The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-26
KIWANIS CLUB
 TO AID SOLDIERS

The Kiwanis Club of Bridgeport is solidly back of the movement to help stimulate business that the present labor situation may be radically im- proved in the shortest possible time.
 At the regular monthly meeting held in the Stratheld Hotel the ques- ton facing Bridgeport as to how to give employment to it's citizens who are now out of work and to the re turning soldiers received careful at tention.
 The discussion was started by a careful analysis of the situation by William P. Kirk, chairman of the local War Labor Board. He gave figures showing the situation as 1t exists in Bridgeport and vicinity and in other parts of the country as re- latlns to unemployment.
 Following his very clear and care fuI statement, the question was con- sidered from the various standpoints of the different businesses repre- scented in the membership of the club.
 T. J, Pardy of the Pardy Construc- ton Company explained matters with regard to the building business and stated that now Is the most oppor- tune time for anyone to build who may have such a propo- sitIon in mind. At the present time contractors and builders are in bet ter position than ever to give require ments of the property owner the at tention that could not be given dur ing the war and that cannot be given when the press of business is again upon us that will surely follow when
 
 us.
 Information from various sources, much of it of a confidential nature, showed that 1t Is the honest opinion of the leaders in all lines of work that prices are now at about their lowest figure. Those people who, In the be- lief or hope that in the near future there Will be a drop in costs and la bor, are doomed to disappointment
 The statement was made that those who delay any necessary build ing operations, improvements or re- pair work will, within the next eight 2 months, pay from twenty-five to forty per cent. for exactly the same work.
 John J. Fisher quoted reliable in- surance statistics showing that 1t is the opinion of insurance companies, who have never failed to forecast with accuracy future conditions as affecting their business, that the era of prosperity that always follows a period of war is coming sooner than most people believe and that it will be far beyond the fondest expecta- lions of the average business men.
 All this discussion was directed to one end, "How can the Kiwanis Club, and all business men, so act and work together as to bring about this prosperous condition sooner than it would come of ttself?"
 Prosperity, as is well known, swings around three central points: the manufacture of goods, the dis tribution of goods, and the ConsuRp- ton of goods. The means of maSu- featuring are at hand and the meth ods of distribution are well organ ized and waiting to be utilized. The one thing that is holding up prosper ity Is the lack of consumption.
 In the belief that buying along many lines has been repressed owing to the lessons of thrift taught by the war and the fact that we have all been forming the habit of postponing anything that could be- postponed in order to release material and labor
 
 that the Kiwanis Club inaugurate Buy 1t now" campaign that the pub lic may have it brought to their attention that there is no more op- perfume time than. the present in which to buy or invest for needed articles or improvements, or in ex- banding along new lines in prepara- ton for the new and greater future that is approaching.
 Such a campaign does not, in any way, attempt to preach the doctrine of extravaganza. It is to be an eff fort to turn loose the capital that Is now lying idle because of the belief on the part of the public that there will be a better opportunity later on. or because of a habit of mind formed by the war, a. sort of wen think about 1t tomorrow mental policy, That there is an enormous buying power in the country today that are being rushed to the utmost are those that manufacture luxuries. The Ora phophone Company of our city is an example. It is enjoying unusual pros perity. Detroit factories are unable to supply pleasure cars fast enough to meet the demand, and in Attic boro, Mass, there is a serious short age of mechanics for the manufac- ture of jewelry, some 500 being bad ly needed.
 To get the rest of this latent cap ital of the country into circulation along practical and needed lines is the object of the Buy it now" cam paign, which is to be conducted in conjunction with all business men and business organizations.
 A special committee consisting of Messrs. A. M. Engelhard, of the D. M Read Company and F. D. Bell, of Meigs & Go. were appointed to CO., operate on behalf of the Kiwanis Club with the War Labor Board and g. committee from various other or ganizations may be put into satisfac- tory positions with the least possible delay for the general good.
 The meeting of the club was one of the most enthusiastic and enjoy able ones of all the evening meetings that have been held up to date. George B. Watkins, of the Watkins Art Store, as his Oral Boost, gave a short history of the development of Art. Sergeant Barker, of Fairfield,