Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-11-16
B. c. FORBES.

B
speculations, and the substantial de-
cline in prices are certain to bring
about easier monetary conditions af-
ter the turn of the year. Our f.
nancial leaders nearly all agree that
the banking situation is now under
control and that lower interest rates
are definitely within sight. More
over, extravaganza has passed, and
the economy now being practiced is
resulting in the saving of large
amounts of money which will be-
come abailable to capitalists and
other men of enterprise for the ex-
pansion of their activities. The
i monetary trend, therefore, is indis-
putably moving in the right direc
ton.
Betters Producers.
The labor outlook has undergone
transformation this, chiefly because
there are now more men than jobs.
One large manufacturer tells me that
his production has almost doubled
without any considerable increase in
workers. Although that is excep-
tional, the general testimony is that
workmen are distinctly more produc-
live COudS Cuou IhCy WCIC pCAOlC bhS
recession set in. Prosperity has a
habit of breeding arrogancy and lazi-
ness. Labor became cock of the
walk during the war, when employ
ers grabbed anyone and everyone
who came along, no matter how in
competent. Production per man fell
off disgracefully. Strikes became
general. Wages scared abnormally.
But more recently every big strike
has failed. The ciamor for higher
wages has ceased. Slackers are be-
ing weeded out left and right. A
steady. job is now regarded as some
thing to be held on to, not something
to be spurned. This whole trans
formation is of immeasurable impor-.
tance, since it makes for larger pro-
duction at lower costs, thus stimu-
lating consumption at home and
larger purchases from abroad.
Another noteworthy phase of the
labor situation is the removal of the
wartime dam from the European
stream of immigration. Last months
arrivals exceeded $4,000, and the
monthly total will exceed 100000 as
soon as shipping facilities can be
provided-which should be very
soon, as new ships are taking the
ocean every day. Since an adequate
supply of unskilled as well as skilled
labor is indispensable to the starting
of business boom, this inflow of
able boadied foreign workers is both
significant and important
Roads on Trial.
"Civilization is transportation"
Neither nation nor industry can pro-
gress faster than its transportation
facilities can carry it. How much
transportation congestion aggravated
the financial strain which helped to
bring on the business reaction can
not be gauged We all know that
the dearth of freight cars wrought
untold havoc with business. Well,
| that is over The improvement al
ready effected in the movement of
traffic has been phenomenal. And
railway presidents assure me that on
! ly start has been made. They pri-
vately promise results which will
astound the public. They are now
able to exercise discipline among
I their employees; for the first time
in a decade their credit is assured /;
the war emergency taught them how
to cooperate effectively; and, as
they feel that private owenrship is
now on trial, they are determined to
prove to theworld that private own
ership is infinitely superior to gov
ernment ownership. The business
world can rest assured, therefore,
! that the railroads are girding on their
armous to cope with the big business
! they see ahead.
Views differ on our foreign trade
| outlook. One school of thought
contends that our exports will shrink
and shrink as Europe's industrial
equipment, sadly dislocated by the
war, is rehabilitated. Other au-
thorities look for a continuance Of
enormous shipments to other parts OF
the world. Ny view IS that our ship
ments will continue large. At the
same time, we must expect extensive
importation of merchandise from
other countries, since only by send
ing out goods can other countries pay
for what they buy from us and meet
their Indebtedness to us.
In this connection it is worth not
I ing that President-elect Harding has
! repeatedly ueCldTeu JHdI ne VIII III
everything within his power to pro
tect American industry from undue
competition from cheap-labor coun
tries.
The creation Of our vast mercantile
fleet. and the sympathetic attitude
manifested toward it by Washington
and the public, are other factors t.
be taken into the reckoning in con
sidering our International trade pros
pects. Also, theability of goods
, hungry European countries to buy
/, from Us should increase as the dis
count on their currencies. as compar
ed with the American dollar, becomes
) less abnormal.
, All that need be said of politics Is
that the result Of the election please
the majority of the business men