The San Francisco call., 1896-12-29
Robert Dickson Tells of the
Business Situation
East.
Stocks in Trade Were Never So
Low and Merchants Are
Filling Big Orders.
Doubt About the Action of the New
Administration as to the Tariff
the Only Check.

Robert Dickson, the well.known insur-
ance man, has returned from his annual
tour through the East ana is stocked up
with business, it being one of the purposes
of his journey to gather the same.
Mr.. Dickson speaks of the Chicago bank
failures as being very unfortunate, but
says it is only local incident. The causes
are local, he says, and there need be no
fear that the effect will be felt in this
direction or anywhere that there is not a
similar cause-local mismanagement
Mr. Dickson is full of hope for the
future, inspired by what he saw and heard
in the East. He says the coming year
promises to be one of the best in busi-,
ness sense that has been known in the
history of the country. That. he says,
is the universal expectation of business
men in the East.
~ was in the East on election-day and
for some time previous to it," said Mr..
Dickson yesterday. II met scarcely one
business man of any importance who did
not predict disaster should Bryan be
elected and prophesy prosperity in the
event of McKinley's triumph. In that
unanimity of opinion there was, of.
course, great confidence; but still busi.
ness men are conservative, and most of
them preferred to wait until the result
should be known before they took any
step contingent upon the continued main
tenance of a sound fnan cial system.
The Sd of November settled that matter,
and the entire country is now preparing
itself for big revival III trade.
81 never knew a time in my experience
when the general stocks of Inc merchants
and manufacturers of the country were so
low," continued Mr.. Dickson. II visited,
for instance. one of the largest dealers in
carpets in the country during my stop in
Chicago. One of the proprietors told me
that if they should receive an order for
the furnishing of a large residence they
would be compelled to go to the whole
saler for the goods, so short was their own
stock. This is simply one instance of
what found everywhere. The stocks in
trade in almost every line from one END of
the country to the other are run down.
Now the mere replenishing of these stocks
would necessitate the running of mills at
high pressure. This will be DONE and is
being done, for the utmost confidence pre-
walls as to an uninterrupted period of
prosperity in the land, and mercants must
prepare for it. The preparation itself will
prove strcng influence in hurrying the
new era.
'"rhe doubt, however regarding the &C.
ton of the incoming adm inistration as to
the tariff will serve as a check to the dis
position of merchants to stock up If
there IS to be any beneht to them, or If
they think there is, one way or another.
in waiting for few months longer they
will, of course, wait. Were it not for this
element in the situation 1 am confident
that the opening OF spring would find the
country enjoying the thrill of a big.
healthy trade revival. If it comes to be
known that Mckinley lntents to call an
extra session OF Congress for the purpose
OF amending the revenue or tariff laws
h IL ho 0f
ponement of tlis revival until the busi-
ness is settled. at any rate, this year IS,
1 am sure, to see return OF prosperity to
the country"