The Washington herald., 1919-05-12
TRADE OUTLOOK
NOW OPTIMISTIC
New York Business Men En-.
thusiastic Over Prospect,
Holland Declares.

When New York business men re-
turn from a visit to washington. as
some have done within a day or
two. they bring back reports of the
enthusiasm and optimism respecting
business conditions and the prom
Use of the immediate future which.
they say. compare well with q like
feeling which prevails in the securi-
ties market in New York.
They go from New York to wash
ington prepared to speak Of the
manner in which the securities mar
ket is now acting. indicating, as
they believed, great and probably
soon to be irresistible pressure
which will make inevitable unsur-
passed activity and presumably
rapid appreciation in market prices.
The Washington feeling Is reflect
ed in the statement OF the Fed
eral Reserve Board. The board has
had excellent opportunities for oh
tanning reliable Information about
business conditions and prospects
in all parts of the country.
Undoubtedly it is this informa-
tion which has been gradually COM
municated to the Washington pub
lie. and this in part. at least. ex-
plains the prevailing belief at the
Capital that we are on the eve of
a great business prosperity the mag
nitude of which II Is difficult to
forecast.
From all parts of the country
reports have come to Washington
and to the Federal Reserve Board
which are of like character to re-
ports which have been received in
the financial district Of this city.
These reports show that business
prospects have greatly improved.
retail business is increasing in vol
ume. and business generally. the
stronger and better footing than
early in the year.
Moreover, there come encouraging
reports about the gradual but sure
meeting of the demand for labor. La
Dor is now finding in many parts of
the country abundant opportunities
for employment.
When it is recalled that early in
this year the anxiety was great lest
many thousand men and women who
were anxious to secure employment
could not find II. then 1t will be real
ICED how rapid the recovery ha3 been.
So rapid that the floating supply OF
labor was in April almost completely
absorbed with the prospect that there
would be work In plenty for all who
are ready to accept the opportunity.
Peace Conference.
There appears to be in Washington
a growing feeling Of impatierce SINH
lar to feeling which prevails in this
city. that the Peace Conference at
Paris has been procrastinatinS. and
also some doubt as to whether its
final findings NAV De accepted until
some months have passed.
The comment is frequently heard in
the financial district OF this city hat
the chief obstacle that stands in the
way of the rapid coming of abunda Mt
prosperity Is the delay and doubt
which are associated with the Peace
Conference.
In fact, the feeling Is so strong that
some are heard to say that for the
sake of American business and pros
perity it may be the better part to
rush through the Peace Conference
proceedings and for the Senate Of tho
United States speedily to ratifv any
treaty which may be placed before It,
1t seems also to be the understand
ing that prices for almost all COM
modities will not fail below the pres
sent standards, at least until several
months and perhaps year have
passed. Nevertheless. industry and
business OF all kinds may be main
tanned and increased Notwithstanding
high prices.
For a while business hesitated and
the business leaders who have been
anxious to lay in large stocks of goods
for retail distribution refrained from
entering the markets because they
hoped that in a little while lower
prices for commodities of ali kinds
would prevail.
After all. what they chiefly looked
for was the certainty that there would