The Washington times., 1920-12-23
BOOM IS NEAR,
WATSON SAYS
West virginian Predicts U. S.
Will Recover Soon From
|, Depression.

NEW YORK, Dec. 23.-Former
Senator Clarence w. Watson Of
West Virginia, who has been abroad
some months, during which time he
carefully observed conditions In the
nations that have been struggling
with the after effects of the war,
landed here yesterday from the
Olympic convinced that rigorous
conditions are ahead or Europe, but
confident that there will be an early
resumption Of prosperous business In
the United States.
PREDICTS HARD WINTER.
TITS going to be a hard winter over
there" Mr.. Watson said. "A hard
winter. Some Improvement may be
noted, of course, in many respects. bat
the destruction and disorganizaaon
due to the war still lay heavy hand
on most of the European countries.
England. 1t seems to me. has gone
farthest toward recovering her nor
NAL condition. l think business con-
ditions are decidedly encouraging
there. That is not saying that con IL
lions are all that could be ASKED out
the signs are good"
what is the attitude of British Ia
Dor now? Is IL In rebellious moof!
Is 1t disposed to insist upon drastic
changes in the near future In the eco
nomic state?
mo, / don't think so. My judgment
Is that there has been a SOLDERING proc
ess going on in England. The good
sense of the English people Is mani
tested in many ways. There Is discus
sion of numerous proposals, natur any
looking to important changes, but in
the main this discussion is proceeding
in a reasonable way, and thought l
saw meanwhile a growing disposition
to settle down to hard work.
MUST GET TO WORK.
THAT is what is needed in France
, and Italy, a settling down to wo:k.
The sooner those two countries real
fze that their financial problems are
not to be settled by Germany, the bet
ter off they will be. There Is work in
both, hard work. The farmers have
been busy, and other classes have fol-
lowed suit, but in the background
there Is still a feeling that Germany
is to pay the bill, and that feeling
tends to prevent these two nations 20
ing to work in the cool. matter-of-fact
way Of taking care of a difficult JOB
that is needed. France and Italy Will
solve their own financial and indus
trial problems, when they are solved.
Germany's money won't do It.
do you mean that they won't get
substantial reparations from Ger
many?"
"Oh, they will get something at
some time, but 1t is foolish for them
10 mark time in their own tasks while
they are getting it. 1t is all right
for them to go after and get the rep
arations due them, but 1t is foolish
for them not to do for themselves the
things that they can do, while they
are getting the reparations., German
reparations will not put France and
Italy back where they were. Repara-
tons may help, but hard work and
economy must be the principal re-
liances."
"Wha did you hear about Russia.
and what do you think of the Rus
sian situation now?"
Nobody knows anything about that
country" replied Mr.. Watson, in the
manner of a man who has given up a
bad job for the time being.
LITTLE TALK OF LEAGUE.
"How about the political situation
over there? Does the League OF Ma
tons appear as Important?
II did not hear as much about 1t
over there as heard at home. There
is a very general feeling that some
such world organization is necessary
In order to aid in the sterilization OF
world conditions. as well as to set
up barriers against war, but there
was not much talk about the League
among the people / met"
What Is your own feeling about
the League, now that you have had
time to look the European situation
over carefully"
Something Of the kind Is needed.
And 1 guess We will get 1t, now that
the election Is over. Maybe they will
call 1t by some other name"
"Do you think the League is needed
from the standpoint Of American
business ahead?"
business successfully, and there must
be some such organization as the
League to help bring about and in
sure stability. That's all there Is to
that"
THINKS DEPRESSION BRIEF.
Mr.. Watson then was asked his
views about business conditions at
home, and whether he thought the
present depression would Re long
continued.
There Is a call for business In this
country" he replied. 81 mean that,
in addition to the ordinary business,
there Is the call that comes from the
necessity for reconstruction. To meet
that call there is tremendous wealth
and a high degree of initiative, en-
terprise and courage. l think that
means that we are bound to 90 busi-
ness and that the present situation
will not be of long duration"
Canadian Rates Stand.
OTTAWA, Dec. 23.-The railway board
has declined to suspend the increased
railway rates which became effective