New-York tribune., 1918-12-23

ieCelFeu ny tne MerCnantS ASSOCIATION
to inquiries sent to it's manufacturing
members as to business conditions and
prospects. A digest of the responses
and excerpts from some of them are
published to-day in the association s
magazine, Greater New York"
In general, the manufacturers look
for an eventual reduction in the cost
of labor and raw materials, resulting
in lower commodity prices with prob
ably a long enough interval Of high
prices to enable them to liquidate
stocks on hand which were produced
under war conditions.
Many important factors concerning
which manufacturers still are in doubt
however, are pointed out The prob
lens Of labor, transportation and plo-
lection are regarded as vital and unset
tied. The matter Of raw materials is
not bOthering most of the manufact-
urers, notable exception, however
being those requiring woods and yarns
who find their market in a chaotic con
dition because of government contracts
for which in most instances individual
and firms are still responsible, while
the government is seeking to cancel its
contracts with manufacturers.
Contract Cancellation a Factor
This cancellation of government con-
tracts is regarded as the most i'm
portant single factor in the industrial
situation. SO far as this district is
concerned, the plans for cancellation Of
orders have been completed, it is said
and are being carried out with ce-
lerity which rapidly is clearing the busi-
ness atmosphere.
Indifference to business interests or
the part of government railroad en-
ployes, embargoes and poor service that
is becoming worse are mentioned fire.
quently as hindrances to rapid read
justment of business and lack of ship
and high ocean freights are contribu-
tory causes to the failure of some
houses to get the business start which
they believe to be warranted by the i'm
minence of peace.
The dye industries are most insistent
in their demand for tariff protection
pointing to the capital invested in Civ
ing the business start in this country
and asserting that it has not yet
reached the stage where it can depend
or it's own strength for development
AS to the labor question, much less
definite opinions are expressed. Many
that it would be mistake to try tc
force the labor market back to its pre-
war state. All of them point out that
the present high cost of labor is chiefly
responsible for high commodity prices
comprehensive view of the entire
situation is the following, expressed by
an officer of a company dealing in oils
"As view it, the problems for our
industry are, in substance, those of
any other industry The first probe
ia that of liquidating high priced in
ventorles on stagnating and possibly
declining market. Some concerns have
undoubtedly had vision enough to
liquidate those lines in their industry
which would be subject to the large It
appreciation. For any, however, who
have not done this, the problem is a
very important one, although it is
what might be called a temporary and
not continuing problem, because
once the industry is liquidated even
with a loss, the matter is settled.
at is my hope, however, that after 3
short period of inacton the demand
from abroad may be sufficient to en-
able prices to remain about on their
present level until present industries
have been liquldated, and that de-
fation of present prices will not be
so abrupt as to disorganize the bust
ness to any great degree. We must,
of declining prices, and we should do
so, but in my judgment the decline
should be gradual and not abrupt.
Labor Must Cooperate
"On the other hand, all manufacture
ers will be faced with problems which
are the outgrowth of the present labor
conditions Along this line there has
been much discussion lately of cooper
hat ho o1 h,
producing ends represented by capital
and labor. With this | fully agree,
but cooperation may cover multitude
Of inducements.
II have had the opportunity of
cooperating with many people so long
as ! was able to accede to their views
feel, therefore, that to cooperate
there must be had viewpoint of both
capital and labor which is more un-
selfish than it has been in the past
There must be appreciation of the
other mans point of view and willing
ness to give it due consideration and
weight"
Dealing more specifically and less
broadly with the matter of wages, q
concern engaged in the importation of
pharmaceutical supplies writes:
"In the first place, there must be
=
not the appeal on the part of the ad
ministration for Democratic Con-
gress was prompted by the belief that
a Republican Congress, in their en-
! daavor to handle the labor situation
and keep wages from going back to &
pre-war level, with the attendant un-
pleasantness, would greatly increase
the tariff
Liberal Wages Advocated
ut is admitted on ali sides that il
would be extremely dangerous to at
tempt to force labor back to the pre-
war basis. and, notwithstanding the
known attitude of the Republican
party, it's leaders may have seen &
! light which might lead them in the
direction stated.
"Of course. the country must face
the question of Bolshevism fairly and
all business houses will have the op.
portunity for constructive counte.
measures We feel on this subject
that. although the price Of commodi.
ties and labor will decline consider
ably, they will not reach the pre-wal
level, at least for quite r while, and
that capital will show wisdom in max
ing more liberal concessions than may
Seen NeCnsSary 70 +ha and tbo% ID ~