Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-12-06
PEACE DWARFS
OTHER EVENTS
Effect of Wars Ending on Bust
ness Discussed.-Prices
Will Gradually De-
cline

With the real event OF the month, the
cessation of hostilities between the ar.
mics of the world, according to re-
port on business conditions furnished
the News-Budget by the Eau Claire
interesting and valuable the following
excerpts from the digest and forecast
The armistice agreed upon undoubt-
eddy is the preamble to peace but it
must be constantly remembered that
it is only the preamble and that peace
security and personal liberty have not
yet definitely arrived.
The autocratic governments are
changing rapidly into republics or
limited monarchies which are EoWa-
days much the same as republics. 1t
is evident that the world is done with
autocracy for generations to come, if
not forever. In government hereafter
the people will rule, which does not
mean that the radical or the BOlShevik
will rule
The period directly ahead Of us will
probably be period of gradually de-
Ginning prices. gradually declining
wages and a gradually declining
money supply. Prices of commodi-
ties in many instances have gone be-
yond the levels justified by conditions
wages in certain instances have been
advanced beyond any necessity Gre
ated by the added cost of living and
our supply of gold have been aug
mented beyond the requirements of
this country through our ability to fur
nish needed supplies to the belligerent
countries and to neutrals more than
sufficient to offset credits created
through the sale of foreign-Owned Am
erican securities in this country plus
the loans or credits advanced by us to
our allies.
The labor question most commonly
discussed has to do with the re-em-
ployment of our soldiers as they are
demObilized and returned to civil life
This matter is not of the greatest i'm
portance for the reason that the demo-
bilization cannot well be more rapid
than the mobilization and industry
will absorb these men with less injury
to itself than was brought about in the
sudden calling of these men from their
mates have been made by men compe-
tent to judge the situation and the con
sensus of well-infofmed opinion seems
to be that more than 500 and perhaps
1870 of these men may return to their
former positions. if they so desire
number will wish to take up their for
mer occupations. These men have
been developed and broadened through
their recent experiences and many of
them are competent to step into higher
places in the business world than they
left behind them.
The more important labor situation
which should receive the careful at
tentiOn of all men is the re-empioy-
ment of those men and women whose
labor will no longer be needed in pro-
ductiOn of the necessities Of war AS
surance has been given that the ship
building industry will proceed as orig
inally planned, and yet even in this in
dustry, the total Of wages paid will be
less next month than it was last, over
time having already been eliminated
at some shipyards. In the airplane in
dustry forces are being reduced, and
in the making of shells, guns and other
war munitions, the number of en-
ployes released during the next few
months will be tremendous. 1t is the
of these people that must
receive our serious attention and pro-
duction of those things needed in civil
ian life must be steadily increased if
these thousands are to have steady en-
ployment during the winter.
The transition from a peace basis to
a war basis was made in the face of
great and unknown difficulties while
the transition from war basis to a
peace basis will be made at time
when we are not forced to direct our
entire energies toward an unknown re-
suit, but we must direct our entire
energy along the line of least resist
ance and in a calm and methOdical
manner bring business down to a solid
peace and prosperity foundation. 1t is
perhaps unfortunate that we are not
wholly ready for peace, but it was
hard to believe that peace would come
SO quickly.
1t is remarkable after the years of
war which have torn Europe and the
months of war in which we have our
selves been engaged that, in the face
of sudden cessation of hostilities.
business should go ahead as substan
TALLY as it has during these days fol
lowing the signing of the armistice.
In recent months both our Exports
and Imports have been large, larger
than a year ago, and indications point
to still heavier exports as well as to
increasing imports indicating favor
able Balance of Trade to this country
for months, at least.
Business failures have been eXcep-
tionally low and for last month we had
the smallest months record in ten
years time If increasing business
failures would be avoided, much more
than the usual care must be given to
the extension of credits, to borrowings,
and to the enlargement of businesses.