New-York tribune., 1918-05-31
In Spite OF: Many Obstacles
Business Continues
Large
BY Archer Wall Douglas
ST. LOUIS. Nav 3


has long since vanished. Any one, from
manufacturer to consumer, who wants
anything pays the asked price or else
lets it alone. Bargaining and barter
are only memories. If the government
commanders any article, as it has
practically recently done in steel
sheets, the merchant who has any stock
of them sells them at his own price,
and has no qualms. A number of manu-
facturers now accept domestic orders
only for shipment at their convenience
and at prices ruling on date of ship
ment If "you no likee, you no takee,"
for the woods ere full of other pur-
chasers. Some few merchants have
good stocks, but they are always badly
assorted, and every dealer is usually
short of the same commodities, such,
for instance, as files, twist drills, axes,
axe handles and anything else that the
government happens to want a lot Of
and wants it all at once.
Deliveries Are Slow
1t is true enough that comparisons
OF business volume with the past are
reckoned in values instead of tonnage,
with the result that many dealers are
unaware of the fact that they are not
selling as many articles, unless per-
chance to the government, as a twelve
month ago. 1t is equally true that
while they are buying only for their
wants, and scarcely speculating at all
despite constantly appreciating prices,
they are providing much further ahead
Tor their wants than in normal times,
because it takes forever and day to
| get the goods. A manufacturer who
ships goods sixty days after the receipt
OF the order is regarded as unusually
prompt.
Retail dealers as rule are not pay
ing any attention to anything except
the ways of the consumer, and are doing
wars needs and demands permit them.
| General acceptance of the situation is
cheerful and widespread, not only be-
cause there is nothing else to do, but
also because it is regarded as a patri-
otic duty. This latter feeling is re-
sponsible for the lack of criticism
among the many at tt : restrictions i'm
posed in those lines that the govern
ment has taken over.
The difficulties that the government
encounters and surmounts are gener-
ally recognized and appreciated, as is
also the fact that between the ways
of war and the ordinary ways of
democracy there is a great gulf fixed.
Furthermore, that the ways of war
must necessarily prevail, especially as
the nationwide enlistment for the win
ming Of the war gives the whole propo-
sition a deep democratic hue. Yet it
is perfectly obvious that there is quiet
questioning among the many as to
whether the ways of cooperation and
Capitalization will prove equally effec-
tive in time of peace as in time of
war.
There is an economic theory, much
taught in books, that competition is de-
structive and costly, especially, for in
stance, in those simple cases where a
dealer has large number of travelling
men call upon him, all selling the same
lines of goods. Logically it is argued
and means consequently higher prices
to the dealer and his customers, the
consumers, So far in human experience
this theory is only an iridescent dream.
Every dealer knows perfectly we'll that
competition brings him both lower costs
and better service, and that he cannot
get them by any other known method,
since monopolies invariably mean high
prices and poor service. So the dealer
is wondering whether human nature
has changed it's leopard spots enough
yet permanently to eliminate compe-
tition, with all its inherent initiative
and enterprise and desire to please.
Optimism Helps Trade
General business is distinctly better
failure of the first German offensive
on the Western front and the growing
outlook for a great harvest. The feel.
ing that we shall win because anything
else is unthinkable has given new
impulse to trade. 1t is true that har-
vest is yet to come, But they are al
ready cutting wheat in the Southern
wheat belt, and only the worst kind Of
great yield. Moreover, there is an i'm
ucts already planted, and the soil
everywhere is soaked with moisture
There is plenty of feed for an increas-
ing number Of livestock and employ
ment is general and labor scarce and
getting high wages. Mere boys, fresh
from school, and women who have never
proportion of the forces of every en-
ployer What will happen after the
war has no appreciable effect upon bust
ness activity, for to make serious prep
aration now for the readjustment which
awaits us is merely to neglect a present
opportunity which may never occur
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