The sun., 1919-09-28
STRIKE INTERRUPTS
EVERY TRADE LINE
Progress Has Been Retarded in
Some Way in All Branches
of Business.

Progress in business and trade in all
its branches has been interrupted to
some extent by the great labor unrest
which has swept the country, according
to the weekly trade reviews A substan-
tlal loss of output and stoppage of wages.
which always result from strikes and
walkouts. are bound to make themselves
felt, It Is declared. Price declines have
been interrupted to some extent by halt
ing OF production
THE continuance of widespread indus
trial unrest. with its accompanying
strikes and disorders" says Dun's Re-
vieto. "is an Increasingly potent factor 10
limiting business activities. and renders
optimistic reviews of conditions difficult In
interference with the processes OF produo-
ton through walkouts at manufacturing
establishments not merely impedes prog,
ress In those branches directly affected.
but has a far reaching influence with
many thousands of workers idle, and
apprehensions of further troubles to
come impose added restraint on forward
undertakings. So long as such situa-
ton exists a full measure OF commercial
expansion will not be possible, nor will
the shortage OF supplies. which n nearly
everywhere complained of. be easily
remedled. Less than a week OF disor~
genized operations at steel plants has
caused a loss OF output that will not be
quickly recovered, II at all. and the re-
A,,a
from stoppage OF wages can hardly fall
10 diminish consumptive buying.
Already reports are beg inning to be
heard of actual or contemplated can.
cellations OF merchants orders In dis
tricts where the strike has made the
greatest inroads, and even In lines not
closely identified with the steel trade
there is n degree OF reluctance to enter
into new commitments while the future
remains so uncertain. Without the pres
ence of labor troubles of magn tude a
general enlargement OF bus ness might
conceivably be witnessed and that gains
do appear In various instances. despite
the prevailing drawbacks. Is an encour-
aging feature. While q disposition 20
await downward pr'ce readJustments is
still apparent In some quarters, certain
commodities that were recently de-
pressed have lately developed a steadier
undertone, and Dun'S list of wholesale
quotations this week. for the second con
secutlve week, disoloses more advances
than recessions. II production were I'M
restrained. a prop would be removed
from under not rev markets, but with
outputs curtailed from one cause or an
other price y Gliding is a hating process"
BrddstTeet's State OF Trade says: :
Labor troubles have bulked large in the
trade and Industrial situation this week,
the great steel strike, which has rendered
possibly 100000 men idle. not all OF
these strikers. by the way, leading in
Importance. While buying and produc-
ton have alike been curtailed in this key
Industry and operations in many pri-
mary lines have tended to mark time
pending clearer view of the outcome OF
this struggle. II Is noteworthy that ex-
oept in sections Immediately affected BY
mill and furnace suspension, the tone OF
reports is cheerful. Jobbing and retail
distribution have alike been large.
I'm the central West and the South.
except where, as stated, local buying is
irterfered with and cash purchases have
taken the place of suspended credit buy
ing, actual purchasing has been active.
Even in the vicinity OF Chicago. where, 1t
f. stated, $4,000 to 10000 men went out
retail trade is reported good, mail order
buying large and September jobbing and
Wholesale trade will reach a very high
# not record total. In the region west
Of the Mississippi River, from Canada to
Texas. trade is active, fall buying slim
ulated by fall festivals and cooler
weather, has been and is urgent and the
main complaint is still of delayed or in
adequate deliveries of goods to fill orders
Eastern trade reports are really the
least optimistic, but even there fall trade
irfuences are operative. Cotton goods
particularly have strengthened and
leather is in better demand. Part OF the
apparent indisposition to go forward con-
hdently at the East Is undoubtedly a re-
hection of the numerous strikes. which
render Il impossible to foresse future
lilziits d oostr