Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-15
MARK TIME WITH
POLITICAL MOVES
Striking Similarity Of Stock
Prices With Year or More
Emotions.
COUNTRY EXPERIENCING
THE TRANSITION STATE
Many Realizing Test of Good Cit.
zenship-Patience and Caution
Governing Impulse.
By W. G. NICHOLAS.
Of The Star.

NEW YORK, March IA, 1914.
The records Of stock market
price quotations and the f1uctua-
tons of political emotions for
year or more have been in comparative
parallel. The action in both cases has
been strikingly similar in ups and downs
Political developments have been strong
ly irregular in the general sense and
market prices have kept pace in a ragged
fashion. The stock market has been ir-
regular and the net price changes were
not radical. excepting on remote occa-
sions. Present quotations. taking the
list for the tweivemonth period, show a
material depreciation in quoted values
Taking surface measurement there are
many irregular Interruptions to the price
record The story Of the tape is told of
general shrinkage in prices. with the
variation Of the partial or total collapse
Of WORKOUT properties. and sympathetic
movements on the part Of specialties
whose record was a dismal register of
mismanagement or dishonesty. We are
now confronted with a ragged pictorial
story Of irregular shrinkage in the APP
praisement-not alone the outline of mere
mechanical action. but an impressive map
of changing conditions-whether for good
or bad is not yet determined to GER
tainty. There will have to be further
tests before success or failure can be, an
experience that will require the further
expenditure of time and patience for veri-
tication.
In large part the experimentation has
been at heavy expense, accompanied with
only partial success at best, and uncer-
tainty and disappointment In most cases.
That does not necessarily mean failure
anywhere along the experimental line,
but neither the leaders nor the public is
entirely satisfied with results down to
date. It remains for the future to fur
nish evidence upon which to build a
sound verdict, and it is upon this pa
triotic effort upon which tens of thou
sands Of conscientious and level-headed
men are engaged. Myriads of half baked
enthusiasts still insist upon further loose
adventuring, and keep up the business
nervousness and discomfort. Until the
magnitude and consequences of agra
waited persistence in the enforcement of
mistakes and wrong doctrines, then and
not until then will there be a restoration
Of common sense in the direction of af-
fairs. The great body of sensible men
will be unconsciously recognizing the
wisdom Of leadership now only partially
recognized.
An increasing number Of men of more
or less intelligence are awakening to
realize that the test of good citizenship
is not confined to the one virtue of
money making. That is a useful adjunct,
sonable persistence are factors in sue
cess of a united population. Just at this
writing the country is in the transition
state
Sometimes Found Beneficial.
That feature of racking nervousness
which shook the courage of millions of
normally brave men. and a percentage
Of women folks" has not been wholly
obliterated. Actual market movements
leave the minds of traders and mer-
chants unsettled. The remaining SEN
sation is no longer tinged with nerv-
Gus fears. but a feeling of uncom-
Portable disQuiet and distrust remains.
The failure of trial legislation is not
accepted as disastrous; it is construed
most frequently as merely delay, which
Is sometimes a useful ingredient in the
mixture Mere mishaps are not neces.
sarily disasters, or even misfortunes.
Declines in the stock market and
allowing down in business are sometimes
found to be beneficial. The country.
not merely sectional. but as a whole,
seems to be more to the satisfaction
of the critical than it was when hys-
terical outbursts were offered as ex-
cuses for stock market spasms. The
strange occurrences of the past several
months have been followed by pal
pable recoveries but among the care
ful the governing Impulse Is St1li pa
thence and caution. A sore toe is not
fatal malady. Philosophizing a bit
over conditions that are SO much out
Of the ordinary as to excite discus
sion results finally in a slow but
certain return of the normal
There has been acute excitement
this week over an important issue hith-
erto quietly conducted The freight
rate problem developed several irritat-
ing and possibly dangerous features.
Ingenious and tireless trouble breed
ers' are accused of having taken dis
courteous advantage of statistical data
furnished the commissioners by the
fifty-two railroads on the list of appli-
cants for higher rates. The informa-
ton was complete in detail. on the
lines suggested by the commissioners. It
covered a period Of ten years, instead
Of i've years, as originally suggested
by the government representatives.
More data were asked for by the COM
missioners. They condensed their de-
mands into seventy-two additional
questions. a request that meant six
months further time and a large ex-
psndikure Of caah-said to have been