Evening star., 1924-12-10
Politics at Large
BY N. O. MESSENGER.

Six weeks have elapsed since the
national elections were held, and the
country has settled down into a new
political condition. Contrasted with
some previous Quadrennial elections.
the Nation seems to have adjusted
itself almost overnight to the po-
littcal status which is to prevail for
the next four years. due probably to
the fact that the outcome of the
elections was generally forecast The
results showed that the country had
long before election day made up its
mind which party it wanted to re-
main in power, and the voting was
merely perfunctory.
Business as usuar-only more
business and better-Beems to have
been the slogan which the voters
adopted as their own on the morning
| following election day. There is
prospect of surcease Of politics in
| its acute form. at least for some time
to come, for which praises be. The
| fact of the matter is the people did
not get as excited this year as in
some previous campaigns. Appeals
to class, sectional and even religious
passions utterly failed of effect
President Coolidge in his recent
address In Chicago spoke of this fact
in respect to one particular class as
an exampIe-the farmers. He said
that every distinct test has resulted
in an overwhelming verdict from the
farmers in favor of sanity, sound
ness, moderation, sense and reason in
| dealing with all their problems.
Nobody" he said, is going to ad-
vance his own interest by playing
upon the presumption of the farmers
ignorance or selfishness or incapac-
ity to think accurately. The vision
airy and the demagogue invariably
discover that the farmer does not
want their unsound proposals Of
panacea."
In point of fact, the vast majority
of the electorate followed the same
reasoning and refused to trail of
after the visionary and the dema-
gogue, which seems to augur well.
The result of the election was a trib-
ute TO the stability of the American
people and to the good Judgment Of
the masses.
Secretary Mellon of the Treasury
Department, who keeps his finger
on the financial and business pulse OF
the country, saw In the quick set
tling down from the state OF polit-
ical excitement to normal affairs OF
the hour promise Of good times
ahead. In his annual report he
touched upon the vehement rejection
forward by some Of the politicians.
He said: The repudiation of various
theories inconsistent with economic
laws warranted the forecast OF pros
porous and healthy conditions for
years ahead, such as succeeded the
elections of 1896"
Since Congress assembled the first
Monday In December there has been
evidence of a dimunition of political
feverishness sufficient to strengthen
the hope that there may not be any
political outbreaks, as least until the
new Congress comes into being. 1t
would be a hardy person who would
have the temerity to start some
thing" by way of opposition in the
face of the emphatic mandate which
the voters gave to support the ad-
ministration and its policies. Wide
spread approval was given by the
press OF the country Of the prompt
action OF the Republicans of the Sen
ate in rephdating those of their
number in Congress who had desert
ed the party organization. The COM
ing new Congress was given fair
notice that the people expect the ad-
ministra ton indorsed at the polls in
November to carry on along the lines |
OF that Endorsement, and II is be- |
Heved that the mass of the people |
stand by the course OF the Republi- |
can majority in the Senate.
The next question of q political |
and legislative nature to engross the |
attention of the administration will /
be that of whether an extraordinary
session of the new Congress shall be
called. 1t Is too early to forecast
what will be the determination OF
this problem. Arguments for and
against are advanced and are now
under discussion among the admin
istration and Congress leaders. AS
general proposition, big business"
looks with disfavor upon too much
legislation, but in the present cir
cumstances a strong sentiment pre-
walls in favor of an extra session to
iron out some wrinkles in the taxes,
which, 1t Is contended, would make
things smoother for business The
possibility of an extra session seems
the only menace of. a renewed dis
turbance in politics through the re-
newal of economic propositions which
were so thoroughly repudiated in the
election.
It is said m business circles that
III the pesky politicians will only let
US alone" there Is prospect of busi-
ness starting on q steady growth. The
present activity in Wall Street Is not
being taken as guide to the future
because II has been Of such mush-
room growth as to surprise every
body. and to nourish the fear that
there is bound to be a collapse some
day In speculative values. Yet the
people who voice this apprehension
one day wake up the next to find the
speculative boom still expanding. Un-
derneath 1t. however. there are fire.
quent indications Of a sound basis "in
spots" Dividends are being In
creased and restored. some corpora
tions which had been dormant for
years now coming to life with divi-
dends. There are spots of uneasiness,
such as in the textile. industry in
New England, probably the worst
business situation in the country now
that the farmers and stock raisers
are giving signs of cheering up.
A tremendous holiday trade is ex-
pected, and IL It eventuates will be a
vast encouragement to commercial
hopes generally. In a very short time
now people will begin to think about
their income taxes and will thank
Congress for the reductions made
last Spring, and which will make
themselves apparent In the returns
for this years tax. There will be a
tremendous January disbursement of
dividends. which should help to i'm
prove the general business situation.
X y
On the whole, therefore, BARRING
accidents" the outlook politically and
from business standpoint for the
coming new year is for peace and
prosperity, and in politics especially
peace"