South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-08-03
LOCAL BANK DELIVERS DISTINCT
BLOW TO REPUBLICAN FALSE
PRETENSE.


PRETENSE.
The republican pretense. scattered
broadcast 20 the effect that all OF pros
perity that this country is enjoying is
due to the European war. and. that but
for IL. we would he in the midst Of an
awful panic. seems not 10 have been
acquiescently absorbed by the First
National bank OF this city,-if we read
its August letter on trade conditions
and business forecast" Alright.
This seems 10 be a straight business
letter. inconsiderate Of partisan poll
tics, and ought 20 be a pretty good
criterion for the public 10 judge by.
We call attention to the very first SEN
tence OF the first paragraph which we
quote. in particular:
The business situation in this
couatry is no better at this time
than IL would be had there been
no European war To be sure.
We are doing a lot of business I'm
war supplies and fOodstuffs but.
because OF the war. other lines
have been held back We need
have no concern as 20 what will
happen TO our business should the
war suddenly end. because, while
the end of the way would mean
the end Of our exports OF arms
and explosives, these Items form
only a small part of the'totals Of
our daily exports. even at this
time The end Of the war would
mean the beginning of much bust
ness in this country which will
probably not be taken up until
the European trouble is settled.
This contention Of the business
men OF the country is not new. Il was
voiced by Judge Ebert II. Gary. head
Of the United States Steel corporation.
months ago and since then by numer-
Gus other leading financiers, but Of
course. and hardly 20 be expected,
not to the satisfaction OF the political
panic-making apostles OF the Full
Dinner-Pau." South Bend. however,
may observe it more keenly now,
since the expression comes locally
from men Of high financial reputation,
and not reputed for any considerable
democratic mould. The statement
says further:
The area Of poor business con-
ditions in the United States con-
tinues 10 diminish and at present
covers only a part of the south
eastern states including a strip
along the Atlantic coast from
South Carolina to New York. The
central west is particularly active
and the business map Of the
whole country today Is as good
as IL has been at any time since
1905. Arbitration Of the existing
and threatened strikes and lock-
outs would Immediately make ii
better. Those people who are
praying for the war 10 continue
for fear peace will mean business
depression for us should be told
that peace in Europe Will proba-
bly, mean a long period of great
prosperity in this country and
the end of the war could bring US
nothing but good.
It is also gratifying that the bust
ness interests Of the land are seeing
their business. and thus prolonging
the pOliuco- business turmoil that
has so long been the bane of our COM
mercial life We quote again:
The darkest spot or our map OF
business Is trouble with labor
disagreements. strikes and lock-
out. Some OF these troubles are
doubtless due 20 the activity of
Ioreign spies in this country and
the remainder of them due to the
cupidity OF the employer or en-
ploye, seeking TO take advantage
Of the present situation 10 drive a
bargain. The result of these labor
conditions is a loss TO every one
and the sudden termination of
the war would leave those in
4e, u -.
bad shape indeed.
And we anticipate that there are
still other reasons for the labor trou-
bles that are threatening the country.
reasons with which foreign spies. and
the cupidity OF employers and EN-
ployes are minute in comparison. The
banker may not have wished 20 men,
ton IL. wanting to avoid politics, but
il having become patent III several
cases where strikes have broken out,
that politics had engineered IT. we Of
fer the suggestion as sort of appen-
dix
Strike agitators in the employe of
the republican national committee,
is by no means beyond the range Of
possibility. Rising prosperity in spite
OF the war. rather than on account
OF H. is conceded by the business in
terests everywhere. This confession on
the part of interests OF which the re-
publican party has always regarded
itself the savior would seem TO be
calling for line OF punishment How
can the G. O. z. expect 10 win with
the Full Diuner-Pail" as battle-cry.
il the dinner-pails are all ready filled.
or II empty. If business can be quot
ed as asserting that IL is due 10 the
war and not 10 democratic tariffs2 II
there can be no other way OF main
tainins an army OF unemployed" and
"soup-houses' for political capital. the
strike would seem TO be the only "ex-
pedient"
We do not like 20 believe that any
political party, or its leaders. would
~oudaererd fo s11rh methods hut at