Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-05-25
Mexican Situation Nest Tfou-
bIesome Problem at Pres
II, ent--0Htlok Better
IBy Latesst Nail


q. @t--7-T / p
fBy Latest MALI
CHICAGo-The National City Bank
Of Chicago says in IFS review of bust
mes conditions:
with the feeling of : uncertainty
about the Mexican situation, and the
inability Of anyone to forecast the
probable course OF events = in that
country during the next few weeks,
it has been impossible for the great
business interests OF the United States
TO make much Roadway during the
last month. There has always been
the possibility OF serious conflict
to reckon with, and while the sftua-
ton has shaped from hour to hour,
the dread of financial complications
CT some serious happening In Mexico
has been q continuing factor of dis
turbance in the American markets. In
this way the Mexican difficulty has
become matter of great annoyance
and in its ultimate bearing an influ-
ence reaching out into all directions.
1t is useless to discuss the outcome
of the affair or to consider how great
q QCSCItSAJ sOONdIu Duo1hCO
ment this wfetched dispute is likely
ito be. The situation Is full Of vexa-i
.tious possibilities, and until il has
been cleared up there is little reason
to look for q sudden revival in any
quarter = 49, ~<
All this only emphasizes the need
of eliminating from the situation all
other factors of disturbance. where 1t
is possible to get rid of them. It
would seem to be hazardous under
taking for Congress to attempt any
new antitrust legislation at the mo-
.ment when business Is depressed from
ether causes. So far as the great in
iterstate corporations are concerned. il
is perfectly evident that no indus
trial manager is willingly breaking
the law today. On the contrary, there
never was time when the provisions
ef the Sherman antitrust act, so far
as they are understood, Were more
thoroughly respected by all corpora
tons than they are today Now, If
q new scheme of supervision should
be insisted upon, with a trade COM
mission proposal as a basis, the stu
alton might easily arise where the av-I
erage investor would become even
more bewidered than he has been of
late What the people need Is not
more legislation, but more common
sense in dealing with conditions which
are becoming every day more yexa-
.tious and troublesome. It is not too,
much to say that the public mind has
become overweight to degree
which makes necessary a quick
change In the. Washington program
If business is to be built up and fur
Their hardships aVerted.. p .-.s'@<5
The situation, as regards the rail
roads Is made the more interesting
Because Of the laying OFF of a vast
army Of men and the fact that more
than 450,0o0,000 short-term note is
sues-a record total-fall due In 1914.
The rate decision is awaited with keen
interest, not only because of the pos
sible 10000, 900 which would be add
ed to railroad revenue, but also for
its psychological effect upon the pub
'lic.h ssa "a. .'.'~...t: s.S.~ IS
The fact is that the whole country
is preparing to take more hopeful
view Of things IL given half a chance.
The outlook for winter wheat was
never better, and weather. conditions
through most of the crop territory
have been, relatively speaking, all
that could be desired What is more,
business Is on a safe basis and there
is no speculation In securities, in
trade, in the building industry, or in
the commodity markets. Everything
is in shape to go ahead If the people
have the heart to do so, and II they
see in the Washington situation thu
slightest inspiration for individual INF
tiative. With the government driving
private capital out of the express
business and the proposal for federal
ownership Of the telephone and tele.
graph service, the air is full of pater.
nalism. The people are not back of
such a movement, and when they
have become better acquainted with
its real character they win not sup.
port it in even the slightest degree.
Is there any reason to suppose that
the telephone system OF the United
States would have become the model
for all the world If it had been devel- !
oped by the government and not by
private capital? The government
owned systems Of Europe are toy af-E
fairs compared with the American
systems, and should the government
ownership idea ever prevail in this
country the experiment would involve
saddIing the people with $4,000, oe0,-
900 of Indebtedness. to pay for thei
taking over of the present equipment. |
% The public is still nanifesting a :
disposition to invest in nothing but
the highest grade municipal bonds and
securities of the savings bank TYPED
This inquiry has broadened material