Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-08-05


says Sales Manager Rueschaw, of the
REQ Motor Car Company. "and I sup
pose a Bruin Banker would discount
my enthusiasm. But when hear that
question so often propounded nova
days, what will business be after the
war Closes I can't but explain bet
teri
''Of course I know we are now en-
joying-in fact, reveling in prosperity
that is abnormal, but for the life Of
me I don't see why that prosperity
should not be permanent.
1T is possible you know to keep
the money after we have made II.
And though I try, because good
business sense dictates that all should
look to the dark as we'll as the bright
side SO as to anticipate any slump that
may come, feel that this is one of the
times when we need not expect rain
just because we've had a prolonged
period of bright sunshine.
ct am told that the pendulum must
swing to the other extreme and all
that sort OF thing, but no rule would
be rule without an exception to
prove 1t, and surely the world cata-
clysm through which other countries
are now passing is an exception to all
rules.
"I don't see that IL matters whether
a man MAKES a fortune in one year
or thirty years-there's no more rea-
son why he should give 1t back in the
one case than in the other.
Europe has poured more than three
billions OF dollars into the purses OF
the American people in the last twelve
months, and since all of the muni-
tions contracts are for three years,
will continue to pour it for sometime
yet.
That money is here and there's no
q 49, 1 1,
Europe is in dire necessity for certain
things we could make and sell. and
she is paying us for them. There is
nothing Europe makes that we must
have, therefore there is no valid rea-
son why that money should go back
I'VE are told, of course, that a num-
Der of factories formerly idle, are now
prospering on European business. and
that great many other factories are
making abnormal profits from the
manufacture of articles outside their
regular product.
This last is important II true and I
would ask you to consider the matter
more thoroughly.
THE number OF factories which for
merly were idle and which are now do
ing a profitable business, is small by
comparison with the number that for
the moment. changed over to the maxi
ing of articles which Europe wanted
and for which she was willing to pay
heavily.
1T is not true. however, that these
latter are making greater profits than
they would have made had they stuck
to their last. 1 have in mind several
concerns that have come within my
own notice and one in particular, whose
business was making automobile parts
That concern took on a large con-
tract Tor war munitions-specially
fuses. The price seemed big and look
ed as If it would pay. and let the reg
ular business go for the time being.
But to-day the head of that concern
tells me they would have made twice
the money had they continued to sup
ply their regular customers with their
standard product
Now in this case, the cessation Of
tho strife on the other side will not
mean slump, but simply a return to
normal conditions and normal profits.
The very fact that everybody In
every walk OF life, feels keenly the
shortage Of certain articles of everyday
use, is the best indication that the fac
tories and mills which formerly made
those articles have now been diverted
to the making OF war munitions and
other supplies for European countries.
The fact that there is such a short
age shows that there is waiting plenty
of demand for the staple articles from
those plants.
Summing It up in word, ia ey
press 1t this way: We have enioyed
five years demand in one years
tine. That has resulted in empty
shelves. And empty shelves is the
best possible preface to prosperity,
Those shelves must be filled again.
That demand must be supplied.
why We have actually been en-
3oying a period of want in this conn