The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-06-02

monetary question for itself, using as
its textbook American life, and BUSH
ness, instead of being dependent on
the statements of men who are in the
profitable. business OF keeping things
as they now are. z
The point, however, is here: If the
artificial stoppage or release OF the
life-blood of commerce Is IN the hands
of few men, it is quite possible for
them to loosen their hold little If
by doing so they can retain for long
er period the right to retain their hold.
That is, if an election is approach
ing, and bad business conditions pre-
vail, it is possible for them to stimu-
late better business favorably for
them.
1t is not going back to the muck
raking period to say that the political
history of this country in the last rs
years offers several instances where
the entire business of the United
States was strongly and artificially
manipulated for the purpose of af-
fecting an election. In one election
the money power quite plainly showed
what it could do, and used the demon
stration as a threat of what more 1t
would do if the election went against
it. The election went as desired, and
the resulting administration was one
of prosperous times" for which po-
litical party was given credit, al
though neither the political principles
of the party, nor yet its administra-
ton of the government, had anything
to do with the case.
Heretofore, the pressure of the
money power has been largely toward
depression as a warning. This time,
however, there is ground for believing
that the pressure is to be exerted the
other way, for the stimulation of hope
and satisfaction. If business can be
made better during the summer and
fall, by the loosening of credit, the
campaign speakers can then attribute
it to the genius for administration and
to the prosperity giving principles OF
the party in power.
1t is a very effective. device to keeI
the government of the country in the
hands of certain groups no matter
which party is in power. But there
will not be many more opportunities
of using it. 1t is a game, never more
completely in the hands of its players
than now, and never in such danger Of
being clearly understood and abolished
by the people.
The chief danger is that the people
will be deceived for little while, anC
if they are, it will slightly delay thu
reformation. II will be delayed al
long as the people can be deceived
And that throws pathetic side ligh
on the situation to which the plain PEG
pie have been reduced. 1t has come t,
such pass that, as in ancient Roman
times, the people have been taught t,
believe that their bread is at the mer
cy of parties, belief which is prove,
in our times by the manipulation O
the strings which jerk business up O
jerk it down. The time is comm
when the people will learn that wha
they saw was only what they wer
permitted to see, and that behind tn
scenes were the things really wort
seeing.
Instead of business Slowly improv
ing" 1.-THE Improvement being hastene
a little in an election year, the Unit
ed States should today be the happies
busiest place in the world. 1t is tn
natural right of our people that the
should be happy and busy. Every
thing necessary to that condition ha
been placed here in superb abundance,
Instead of any party receiving credi
for condition in which a majority G
the people happen to get enoug
bread to eat, no party should receiv
credit for anything less than cond
ton where everyone, down to tn
least, has the amplest opportunity fo
completely furnished life. 1t is pit
iful that people have become so beat
en- down as actually to thank part
for the chance to work!
Improvement will come Git bein
election year, but the people ougf
not to forget the main and continuin
problems. 1t is to be regretted ths
we seldom think of economic que.
lions except in times of depression
The time to think clearly and to eS
anime our situation closely is in time
of prosperity. The tendency of OF
leaders to use times of prosperity
turn our people into Romans at til
games, boasting their temporar
prosperity and might, needless of I'll
reaction which excess and artificialit
bring, is very dangerous one, an
true leaders will endeavor To teaC
the people to be as serious and wis
in their times of temporary prospe
, ity as they are in times of depression
There is no such thing as continl
} ing prosperity under the present sy
: tenn which puts our Constitution
| monetary authority into the hands ,
| a few men whose whole life work
= to make fortunes out of speculate
, in money. The people of this coul
e try may be just as sure of return
. "bad times" as of a return of winte
t because wrong principles always o
E crate that way. And the false pr
D phets who always advise the Peep
Y that prosperity is a matter of psyche
Y ogy, that if they "think" good tim
Y they will have, good times, are su
: cessful mostly in turning the people
/; minds from the hard work of thinkil
r on which reform depends. When Il
o people begin to think, the manipula
Y ors and benefciaries of the prese
e system grow worried; it is then tn
: they let the people in on some triflil
benefit, to occupy their minds al
i drive out reflection on the system
Z things.