Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1919-02-13
BUILDING Is URGED NOW
President Wilson, Cabinet officials
snd Captains OF Industry Say
Time Is ut Hand to Build


fails to take into consideration the
prospects of the future and who In
a hope OF securing cheaper labor
or cheaper raw material does no.
build up his organization and main
tain 1t during the possibly brief per-
iod OF readjustment. will be handi-
capped in securing his share OF the
business afterwards; because he Will
be handicapped through lack OF
working forces In his factory"
"Folly to Hold ON for Lower Prices
A tendency on the part of business
men to hold back new enterprises
in expectation OF lower commodity
prices and wages. is mistake, In
the opinion OF Joseph w. Otis. vice
president and acting head OF the
Central Trust company of Illinois.
81 have no sympathy with the man
who is sitting back, awaiting lower
prices" said Mr.. Otis today. "The
people who are waiting a drastic de-
cline In prices aren't going to get 1t.
they are going to get left. In other
words. do not believe we are going
to see any immediate and drastic de-
cline In commodity prices. There is
a worldwide scarcity OF many ma
terials and production costs are 60
ing to continue abnormally high.
1 IF we are to hold back awaiting
lower prices We should produce con-
ditions OF sort that would benefit
no one. 1t is the duty OF business
to go ahead and seize the opportunity
now awaiting"
Frank w. Thomas. OF O. A. Slaugh-
ter & Co.. said today:
I'm considering the outlook for
commodity prices. we must bear In
mind that wages are going to con-
tinue high for an indefinite time, and
that European competition. formerly
so keenly felt in our markets. is not
going to be so severe as II was be-
fore the war. Wages have been adj
vanced abroad with no Immediate
prospects of their return to the pre-
war basis"
Frank A. Vanderlip. president OF
the National City Bank OF New York.
In an address In that city. declared
that 1t is possible to transfer Is. 0OO.-
900 men now engaged in war activi-
ties to works OF peace without great
ly disturbing conditions
81 would not argue that we can
JOLT" he said. There will be some
But l believe that the demand for
labor is 80 great that II is possible
to make the transition without dis
aster
I'VE may make a cushion of pub
lie works. That is possible. But
there are really tremendous orders
that may now be executed, and on
the whole / would not be surprised
to find that we shall see no surplus
es OF labor. providing labor and the
employer Of labor each does his beet
to help In this readjustment.
John N. WHY'S. president OF the
Willys-Overland company. says:
Material prices and wages are not
likely to come down in hurry. With
the passing OF the first furry of I'M
settlement OF prices which followed
the signing OF the armistice there is
now noticeable steadying OF the
market"
Otto Fl. Kahn, of Kuhn. Loeb &
Co.. bankers, New York, predicts:
For few years at least there will
be an immensely OF opportunity and
corresponding prosperity-producin
activity, such as even this country
has rarely experienced.
II look forward for this country
to period of suspicious achieve
ment and great prosperity after the
war. provided that relations between
employers and employees are deter
mined on the basis OF mutual fair
play and enlightened good will"
We have become creditor ma
ton. The world will need our pro-
ducts and the genYus of our enter
prise and energy as never before"
President Wilson Favors Early Re-
sumption Of Highway Construction
president Wilson, Letter to Secre-
tary OF Agriculture Houston)
Dear Mr.. Secretary:
Il heartily agree with you that II
would be in the public interest to
resume in full measure the highway
construction operations under the
Federal Aid Road Act and to do 10
~ speedily az possible. II IA
important not only to develop good
highways throughout the country os
quickly as possible, but It is also Mt
this time especially advisable to re-
sumo and extend all such essential
public works. with a view to furnish.
Ing employment for laborers who
may be seeking new tasks during
the period OF readjustment.