Bridgeton pioneer., 1915-03-25
BUSINESS
AND POLITICS
Business Interests Watch
Situation.
BIG FIGHT is ON
Republican Candidacy is Now
Being Discussed by Busi-
ness Men.


the Philadelphia Ledger.)
Chicago, March 21.-Business men
are looking forward to possible polit-
zeal events with intense interest. The
outgivings from the Administration in
regard to trade serve only to irritate.
They no longer convince the man in
actual contact with domestic COM
merce. These victims of a situation
over which they have no control be-
yond the casting of one vote look for
political change to arrest the gradual
slipping away of their prosperity.
They are not blinded by the fact that
large quantities of American mer-
| chandise are sold to Europeans for
war purposes, and they wonder what
| would become of the country if the
demand from that quarter were to
cease suddenly. Mere partisan poll
tics holds a subordinate position. AS
one man of broad intelligence says:
81 believe in Democratic principles,
| but they don't seem to be working
very well just now
1t is nearly two years before there
| will be change in the Administra-
| ton at Washington and Is months be-
| fore the nomination for President will
be made, but While in ordinary times
it is only from the political point of
view that people talk nominations at
this early stage, it is the business man
who is doing most of the talking now.
1t is presumed that the incumbent
will be candidate for President again,
accordingly, the talk relates almost
entirely to the Republican nomination
and we have Burton, Herrick, Whit
| man, Sherman and others in the list
of possible candidates for the nomina-
ton. There is a strong yearning to
get back to the old Mckinley ideas,
and the fact that Myron T. Herrick
was warm friend of Mckinley, and
stands for the same things, is one Of
his strongest qualifications for the
presidency in the view of many old
liners.
One of the most thoroughly in
formed men in regard to national pol
itics yesterday remarked: "The peo-
pie respect the high character of
Woodrow Wilson and give him credit
for the loftiest purposes, but the great
majority do not look upon this mat
ter from the ethical point of view. The
business situation of the country and
particularly their own unfortunate
condition is something very tangible
to them and from that point of view
they look upon political affairs. They
want a man who will stand for the
prosperity of the country and they
lhaye no faith in the promised good
results of the present regime. Nor do
Ithey give President Wilson any great
credit for keeping this country out
of war. They think that any man of
ordinary sense would have achieved
the same blessing. They are much
Impressed with the huge expenditures
of the Government and the deficit in
the Treasury, with the policy which
has antagonized Mexico without ac-
co,nplishing anything of value, but
most of all, with a tariff law which
has failed to bring us the alleged ben
efits of free trade and at the same
time has wrought such havoc with
our industries and our finances"
"But," said the interviewer, "the
Congressional election of last fall
Twas not a very loud protest against
the present order The Republicans
gained but they did not get control OF
the House. How do you account for
that?"
"The Republicans did not make any
; great effort to gain control of the
, House." was the reply. Many OF
them said, Let this thing run along q
| little farther. Give those fellows rope
enough and they will hang them
selves. 1t is my opinion that wher
| the time comes it will matter little
fwho the Republican candidate is, 81