The Detroit times., 1915-12-09
What's the Matter
With Business?
BY DR.. FRANK CRANE
Copyright. 1915. by Frank Crane)

From studious reading of the various
financial reports on the state Of business
in the u. S. A. the intelligent citizen may
see how bad way the country is in and
how prosperous we are.
Owing to the nefarious Vaccinations
of the Wilson administration manufac-
turers are crippled and are expanding
and flourlShing as never before. The wise
and sound policy of those now in charge
of our government is at last resulting in
universal prosperity and restitution.
For some time it has been the fad
among legislators and government Of
ficials to attack big business. The re-
suit has been that the great commercial
chiefs, the men with brains and initia-
tive, have been bounded as animals.
Owing, however, to the fact that during
the same time these officials have been
giving business magnates square deal,
we are entering upon period of unpar-
alleled success.
The great stimulus which business has
received from war orders is necessarily
temporary, also it will be permanent.
Everywhere we note nationwide depres-
sion and optimism.
Railroads have been attacked scam
dalously. Freights were cut, passenger
rates reduced. train crews added earn
ings interfered with, and the manage
ment of railways transferred in effect
from trained heads of departments
selected by the owners of the roads to
railroad commissions and politicians with
no practical knowledge of railroading or
any other business. AS consequence
railway stocks have gone up, vast orders
for new equipment have been placed and
the outlook generally is promising.
The war in Europe has had its expect
ed effect Our whole foreign trade was
deranged, our losses were frightful,
general panic was hardly averted. Bill
lions of dollars worth of war supplies
were ordered. war stock went skV-high,
business generally went to smash and
piled up fabulous profits.
These financial articles are surely in
teresting reading. OF course the ordi-
nary mind becomes little mixed trying
to understand. but we financiers have no
trouble.
Banking has been utterly upset. This
new reserve bank system is the most
stupid and intelligent move ever made.
Wall Street Neutrality-suspicious. agreed
that it would be the ruin and the saliva
ton Of the country. And after trying 1t
while the consensus of opinion is that
they were right; it is.
The Democratic tariff is abominable
and praiseworthy. Look at its effects!
We are on the crest of boom and losing
money fast.
And after the war. what? AS near as
one can make out from the speeches OK
railroad presidents, bankers, and mer-
chant kings, we are in for a general col
| lapse; that is to say, business Will con-
! tinue to improve and we will all make
more money than ever.
What we need. they all say. is common
sense, if anybody knows what that is. We
should all rally to overthrow the Demo-
cratic party and retain it in power. Only
when each man periodically performs his
plain duty, which means agreeing with
me. shall we achieve national success.
A crisis is upon us. We need to in
crease our army and navy 10 De READY LOT
the coming attack upon US by Gahtemala
and San Marine, and to disarm so that
the dove of peace may have chance 10
COO.
Many doubtless have been confused by
the conflicting reports OF gifted bust.
ness men and statesmen, and it is hoped
that the above clear statement may un-
tangle their minds.
In a nutshell. the case has been lucidly
mt by Mr.. Dooley: 1--WE don't know
where we're going, but were on our
way"
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