The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-29
WHAT BUSINESS MEN SAY


Bryan Will be overwhelmingly defeated
when election day comes. This Is shown
IN many ways. A month ago there was
a stringency in the money market. caused
by the fear of his election That amounted
to almost panic. Now money is compar-
afiveiy easy and can be borrowed on
greatly improved terms. All business has n
hopeful and ar upward tendency that is
held down from positive activity by Bry-
ans candidacy only.
The letter We published on Sunday,
from Chicago merchant 10 a Richmond
merchant bore strong testimony upon the
subject, and we find in the New York
Journal Of Commerce striking confrma,-
tory proof of 1t in the statements Of
several leading business men of New
York City. The following are by Mr..
John Clanin, president of the II. i.
Clafin Company, will be found interesting
and instructive. He said:
Previous to the Vermont election our
sales for this year were nearly 30 per
cent. behind those Of last year. Imme-
diately after the Vermont election they
began to improve. and since the Maine
election tho improvement has been so
rapid that we have in the last two weeks
been doing a trade slightly larger than
thai of year ago. This of course repre-
sents in part trade that ought to have
been done during the months OF July and
August. / can safely say that the feel
ing in the dry goods trade is now one OF
confidence and that the remainder of the
season promises to show fair results.
There will be doubtless more or less hest
tauon until after the 80 of November.
but McKinley's election seems now 50
well assured that many merchants are
taking advantage OF the present extraor-
dinariy low prices of merchandise. for
seeing the advance which cannot fail TO
follow a complete restoration OF conf
dence.
six weeks ago there was general ap-
prehension among our Western cores
pondems as to the result of the election.
Now the merchants of Indiana, Illinois.
Iowa and Michigan laugh at the sugges-
ton that their States are in any danger.
while men from Kentucky, West Virginia.
Maryland. North and South Dakota.
Washington. Oregon and even California
are confident that their States will be
found on the right side on election day.
Altogether our present advices concede
only the extreme South and the mining
States to Mr.. Bryan.
collections are improving and money
is in decided better supply than
short time ago. This very fact that
money is getting easier is likely to stimu-
late trade In the near future. since mer-
chants are properly unwilling to make
engagements which they cannot see tncE
way clear to meet"
All the other statements are equally
interesting. We print some Of them, as
follows:
Mr.. Johy Tweedy. of Lee, Tweedy e
Co.: 1.-The general feeling is better.
though there is no boom, and l do not
expect hny. Buyers are conservative
but they are taking goods more freely.
The Improvement is due TO the improved
| outlook for sovnd money, but 1t Is not
fair to say that the fear of a free silver
victory has been entirely removed. An
| instance of this fear is shown in the
| purchase recently by one of our custo-
| mers who usually makes his purchases
for the spring about this season. This
year he purchased only half his usual
| amount of goods. making the stipulation.
| however. that he will double his order
| providing Mckinley is elected.
1.-THE easier tendency of money and the
| promise that It will continue is. of course.
| an important factor in the situation. If
| man can borrow money he will, OF
| course. undertake new engagements. but
| II he cannot borrow, and is confined en-
| tirely to his own resources, he Will pur-
| chase as little as possible.
our travellers report decided I'M
provement In the sound money sentiment
| OF the middle West. We had twenty-five
men In the central West shortly after
Mr.. Bryan's nomination and their re-
ports in regard to the silver sentiment
were sufficient to make a business man
| feel sick. Now. however, reports from
| the same men are entirely different, and
| indications seem to justify the prediction
| that the free-silver craze will be buried
| next November. in which case there Is
| no doubt that the country will experience
a nrotracted season of prosperity. These
| travelling men are around day by day.
| Mace by place, and undoubtedly have bet
| ter means OF determining the political
| sentimenr than even the regular political
| managers"
Mr.. John Beach, Of left, Weller & Co.;
"Six or eight weeks ago the dry goods
| trade was in a very depressed condition
| The bare possibility of Bryan being eject
| ed menaced the business interests OF the
| country. but since the Vermont ana Maine
| o,actions and since more favorable re-
| ports have been received from the Mid-
| die Western States that this silver craze
Is passing away and that the success OF
| the sound-money ticket is virtually as
| sured. the commercial atmosphere has
been very materially cleared. Trade for
| the last three weeks has been very good.
| We have been taking abouj our norma,
| business for this season Of the year.
| don't say we are up ID previous years
| because we lost somc ground tii the
| summer and cannot hope to regain IL
! There are many things in favor OF gooa
times from now on We have struck
| rock bottom in values and stocks OF goods
| IN the hands Of manufacturers throughout
tho country are by no means excessive.
| and we will probably still see very re-
| spectacle fall business"
What an argument for the defeat o.
| Bryan and BrynnIsm these statements
contain. The bare threat OF his election
| upsets all business. and all business be-
| gins TO look up and thrive from the mo-
| ment his defeat becomes probable. Un-
| less the object Of elections is to produce
| anarchy and chaos, the logic Of these
| statements IL that already business de-
i