand which
most of the current crops hal
attained. Politics cannot affect
the weather, although gloomy
dcys may sometimes affect the
feelings of the lawmaker. The
railroads may regret the activity
Of legislatures-and congress
but The earth puts forth her
yield according TO the times a. Il
seasons. There is nothing of
"Washingtonitis" to be found
among the farmers at this Dusy
season. The west and llih-
west are in the early stages Of
harvest. Kansas has issued an
other call for labor. The unem-
piOyed laborer in the east is
I.eeded in Kansas; in fact, When
ever Kansas has had a good year
it has seemed difficult to obtain
adequate help.
1t is only natural that the sat
isfaction expressed in the country
should be reflected to a degree in
the cities The country bauI.
is res Donsib Tor much of thl
in times past, no longer than the
panic of 1907, it was said that the
country banker had his boss" in
the city,; and indeed this was
true when the country banker
lost for a time the use of the
funds entrusted to foreign CORES
pondents. But now it seems
that Wall street is looking at the
picture from the other side. Be
hold the country banker, it says
Gnafraid, hopeful, activel The
far rer and the country bank,r
grumbled because of their con-
ccption of the Simmons-Urder-
wood tariff law as applied to az
ricultural products, but harvest
time is no time for grumbliag.
IN the cities and in the manufac-
turing districts opinion Giles
ienaciOusly to the railroad rate
case. The tendency is to look to
the condition Of iron and steel
and iron and steel respond that
their prosperity depends on the
railroads to a large degree. An
embarrassing feature of recent
returns-embarassing to the
roads-is that net earnings of
tie transportation systems have
made a better showing. This
Is an exceedingly awkward time
Tor such a manifestation of finan
cal ease, and in some quarters
1t is predicted that it will have an
influence on the interstate con-
inerce commissions ruling ir The
ate case. However that may ice
the entire country is justified IN
regarding the condition of the
crops with satisfaction