Evening star., 1925-02-28
BY ROGER w. HABSoN.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
BABSON PARK, Fla, February IS.
1t is true that conditions are a
"reater factor in making our Presi-
ents than are Presidents in making
conditions. on the other hand, Presi-
ents can do much to help or hinder.
10 speed up or slow down activity.
'oltics are like dam with a sluice-
Eay built across the stream of bust
ess activity. One administration may
'ose the sluiceway and dam the
water, while another political party
may open the sluiceway and let the
"ood pass through. Although neither
"olitical party has increased or de-
'r@ased, by even a teaspoonful. the
amount of water in the river, yet the
amount flowing down the stream diff
control of the sluiceway
Great Faith in President.
Thus the conditions of the country
differ very decidedly according TO the
motives and wisdom of the man in con-
troll of our Government at Washing
and wisdom of the man inaugura ted
next Wednesday are the highest type
Moreover, l say this without regard
10 parties or politics, because I voted
Tor Wilson twice during the strenuous
years of 1912 to 1919
One of the chief factors in upset
:ing business during the past few
years has been the attempt of poll
ticians TO stimulate business, change
wages, or reduce money rates by ar
tiicial and uneconomic methods. These
politicians recommended stimulation
for our business, labor and financial
difficulties when these difficulties are
primarily due TO the fact that they
were already overStimulated.
Farmer Has Suffered UnduIy.
Take the farm situation. for in
stance. Every one acquainted with
the farm situation knows that the
farmer has suffered unduly during
the past few years and that we can
not have real prosperity any length
Of time unless his troubles are cor
rected. To have real prosperity in
America the farmers of America
must be prosperous, as they are the
great basic producers of wealth On
the other hand, the difficulties OF the
farmer cannot be eliminated by CIV
ing the farmer more of such things
as were primarily the cause of his
difficulties. The same rule applies to
the labor situation. What the wage
Garner really wants is 10 get more of
the comforts and necessities of life
for his weeks labor and to have
better hours of work with better con-
ditions under which to work. These
aims are right and just.
President Anxious to Help.
President Coolidge is anxious to
help both the farmer and the wage
Garner. He however. is wise enough
10 know that it does the wage Garner
no good to get more money in his
pay envelope If this money does not
buy as much in rent, clothes and
comforts as the former wage pur-
chased. The Federal Reserve Board
has been subject to violent attacks
by certain politicians. Doubtless
some of these criticisms have been
justified, but most of them have been
unjustifiAd. President Coolidge will
do everything possible TO keep busi-
ness and prices on a normal and sane
basis, aiming for a gradual improve
ment.
He will not allow the Federal re-
serve bank to be used TO stimulate
what is already overstimulated, neither
will he let the bears use it for selfish
purposes.
Bankers Easily Frightened.
Capital is VIGOROUSLY timid. Some
one has said that there is only one
thing which is more easily fright
ened than a banker, and that's "a pair
of bankers" 1t always has been so and
always will be. Furthermore, whether
we like it or not, capital Is necessary
for the construction of cities; the erec-
ton of factories. offices and homes; the
building of railways and steamships.
and, in fact, for almost all develop
ment When capital is timid, build
ing ceases development stops, unem-
ployment is common and we have a
general period of depression.