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Show THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK. In his weekly letter, Henry Clews, the New York banker, reviewing the business outlook, says: "At tho moment there is some slackening In general trade; no more than is usual, howeer at this season of the year. There lias been some diminution In the volume of orders for tho 6teel trade, although January deliveries were upon a ery heavy scale. A fair business Is being done in the textile industries, the mills 'generallr being well employed, and i the tariff scare has largely abated; it being understood that no very radical changes will occur and that the new tariff will verv largely run on the lines adxocated by Mr. Underwood ai V-a: ago. "Another Important, though little discussed, source of uncertainty is the! policy of the new administration It la recalled that Mr. Wilson was elected elect-ed upon the new ideas of which ho is a stout and able champion. These Ideas involve important changes in our industrial and social system. They are ideas much in line with the will of tbe people, and their enactment Into law may sae us from some of the derangements Into which the old economic drift was surelv leading us. But changes will be disliked by some, 'and may cause more or less temporary tempo-rary unsettlement. Upon Mr Wilson I as the unquestioned leader of his par. ty will fall a great responsibility. A sudden and radical enforcement of many new ideas would create a serious seri-ous disturbance; whereas if applied gradually and with discretion they will remove many of the existing Ills and lead us to a nct period of Industrial Indus-trial rest and progress. It is sincerely sincere-ly to be hoped that the president-elect will show a wise cautlou in his progressive pro-gressive policy. Judged by his past record, also by his pre-election promises, prom-ises, he is not likely to disturb business. busi-ness. " |