Arizona republican., 1914-12-13
Financial and Commercial Conditions in the East Steadily Improving and Country Seems to Be En- tering Era of Prosperity OBSERVATIONS MADE
 BY DWIGHT B. HEARD In Course of a Visit to Chi cago and New York Agreement Reached by Progressive Conference as to Future Course

| to r uUuTe AOllISC
 Dwight B. Heard returned yester- day from a two weeks eastern trip. Mr. Heard finds the business situa
 ton in the east getting steadily bet ter, and in discussing the situation made the following statement:
 Conservative business men whom met in Chicago, New England and New York, all seemed to agreee that the tide of improved business which we predicted in The Republican about month since, is slowly but steadily being felt all over the country. The immense crops which the Mississippi valley has produced this past season and which on the average are be- ing marketed for fair prices, are be- ginning to bring good results. The farmers of the Mississippi valley are especially prosperous and an inter esting example that prosperity has not hardened their hearts is the re- cent gift of 100000 barrels of flour DA lile ptOBlt LII llt SNtlt pl hdiiSdS to the Belgian relief fund. The more one reads of the pitiful conditions maintaining in Belgium. and talks with those who have come from that smitten country, the more it seems that we of America should do our full share in relieving this brave and unfortunate people, and very shortly Ari1 uyit1 take, in cooperation with the Bel gian relief committee. the forward
 ing of such funds and supplies as can be raised locally.
 Tn the manufacturing states i'm mense orders are reported from Flu | rope, so that in addition to the food which Europe has to buy of us, she l is now taking large quantities of manufactured articles. While the mule ed article, mules have been practi cally cleaned out of the Mississippi valley by the buyers of the various European governments. The prin- cipal thing, however, in the reviving | business condition, seems to be a renewal of confidence. The gradual reopening of the stock exchanges un- der intelligent control. have shown , no serious slump in securities. The market for American municipal se
 curities is getting firmer. and the first of this month. the Swedish gov ernment placed a large national loan
 in New York at per cent
 Every conservative business man seems to realize clearly that the ter
 rife war going on in Europe is bound | to create new conditions in America and these new conditions must be met by new methods for profi-
 table distribution of our raw and
 manufactured products. But it also
 seems to be generally realized that
 this is an era of great opportunity for America. and with easier money,
 which now seems assured. and the
 clear recognition of what has to be done to maintain prosperity. the fu- ture seems one to insure confidence, particularly if we can avoid becom- ing involved in this horrible war of destruction Just as I found in-
 creased confidence among business
 men, I also found disposition to uphold the president in his efforts
 to use every honorable means to keep
 us out of this war. this spirit be- ing general. patriotic and above mar row partisanship.
 Bankers with whom I conferred
 seemed to agree that the operation of
 the regional recerve banks have al
 ,I thn4
 still further benefit may be expected
 from this source. found 8 con
 tinued interest in well secured Salt
 River valley investments and secured
 while east $50,000 for investment 1T
 Salt River valley loans this month.
 q find the publicity given to the
 passage of some of the extremely
 radical measures adopted at the re-
 cent election, such as the eighty
 per cent and blacklist bills, vii
 give us some unfavorable advertising , in the east. but that which has hur us most has been the malicious circu- lation through the yellow journals O , the east of reports of the wholesal'
 hanging in Phoenix. l found, how ever. very general commendation oi
 the action of Arizona in passing th'
 prohibition amendment, which actioi ; seems to insure us a steady increas , in the most desirable class of home
 seekers, and the fact that the stat : has gone dry seems to appeal strong , iy and favorably to capital seekinl investment
 There is one thing that people il 5 the Salt River valley can be might ', thankful for, and that is that the don't have to live in the wind swept
 snowbound east When I was i
 New York last Monday the gale reg
 istered 7S miles an hour and um