The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-01-11
Financial Men All Agree That
Business Is SOunder.
Geo. w. Perkins Statements
Start the Talk.
WANT THE DETAILS
Would Like to Know to What
Factory He Referred.
Holland Suggests He Meant the
Steel Corporation.

New York. Jan 11.-Within the past
four or five days many carefully pre-
pared. but brief. individual views upon
prevaiIing. economic and business con-
fitions have been given to the public
either in the form of addresses or in
newspaper publications. Taken all to-
gether. these views fairly we'll repre-
sent the beliefs or forecasts or inn
pressions of a body of men who, as a
whole, may be regarded as representa-
tive of the entire United States. And
if any ons has taken the pains carefully
to read the various statements and.
having done that makes inquiry among
those who represent the average bust
ness man or fnancier in this city ne
viii be SURF to discover first that the
prevailing note in all these comments
is one of hope. encouragement and. in
few cases. of real optimism. Many
men, many minds" is d prOverb which
is illustrated by thase various state
ments, but it is observed that the many
minds reflect no substantial difference
of opinion respecting fundameata, con-
ditions. The various detailed or Incl
dental views concentrate. after ALL
upon one important truth-namely.
that we are gradually working out Of
the atmosphere of fog and doubt, bust
ness is slowly but surely adjusting it
self to new conditions and the
political and business health
people as a whole is sOunder lodas
perhaps. than ever before
Some attempt has been made to OBJ
tain views of our business and COM
mercial leaders upon statements made
by George w. Perkins and Samuel I'm
termyer in addresses which they re-
Gently delivered before the Republi-
can club of this city and also with re-
speet to the carefully prepared state
ments of James J. Hill, John E Gardin,
vice president of the National City
bank. and c. H. Markham. president of
views of these five men may be taken
as fairly covering the field of business.
commercial and financial activity
Mr.. Perkins Assertions
In his address to the Republican club
Mr. Perkins said. among other things,
that he personally knew of one large
corporation which would be able to re-
duce the price of the commodities it
produces. but has refrained from do
ing that because of the certainty that,
We're these prices to be reduced. seri-
Gus Generalization would occur in va
riOus independent manufactures:
therefore. it has been thought the wiser
part at the present time not to reduce
prices.
This statement has caused good
deal of discussion in this city The
general inference is that Mr. Perkins
poration because he has such COM
plete knowledge of the business done
by that corporation and because it has
always been his belief that Il sound |
est business methods for manufactur-
ers are those which seek for largo
product of high quality, but with the
economics of manufacture so perfectly
developed that the large product could |
be marketed at a small profit since ths
aggregate profit upon the total market /
ing would be very large.
Some of our business men wonder if /
Mr. Perkins did not refer to the Inter |
national Harvester company. but this |
seems improbable in view of the fact !
that the effect mentioned by Mr.. Per- |
lSins to the Republican club of reduc- /
ton of prices would be far less effec- |
tive in the case of the Interna tional /
company than in that of the |
United States Steel corporation
The Question of Competition.
But every one from whom it has been !
possible to obtain opinions respecting Mr. |
Perkins statement has spoken of 1t as /
an extraordinary one to make at this !
time. A big business of some kind. ac- 1
cording to Mr.. Perkins. which is in posi- |
ton to market its products at a far /
profit. but at a lower price than ind L. |
pendent manufactures can market the /
like product, refrains from reducing the t
price solely because a reduction Of that /
kind would harmfully affect various in /
dependent producers of like commodities. /
This seems to be almost so aItruistic /
that some men doubt whether Mr. Per !