Great Falls daily tribune., 1920-06-13
PIONEER SALESMAN CONFIDENT
THAT PANIC DOES NOT MENACE
H. T. Vessel Sees No Immediate or Abrupt Break
in Prices, but Believes That Increased Produc-
ton VIII Eventually Bring Return to Normal.

or $500 made a larger percentage of
profit than if he pays now $3.50 or
$500 for a suit and sells it for $4,000.
''The public is always ready to jump
at emotional conclusions, without a
thoughtful analysis of the subject with
relation to business enterprises con-
cerning which they are not conversant.
Il am not in sympathy with any in
dividual or combination of interests who
take undue advantage at the expense
of the masses, but the main gateway
to moderate levels and readjustment is
more production, and this can be brought
about by only increased hours of service,
and a reasonable degree of economy in
daily consumption. In other words, when
production keeps pace with consumpt-
ion, and eventually overtakes consump-
ton, then and not until then, will lower
prices be obtained.
Sees No Abrupt Decline
Quite few merchants are anxiously
anticipating an abrupt decline in prices
and / am glad to say they will be dis
appointed for some little time to come
because sudden decline would precip-
itate panic which would be repitition
Of 1893. Such condition would be far
more aggravating and cause great deal
more grief than gradual adjustment
on the basis of the law of natural sup
ply and demand"
THE people are always too ready to
cast reflection on the administration,
whether Democratic or Republican,
ical to charge any administration with
the ills and imaginary wrongs of our
present economic conditions"
Mr.. Vessel talked reminiscently OF
his early experiences In Montana saying:
II started travelling in 1881 from st.
Paul through western Wisconsin toward
Lake Superior and thence west on the
Northern Pacific, as the line was being
constructed; then across Minnesota and
into the Dakota territory. l followed it
up on every succeeding division into Mon
was driven in 1884. l continued to push
my way as a clothing salesman, on tow
ards the Pacific coast, and have made
for 80 years.
/ have seen the country develop in
that scope of territory from it's primitive
and frontier conditions to its present
stage.
MY maiden trip to survey the ter
ritory of Montana and the Rocky
Mountain section was made in Nov. 1887,
when / boarded the Northern Pacific
train at ST Paul, disembarking at
Livingston, after tedious ride of 40
hours, which is rather startling com
parison with the present schedule of No.
!, which reaches Pasco, on the Column
ia river, in approximately the same
time but 600 miles farther.
When you embarked for a sojurn
in certain point in those days, you had
the satisfaction of realizing that you
were booked for a "a hour stay unless
you ventured on a freight train in the
meantime, and my first experience was
on freight train from Livingston to
Big Timber. l was enroute 10 hours
making a distance Of So miles, as the
train crew was engaged part of the time
In loading railroad ties along the route.
Hotels were Of pinoeer and primi-
tive character and their entertainment
was in keeping with the primitive condi-
tions.
Gambling Was Everywhere
'The saloon had the customary sign
in plain and gold letters thus: This, is
Licensed Gambling House. and If you
chose to conform to the customary rules
and practices. you had an even break by
purchasing n stack of worries. OF course
it is needless to say that you did not
need expect the major fraction of an
advantage in such an enterprise. Sport
ing proclivities and incentives were in
keeping with the times and the from
tier spirit.
Business men of broad and expau-
sive mind would not hesitate to buy
stack and sit in with the miner. cow
puncher and sheep herder, to take issue
with the professional and cheerful sport
and abide by the ordinary course of
chance and results. The tenderfoot and
sQuealer had no recourse other than TO
resolve not TO try again"