The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-09-16
UNCERTAIN BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
Why Husincss Men aud Manufacturer
Are Emdsnrorlngt to Persuade Their I'm.
pioyrs to Eotr hr Sound Money. wy

pioyrs to Eotr mr Sound Money. wy
The Iron Age: a great manufacturer
OF agricultural machinery, whose works
are In the west and who employs thou
sands OF men. makes the following
statement regarding tho cuisines RItun-
ton: 1--WE have never before been so at
losH to lay out our plans and work for
the next season M we are nj this time.
II we thought the country would 20 for
unlimited coinage OF silver we should
not wish 10 run our shops for more than
one-hulf their capacity" There IL no
political bias In HIS view OF the sItua-
ton, ~ this manufacturer has no Inter-
eat In politics. His establishment IL the
oldest of Its class In the country. hav-
Ing been founded In lSiS. and has never
grown so fast ns during the past ten
years. Season after season the works
have been enlarged and their facilities
Increased TO keep pGce with the growth
Of agricultural interests both ut home
and abroad. Business dcpresslons have
been met and passed. and very seldom
have manufacturing operations been
Curtalled on their account, but the finAn-
clal CONFUSION OF this year IL new ex-
perrience and no light IL shed upon Il
by the past. Therefore II Is found nee
essary to go slow by concerns who are
unaffected by mere financial stringency
or commercial depression.
( Until recently, the agricultural imple-
ment trade babe fair TO form a substan-
tial basis upon which numerous western
Iron and steel producers might rely for
the disposal OF n considerable part Of
their output. Contracts were made Us
In past years. and more than few OF
these machinery builders expected TO
begin their preparations for next sea-
sons business earlier thnn usual. The
bauntlful crops were their reliance, and
the increased returns in the hands OF
farmers were expected to provide the
support for an enlarged trade In Imple-
mentS. Notwithstanding the gloomy out
look In general business. They We're
justified In taking this position. for
the past has frequently proved the
implement trade measurably independ-
ent OF movements strongly affecting
financial and manufacturing centCrs.
But the adverse Influences now prevail
Ing are too strong 10 be resisted even by
these special interests. The future Is
too clouded for them TO take the usual
chances In making up products which
Will noe be sold until wei Into next year.
Iron and steel manufacturers are corse-
Quently not recelvclng the specifications
which they expected to get about this
time. Hence the outlook grows more
unsatisfactory from the the Withdrawal
OF much OF this business at time when
general trade is extremely light.
1t Is intensely disagreeable 10 preach
peSsimlsm. Words OF encouragement,
expressions OF hopefulncss. buoyant
prophecies of brighter future would
be vastly more pleasant The depres-
sion In business with which We are
now afflicted Is undoubtedly aggravated
by the attempts which are being made
to prepare for the worst In case free
coinage OF silver should triumph in No
vember. While nobody can predict
with any degree OF confidence what may
then happen, some shock 10 our finan-
cial system appears inevitable. and 10
avoid that our manufacturers and busl-
ness men generally are endtAvortng to
persuade their employees and other cit
liens to vote In favor Of the existing
standard. Should the gold standard
win, we shall have passed through all
this trlbulatlon unnecessarily. 1t Is
therefore most unfortunate that calami-
~ Arguments must be made when per-
hnps the country is 10 be merclfuIly re-
llevcd Of such an aiiilction. But In no
nthcr way can the subject be handled. II
no fear OF the future were TO be display
ed by men controlling or managing tre-
mcndous interests, the advocates OF
this revolutionary policy would seize
upon their Indifference as evidence that
no disturbance In business was to be
expected. Restricted trade and gloomy
representations are therefore natural
manifestations OF the business situation
until absolute confidence Is felt In te
triumph OF the gold standard.