The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-28

| mand that they exercise that trust witt
intelligence, efficiency and thrift. quito ~
| rightly as does public opinion demand ef
fciency and honesty In business admins
| tration.
"Prlces Of produce 10 up In answer 4
| the inexorable law Of supply and demand
values OF tho great agency Of production
farm lands-have risen In our memoir,
two or three hundred per cent. not be
cause those lands were more efficiently man
| aged but because the demands OF hungry
mouths and backs to be clothed have
made prices that permitted much increased
values, even when not accompanied by In
creased efficiency Of management
''Hysteria Of Criticism."
els II not time for the maiisned busi.
ness man TO direct some attention to the
honest farmer, and TO ask whether the
people whose demands tho politicians are
so fond of formulating should not have
directed against them and their small
business methods some of the same an.
alytical criticism that II has bean the
order OF the day to direct against big
business3
II believe that as a nation va have sor
some years been attacked py q hystcria
OF criticism against big business. until a
majority OF the people have come to be-
Is through legislation. instead OF through
Intelligent hard work improved methods
and a scientific application OF the best
knowledge of their own business
THE particular men who happen for
the moment to be occupying official post
tons In Washington and elsewhere. and
who are laying unbearable hardships upon
the proper development OF business In the
United states. are not perhaps primarily
To blame. The blame lies back OF them
in an III informed and frequently unfair
state of public opinion. We have had a
period OF magazine and political muck
rak!ng. which has brought about cen
dition where business success Is looked
upon as a crime. whore tho man who has
demonstrated that 10 can manage his
business we'll Is excluded from public
Government Affairs have been put into
the hands OF men who would he !ncompe-
tent successfully - manage modest bust
ness affairs.
at Is idle TO rail at tho public repre-
sentatives OF one party or another or At
one administration or another We have
got to get back OF all that and create n
soundtr, a more Intelligent and more
honest public opinion.
I'VE are In a period OF industrial and
commercial depression. The marvel is
not that in spite OF our great resources
We are In such a period, but rather. with
the terrible misunderstanding and mis-
conception on the part OF public opinion.
that under a popular government We are
not Ia condition OF much deeper depres-
sion.
Il regret that cannot at the moment
see any marked tendency In the direction
OF business Improvement. We have the
promise Of great crops. although there is
much uncertainty between such an early
promise and ultimate fulflmen;. Should
there be complete fulnlment OF that prom
Use Il would OF course. temporarily at
least bring with Il improvement
we may be permitted an increase Of
railroad rates, and that would be doubly
helpful. first on the side OF is direct bene-
At, but even more on the side OF promise
OF fairer treatment Business conditions
are unsatisfactory, however, on account
OF fundamental reasons that arc deeper
than can be cured by one or both VI these
factors"
Mr.. Odell. who Is commedcial agent OF
the United States Department OF Com
merce said that Englands lead over the
United States IN the export OF cotton cloth
was shown by the fact that United States
exports for the year ended December 81
last amounted 20 t466.677252, while Eng
lands was $7.075.5 400.
The failure OF the new tariff act TO
eject a saving II the consumer was dwelt
upon by Mr. Cramer THE erect OF the
new tarin." hc said. has been largely one
of the pressure OF threatened importu-
lions. domestic manufacturers mcetin :
prices and holding the business AT figures
that are proiitless In many instances"