New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-05-07
DEALERS OPTIMISTIC
DO NOT FEAR NEW TARIFF
Drygoods Men Sag Stocks Are
Light and Mills Al Busy.

| DrygOods merchants In this city. or an Influential
| delegation Of them least. said yesterday that
the talk of business depression incident to tarih
legislation was not justified far as the drygoods
trade and the industries less directly con-
nected with 1t were concerned. According to them
the drygoodS merchants throughout the country
were never lightly stocked. and such fears as
they had were concerned rather with meeting the
demands of their customers than with doubts as to
the volume of buying
The same men said the mills were keeping busy.
and in some lines of manufacturing orders had
piled up so that 1t question of working over
time rather than of laying off men. The return OF
prosperity had not been distributed evenly, they
said, and certain lines Of industry had not yet
TO the full measure of activity they enjoyed before
the fall Of 1907 Generally speaking however. their
opinion that conditions improving
steadily and that the outlook brighter than In
a long time
According 10 the local men. the tariff legislation
was having little effect on general business condi-
lions. They said that some uneasiness in certain
qcarters would have to be looked for until the
schedules were finally adjusted, but that great
trouble was to be feared from that source A
healthy general advance and return to condition
Of real and sound prosperity were what they an
ucipated, rather a sudden boom and imitation
of values.
John Clafn. OF the firm of II. B. Clafin Co.
one Of the largest wholesale drygoods houses in the
country, with number of retail affiliations decried
the talk OF depression
It's nonsense" he said. The general business
situation is improving steadily Stocks are light
everywhere, and think conditions good. A
tain uneasiness while the tariff legislation Is pend
ing is to be expected but I think that as soon as
that work is completed business conditions Will i'm
prove rapidly"
Edward Hatch. tr.. Of the firm of Lord & Taylor
was optimistic and expressed the opinion that the
general condition of the country was excellent
There is absolutely ground for the pessimstic
utterances that we hear at every turn" said Mr.
Hatch. Business was never on so firm a founda-
ton as IT is to-day. The stock of merchandise
throughout the length and breadth of the country
is lighter than ever in the history of business
Money Is easy and viii be for indefinite time
Everything is quiet along the Potomac and will
be for four years more In certain lines the
goods are oversold, even to the end Of the year
and many mills working night and day TO
catch up. This is not generally known
Many seem to be discouraged because things
don't boom, and the old fallacy that the mill will
never grind with the water that has passed Will be
dsproved. The rest which we are getting was a
needed rest, and we shall be all the more vigorous
and active on account of il. There not men
enough 10 do the work that is behind. and
fear is that in the repenishing of stocks the
scarcity will move prices up to prohibltive figures
The tariff agitation has resulted in hesitation
but In no injury 10 business. Perhaps this is
most opportune time for any tarin readjustment
that may have been thought necessary, as the
country withstand IT without hinching
owing TO its sound, prosperous condition. At all
events. we are entering upon season Of pros
perity that viii be uneQualed in the history of
this country"
Another man who radiated optimism p. J.
Greenhut. OF the siegel-C Cooper and J. B. Greenhut
stores. Mr.. Greenhut attached little Importance
to the tariff legislation. and seemed
cerned at the recent bad weather. despite which
he said. the trade of hts stores had been above
the normal.
4 decidedly optimistic" said Mr. Greenhut.
"One hears il certain quarters that business is
not what it ought be. but far as we are
concerned. don't 1t at all. In directions
In certain manufacturing lines II is possible that
many men not being employed ; was the
case two years ago. and 1t may take little time
to work up to prosperous conditions again
AS far as We are concerned. however.
spring trade never So good. Stocks are light.
and l believe the condition Of the whole country
is better than 1t ever physically. l think it
is excellent thing have a boom. l be
lieve steady and continued improvement is
healthier There is less danger Of setbacks
Our business depends in a great measure on
the weather but despite the bad weather recently
have had a spring trade decidedly above the
normal The tariff does not, in my opinion. affect
the situation much. asafar concerned l
suppose 1t may worry people. who would
be affected by radical changes, but | don't be
neve that anything very radical Will be done and
therefore / think that scare will be over
j b. Sheffield. Of the John Wanamaker store.
could see reason for pessmism.
My experience and present knowledge said he
lead to think that conditions are mending
Some manufacturers are not as we'll off as they
would like TO be- and there seems TO be a variation
OF the degree OF prosperity in different quarters,
but, the whole. think things doing WELL"
NJ Fredsan. of the firm of B. Altman & Co. |
said that. far his firm concerned. con-
ditions excellent
There is no danger at all Of our being over
stocked" he said. Stocks are light everywhere
and business is going along nicely. Everything
seems satisfactory. and should remain so, l think"