The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-26
PEACE DISCUSSION
SLACKENS TRADE
Wholesale and Retail Dealers
Cautious in Placing
Their Orders.
FEAR DROP IN PRICES
Textile Industries Kept Busy
on Government War
Contracts.
FEAR DROP IN PRICES

While peace discussions have no,
slackened textile industries working or
Government war contracts merchants ali
over the country are placing few new
orders pending the outcome OF the pres.
ent diplomatic situation. according to
reports to the leading business agencies
The reason for the letup in wholesale
and retail buying is that dealers are un-
certain how the ending Of the war will
AFFECT prices and deliveries, and for the
time being are postponing all but abso-
lutely necessary requirements
Trade at wholesale has receded at
many Eastern points," says Bradstreet's,
land conservatism born of peace talk has
set in, without, however, abating the
Governments war directed energies Dis
tribution from the hands Of retail deal
ers has been adversely affected by the
effects of influenza and warm weather.
while Industrial outputs have been cur
tailed by Illness among workers.
with the epidemic OF influenza wan
ing. discussions about peace are receiv-
ing more attention. perhaps too much at
tention, and superficial prospects in that
respect tend to deter merchants from
operating freely for 1919, while also
superinducing u disposition to effect can
cellations, even though complaints Of
insufficient supplies OF merchandise still
are numerous.
THE central fact IL that merchants,
especially those In the East, seem more
content to trade In accordance with cur
rent requirements and to let developing
events shape their future course. But the
great new wealth producing sections OF
the West, which is in n class BY itself
seem to move along undisturbed by ru-
mors OF peace, and in consequence job.
bers In that zone are doing more bust
ness than at this time last year, retail
trade in volume Ii about abreast OF
that going In 1917. value of turnover
beine greater, and mail order houses are
favored with a measurably larger vol.
ume of business"
Dun's Recie,o expresses the same idea
about the peace discussion. while
actual operations have not been appre.
ciably affected" this agency reports
"the changed international situation has
had clearly discernible influence or
business sentiment One result OF tn,
continued peace discussion has been tho
more general consideration of probable
future conditions, and uncertainty re.
garding the after-war readjustments IL
reflected In still greater caution in many
quarters Not only has the hesitation
lately noticed among certain buyers beer
intensified, but expectations OF downward
revisions of prices have prompted some
cancellations Of orders, and rome manu-.
featuring interests have shown more
Willingness to accept contracts running
into 1919. ..
'Of any voluntary lessening Of. the
vigorous prosecution OF government
work, however. there ia no indication
and tat heavy demands will continue
to be made upon the leading Industries
for months to come, irrespective OF war
developments. liz the prevailing opinion
Unfortunately, maintenance of the prert-
Gus high rate of production has been
rendered impracticable In many In
stances by the Influenza epidemic, al
though recovery in outputs has occurred
in New England and some other sections
and the restraints on retail trading have
also abated."