The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-10-27
Wheels VIII
Go Round i
Taft IsElected.
50 SAY MANUFACTURERS.

Industries. has just completed a can.
yass Of its 5000 members throughout
tile United States in nearly every line
oftrade to ascertain the country's com
mercial status twelve months after the
panic. The canvass was not made to
serve any political purpose, and the
forthcoming election was not mention
ed, but the members OF the association
have taken advantage of one of the
questions to declare that prosperity
depends upon the election Of Taft.
The canvass was made by means Of
letters sent out two weeks ago. -Four
questions were asked OF the members
relating to the exact condition Of trade
at present, the percentage of Increase
In business in the last ten months. the
possibilities for future Improvement
and any suggestions which might serve
to better future conditions. Everybody
answered the last question by suggest
ing that Taft be elected.
Agricultural implements show the
largest percentage Of increase and Ye-
hicles the lowest. The textiles show a
small percentage Of increase with a
rather unfayorable outlook, while
leather and It's manufactures and the
lumber industry are fairly satisfied
and optimistic. Very little attention
Is paid to the tariff as disturbing Gle
ment, but number Of manufacturers,
especially those interested In railway
supplies and allied trades, complain
against pending or threatened railway
legislation.
The steel trade and the movement of
pig iron, which form the most accurate
barometer Of trade conditions, make
distinctly encouraging report, as 10
per cent Of the iron and steel plants
in the association report conditions
good, IS per cent have had an Increase
during the last ten months, and So
per cent have reason to believe that
prospects for the immediate future are
reassuring. Machinery, including all
classes throughout the country, shows
present conditions % per cent good,
aud &c per cent Of the machinery man
ufacturers have had an increase since
Jan. last. Only one manufacturer Of
agricultural implements is pessImistic
regarding the future.
In food products 50 per cent report
business good, Oh per cent have had an
Increase, and all are optimistic for the
future. Lumbermen report IS per
cent good. and so per cent have had an
Increase, while 93 per cent of them
are hopeful for the future. OF the
leather manufacturers OF per cent re-
port good, o. per cent have had an In
crease. and 93 per cent are optimistic.
Other percentages from the various
trades reporting conditions good, an In
crease Of business and good POSSIBLE
tiles for the future are as follows:
Tools aud hardware, Il, 81 and 90;
drugs and chemicals, SO, so and SO;
paper and printing. TO- 70 and 81; tex
tiles, 6S, II and 80; vehicles, SO, SO
and So.
James w. Van Cleave, president Of
the National Association Of Manufac-
turers, says of the outlook:
Nearly every issue Of the trades pa
pers all over the country reports the
reopening Of steel, cotton and wooden
mills and the increase In the working
forces Of some Of these already open.
There are fewer idle persons in the
United States now than at any previ-
Gus time since the beginning Of the
scare last November. Aside from the
chance-the very remote chance-that
Bryan may be elected there is not a
cloud on the business horizon, SO far
as can see at this moment.
LET 1t be remembered that in the
shape in which 1t presents itself tariff
adjustment viii cause no perceptible
halt in the revival OF trade. BY It's
platform and the repeated promises
OF It's candidate the dominant party
is pledged to revision. Just as l have
urged, the revising is to be done by an
extra session Of congress Just as soon
as the new president enters office in
March, 1909. The adjustments will be
done in the interest Of the American
manufacturer, the American worker
and the American consumer and not in
the interest Of the manufacturers md
workers of Great Britain, Germany,
Japan and the rest of Europe anu
ASIA"