Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-11
WHAT PEACE may BRING
TO THE BUSINESS WORLD
Big Concerns In All Branches nf
Trade Already Looking to Ad.
justmcntS to New Conditions.
NO CAUSE TO FEAR CALAM1TIEs
Large Buyers and Traders Living
From Hand to Mouth, So to Speak.
Manufacturers Pleased With Pros
pcctivc Curtailment of Orders.

The signing OF armistice agreement
and Forthcoming peace throughout the
world are being discussed In trade
circles and the discussion mas been on
for some time. This talk and dis
cussion do not partake OF the nature OF
that which was observable in Rich
mond. Washington, New York and
other trade centcrs the other day when
the false alarm about the signing Of
the armistice and the cessation Of
fighting on the front had is half
day Of active and exciting IFS. II Is
more serious. less hilarious and Is
Icing carried on quietly In the Offices
AID back paIlore Of the biz whole
lishments and the larger retail houses
hat are in the habit OF doing big buy
ing and making huge contracts Tor the
more or less distant future.
Everybody is agreed that the coming
OF peace. be 1t tomorrow next
month OF next year. will bring about
u most radical change in business af-
fairs the world over. and the big buyers
of goods OF all kinds as well as the
manufacturers of goods all kinds
are planning as best they can to meet
the new conditions with as little shock
to business as possible. In all previous
eras the ending OF a war as we'll as the
breaking out OF one has made n radical
change III business conditions and gem
orally speaking there have been COM
was taking place and business was get
ting itself adjusted to the changes.
The big business men OF the country
generally. certainly those Of Richmond,
have been arguing that there Is real
ly no good reason why the coming OF
peace at this time or anywhere in the
ness or why there should be any COM
niercial calami;ies either Etea. or
small to follow in its wake. They con-
tend that little forethought and
prompt action of the right Kind and
at the right time viii have business
In shape to adjust itself TO new con-
arise and the business world is giving
the subject that thought RICH, now.
Not only this-they are taking the
both wholesale and retail are adopt
ing the systom of living from hand
70 mouth, that is they are making
things for far future delivery. The
manufacturers are following tho same
rule In reverse order. They are eXer-
cising great care In making contracts
TO put up goods for future delivcrey.
The manufacturers, however. do not
have 10 make any radical changes in
fact that for some time past. because
OF the labor problem. government re-
strictions and other. things they have
tracts for future deliveries with any
assurance that they could be able to
live up 10 such contracts. AS gem
eral rule manufacturers are now very
far behind In filling orders they have
for immediate delivery and they are
rather pleased than otherwise that
their large customers are showing an
inclination not to ask for contracts
for future delivery. 1t gives them a
chance to catch up.
So far as Richmond and it's i'm
mediate territory are concerned II is
very certain that business is already
In the process of adjusting itself to
the Forthcoming changed conditions
and the adjustments are pretty sure to
be brought about without perceptible
Jars and without calamities OF any
dimensions.