Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1923-02-23

Accommodating evidences of a
returning era OF national pros
perity have reached a point
where informed students of bus
mess conditions no longer hest
tate to predict that this country
has before it every prospect of a
long period of good times, with
the benefits so distributed that
all may share equitably in the
fruits thereof. Already unem-
ployment, which a year ago was
one of the most menacing of
American problems~has all but
ceased to exist and, with the re-
viyal of building operations and
agricultural activity in the
spring, there promises to be an
actual shortage of labor.
Every barometer of trade
seems to be indicative of fair
weather. Steel mills are oper-
ating almost to maximum capac-
ity, with domestic orders so
heavy that they have little sur.
plus to export. Cotton and
wooden mills are being forced to
night operation 70 keep up with
their orders. Automobile tire
manufacturers predict an output
of 55, 100000 tires this year, and
the output Of automobiles is ex-
pected to break all records. Man
ufacturers of railway equipment
are sharing the increased earn
ings of the railroads. and the
market for lumber and other
building materials is experience
ing an activity which assures an
enormous volume of construc-
ton.
That even the farmers, so
short a while ago in the slough
of despond, are beginning to sit
up and take notice is evidenced
by reports of heavy orders be-
ing received by manufacturers of
farm implements and machinery.
Cotton is selling at a price which
spells prosperity for the south
ern planter, and prices of other
farm commodities are reaching
a level which will speedily abol-
ish the complaint that the far
mer is unable to realize a profit.
With the better credit facilities
now at his command, when a new
crop has been grown and har-
vested the farmer will again be
in the market as a buyer and
with increased buying powers.
And prosperity will be given a
new Impetus when the agricul-
tural community has the money
with which to supply the deple-
ted household ants.
Nov, before we are too busy
reaping the benefits of prosperi-
ty, is a proper time to take
thou ht as to how it may be
safeguarded. Rising prices are
a natural accompaniment OF
good times, but high prices do
not of themselves constitute
prosperity. They are not even
an evidence of prosperity when
they are the result of excessive
profits.
DR.. Julius Klein, director OF
the bureau of foreign and do
nestle commerce, in an inter-
view with the Washington Star,
gives a warning on This very
point. He urges moderation in
profit-taking, to the end that
prosperity may be enduring and
its benefits distributed fairly
In other words, DR.. Klein ad-
vises against killing the goose
which is now ready to lay golden
eggs. This applies to the far
mer and the laborer no less than
to the manufacturer and mer-
chant. AS between the laborer
and the farmer, the former owes
some consideration to the latter.
At the time farm prices we're so
violently debated there was no
corresponding decrease in the
wages of labor, and labor, when
it had employment, reaped dis
proportionate benefit. Fairness
now demands that the farmer
have chance to catch up a bit
before labor begins to complain
of the cost of living and to agi-
tate for higher pay. And it is to
be expected that labor will be
reasonable, for the lesson has
thoroughly learned that no pros
perity can be permanent which
is one-sided and takes from one
group that which rightly belongs
to another.