Evening star., 1923-12-31

lperity OF this country.
But it is beyond dispute that the
United States has looked again and
again during 1928 with anxious eyes
across the ocean, wondering whether
the collapse of Germany, the out
break of little wars, the spread of
revolution from the right or the left,
would damage the commerce and in
directly the business prosperity OF
this country.
Politics and Trade Linked.
Politics and economics are inter
woven nowadays. 1t is difficult to say
where one begins and the other ends.
Europe QuarIels over the amount of
reparations due from Germany and
how it shall be paid. There are politi-
cal consequences involved. General
elections in England and France and
cabinet upheavals in other countries
keep business men hopeful that the
tendency of the age is toward stabili-
cation instead of chaos. But does any
one really know?
Uncertainty, therefore, has been and
remains the outstanding characters
tic of 1928 in SO far as American pros
perity is related to European recon-
struction. There have been moments
when those who have been endeavor-
ing to assess the effect of collapse
of Germany on American business
have said they could not see how
matters could ever be much worse
and they might be better.
United States Takes First Step.
Indeed, America with her enormous
resources and economic independence
cannot be driven into suffering and
privation by European disaster, but
the i'll effects of a breakdown in Eu-
rope would be felt. And officials of
the American government have known
that unless they endeavored to aid
Europe in some way theirs would be
the responsibility for inaction.
The latest development-the effort
to furnish Europe with the benefit of
the advice Of American experts-is
but the starting point. 1t connotes
hope. 1t means that American Impair
tiality is seriously sought. and that
what Americans of high standing may
advise will at least give world opin-
ion basis for determining what is
the right or the wrong course for
European statesmen to follow.
Out of the agricultural west, where
the declining price of wheat has been
attributed. in part, to the falling on
of the export market, the demand for
closer attention to foreign markets
has been coming strong. Political
isolation runs counter to economic
desire.
Farmers Grow Restive.
Out of this same western region has
come during 1928 an evidence of re-
volt against the republican party.
Political discomfort is upon examina-
tion found to be economic dissatis-
faction When the late President
Harding started westward he found
the farmer unhappy and inclined to
be bitter about his plight. Radical
by the thousands. Mr.. Harding would
have had disappointing experience
with Congress this year. Not that he
was to- blame for the farmers ills,
but it is politically inevitable that the
man in Office or the party in power
should be blamed.
Then came the sudden death of Mr..
Harding. 1t transformed the situation
overnight. The new President came
with a clean slate-without response
bility for what had happened. 1t was
as If the country had had a new cleo
tion. Mr.. Coolidge was free from
campaign obligation He entered the
White House with a determination TO
show the country in as brief time
as possible what policies he believed
should be pursued. He was silent for
four months except for few hints
of policy, but not until the first ad-
dress was read to. Congress did the
country really learn that man OF
judicial inclination, in short man
who wouldn't upset things" was in
the White House.
Stressed Economic Side.
Mr.. Coolidge stressed the economic
side of the nations problems. He did
not furnish a detailed programme
left that for Congress to work out.
For the farmer he held out the hope
Of. cheaper fertilizer and the possfbfl-
ity OF aid from the War Finance Cor
poration in financing exports. For
business and industry he advocated a
variety of measures designed to i'm
prove transportation and marketing.
For the nation as a whole he recon-
mended a reduction of taxes and the
use of the surplus to cut down the
burden OF all taxes.
Taxation stands out, therefore, as
the most important, IL not the para
mount issue of the year. Along with
Id is the effort of the ex-service men
I'd obtain adjusted compensation.
Economies of expenditure are COM
PEELED in the very nature OF things as