The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-13

nEVkI ULEWO
 WEEKLY LETTER
 It Is better for both sides now to consider the result of the fight be- tween the Republican party and the Democratic party as a square and fair one, and everybody should accept the inevitable in a kindly spirit, forgetting and forgiving the animosities which have cropped out during the contest and be encouraged by the prosperity now prevailing throughout the nation and the strong prospect for its con- tinuance for some time to come That is something that no other nation can boast of in anything like the same de- gree and should be enough to make the American people happy and con- tented, especially when they compare their lot with that of the sufferers throughout Europe. Many people think that our present election ter minated in a muddle owing to the votes of the electors being so close. think, however, that is a cause of rejoicing rather than otherwise, as it !, will serve to compel both of our great parties to put up, as they have done in this election, high grade men for their candidates hereafter and not ! merely demagogue politicians. It i marks new era for our country, which will tend to perpetuate our Re- publican form of government, which I firmly believe is the best ever de- I-~k ;v, Of anio 11xy for our cosmopolitan populations government of the people, by the peo- pie and for the people. The result of the election goes to show that there ! are but few vital issues at stake be- tween the two great parties; besides. we are almost sure to have in the field hereafter candidates, both learned, capable and highly representative men, similar to those who have com- Ipeted in the present Hughes Wilson contest. Hence, it is to be hoped that it will lead to the conclusion that both sides will recognize the absolute ne cessity of putting forward their best citizens; then no serious harm is likely : to happen to our people or country whoever may be the prize winner. If that fact becomes recognized, as 1t should be, by our voting population, then the best all-around men will be selected for nomination on both sides and all will be well now and forever more.
 Many stocks again touched high re-
 cords, chiefly the industrials as re- suit of big earnings or upon the early assumptions of Republican success. The reaction started by election dis appointments quickly exhausted itself
 N aA N fn movement The impression gains strnegth that the high, point of the market as whole has not yet been 1 reached: in other words war imitation lis energetically at work and no per manent setback can be expected until < this influence has spent its force-a contingency admittedly not yet in sight Prices of commodities seem buttressed upon one or two incontrO- !, vert'ble facts; an abnormal demand, {. coupled, with general scarcity. Wheat, cotton, corn, meats leather, wool, rub Der, steel, copper, in fact practically all important commodities have risen sharply since the war. Naturally the ], cost of living has increased, and in | many cases, though not all, wages !; have risen, thus adding to the cost of production. There is apparently but 1 one check to t'lis upward movement. and that is exhaustion of buying pow CT; there belng no immediate prospect of the war ending and no uneasiness regarding the credit situation. Already economy and substitution are being practiced at home and in the shop; but this, while symptomatic, is not thus far important as to its results. American industry continues running x.>.> a; result of war influences. The demand for munitions is expected to continue, at least until spring, if not longer; our mills are endeavoring to fill the voids in foreign markets; our shipyards are turning out vessels at speed and prof. its never before experienced; while the country itself is now feeling the powerful stimulus of the big profits of the last two years, especially 1916.
 There is one vital thing that is not scarce, and that is money, the circula- ton per capita being the larges. in our history. Credit is abundant, so plentiful in fact, that bankers are all eready taking steps to avert the dan gers of imitation, including the dis arrangements of gold imports. Easier conditions are also reported abroad. Money is plentiful in London. The .g1 eat banks of England and France are increasing their gold holdings and rumor has it that the Bank of E1g- land rate will before long be reduced tfrom six per cent. It is quite evil ldent that bel1igerents will be compell- ed to come again to New York for financial aid; all of which tends to permanently increase the financial prestige of the United States. So long as these influences remain at work, the imitation movement must continue, and when war ceases there will be compensations to offset their disap- pearance. A great industrial awaken ing is already on foot in this country, new markets having been opened to ,is while new industries are being cre- ated at an unprecedented rate. Unless all signs mislead, we have already en- tered a new era of industrial progress .n which the rewards of industry will be more equitably distributed than in the past.
 One of :he most assuring symptoms of the day is the rapid disappearance of public hostility to the railroads, which has been such an impeachment to their proper development. For the first time in many years, the railroads were scarcely a factor in the political campaign, and the prospects of their G~I~ A>~>, f..A.