Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-11-04
NOW MY I'D
Daily Talks With Thinking p
KnOu
CHARLES J. WEBB
On Our Business Future

THE Republican victory at the polls af-
i fords an opportunity for the beginning
of new era in this country, in the opinion
Of Charles j. Webb prominent wool mer-
chant.
''The condemnation Of the Democratic
party" said Mr.. Webb, 'shows that the
American people cannot be fooled all the
time. The election of Harding and Coolidge
means the dawn Of a new day. From now
on the unntelligent interference with bust
ness will stop and the country will take
heart and push forward.
Naturally, the bad mix up of the last
eight years cannot be Strengthened out at
once, but business will start on the upgrade
and America will begin to come into its own
"There are several things that are to be
borne in mind. howeve, if this victory is to
have its fruition in genuine prosperity for
the country.
First of all, we must remember that 81
per cent of our future prosperity will depend
words, the frame of mind of our people must
be cheerful and hopeful of better things with
out undue overconidence; that is. the harm
full overconfdence that manifests itself in
extravaganza and overindulgence.
Politics a Curse
''Then we must have q business admins
tration and not political one. One Of the
curses of this country has been politics.
While other countries, such us England,
and Scandinavian countries, live and dream
commerce and let politics take care of it
self, we dream politics and let this vital
element in our prosperity shift for itself
''Mr. Harding and Mr.. Coolidge, backed
by Republican House and Senate, have an
unexampled opportunity to do big things for
this country. But they must be fearless and
big minded and unselfsh. They must first
of all put business prosperity for the coun-
try, meaning everybody in it, ahead Of every
lGSh orfi oil
must plan for the soundest and strongest
basic business, both at home and abroad,
that it is possible for this country to have,
and must do it free from any political con-
prosperity to the country and go down as
heroic figures; but they will probably never
be elected for another term.
"A great deal will depend upon the cabi-
net with which Mr.. Harding surrounds him.
self. We want big. practical, capable men,
who are more interested in their country's
future than in playing politics. We GER
tainly do not want any more lawyers in the
cabinet and eloquent speakers are not
prime consideration. But we do want hard
headed farmers and business men and others
of that type.
'"rhe incoming administrators face giant
lob. There Is an awful mudde to clear up.
We have become so accustomed to extrava-
gance and enormous profits and carelessness
that 1t il going to take heroic measures to
bring things back to reasonable basis. We
will have to develop some of the economy and
thrift and simplicity of our forebears II we
are not going to blow up nationally.
World. wide Reputation
"The wild eyed extravaganza of the last
eight years has not only manifested itself in
our national affairs, but has permeated to
almost every individual in the land. If the
present and recent period of imitation had
kent up much longer we would have had
replica of the old Roman decadent period,
when extravaganza and profigacy were Mt
their worst People would shortly have been
bathing in milk or champagne, according to
which liquid better suited their particular
compilations.
"America has succeeded in getting a
world wide reputation as an extravagant
nation. In Germany and other countries
before the war, and even later, the contrast
was most marked
'Where man offered two for a quarter
or a quarter cigar would Immediately light
II up here, in that country the recipient
would decide to smoke 1t after dinner on
Sunday. If ii were Of the twenty five cent
variety, he would decide to enjoy its aroma
on his wedding anniversary. The wonder
has often been expressed on the Continent
where we got all the money that they took
from us.
"In England, Germany, Poland and other
European countries the inhabitants largely
manage 70 live, SO TO speak, on Whit from
aErsasy ras. In this country the workingmaa