The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1920-09-11
BUSINESS
STAGNATION
EXISTENT
Bankers and Factory Heads
Expect Conditions To Grow
Worse Instead Of Better
BY FRANK MASON

IsrAFF CORRESPONDENT !. N. SERVICE
BERLIN, Sept. 11-With 100000
q her workmen idle, Germany faces
a black winter. Last winter the coun-
try was menaced by political riots. The
nation is threatened during the COM
ing winter with food and labor dis
turbances The chief danger comes
from unemployment and the empty
dinner pail.
Only the raiiroaders and the coal
miners are working 10 full capicty
Idleness in other branches Of industry
Is increacing daily with the companies
laying of large numbers Of men.
NATION To OPERATE FACTORIES
The minister of labor announced to-
day that $4,000, 600 marks will be ap-
propriated to assist the unemployed
This is an addition to 10000. 900 marks
already spent for that purpose.
A law Is being drafted to enable
government commissions TO operate
idle factories where it is possible TO
do so.
The government is planning to en-
gage as many as possible unemployed
in useful work during the cold wealth
er months. but warning has been is
sued that no unnecessary places will
be dIIed.
SOME OPTIMISM Is SHOWN
While the situation looks black and
there IS a great deal OF pessimism,
some of the members OF the govern
nent are optimistic. They point out
that:
The September quota OF coal for
France. pledged under the Spa agree
uent is now assured.
2-Tha Russian retreat from the
Prussian border relieved the danger
of en- immediate Bolshevist uprising
in Germany.
s-The ouarrels OF the radical lead
ers are splitting up the Independent
Socialist party and aIlays the danger OF
a counter-revolution.
BANKERS PEssIMIsTIC
4-The miners are working over
time.
For the most part bankers and man
ufacturers are pessimistic and they see
little hope. In fact they expect con-
ditions steadily to grow worse.
A weeks investigation in financial
and industrial circles has brought re-
suits which may be summarized as
follows:
II ollOWlnE the e1lD6EEO DN lnN
allies against the shipment OF coal in
70 Germany from silesia, 1t is alleg-
ed that a new Polish conspiracy has
heen discovered which is TO culr:--vs
in the violent occupation" OF Upper
Silesia about September IS.
BUSINESS Is sTAGNATED
z-Business is stagnated Because
Of prohteering and high wages Ger
many is unable to compete in the world
market Domestic trade is passive
and the situation has been rurther IL
huenced by a consumers strike. Tn
favorable exchange rates prevent ex-
portation Of German goods.
3-The government is falling TO col
lect taxes Instead of carrying out
the present adequate taxation laws
new compulsory loans are being pro-
posed.
4-The government has increased the
output OF currency. upsetting the stan
dsrd of paper money values. The
world is being flooded with paper
marks. The last reichsbank report
shows that the issue Of marks last
week was 1.7o0,ooo,ooo, increasing the
government deficit S34.ooo0oo at the
present rate Of exchange. Finance
ministry officials admit the possibility
Of the mark returning TO its old gold
basis
5-Business viii not be stabilized
until there IS a settlement of the
amount of reparstions that Germany
IS 10 pay.
6-The governments control OF food
will end Sept Is. The absence of food
cards will increase the opportunity Of
food dealers to proiteer and to IN
crease the suffering Of the poor Ber-
lin, fearing foor riots. has cancelled
the order for closing down the public
soup kitchens. The government ar
nounces that it is arranging for ex-
tensive food credits and is arranging
to pay half Of the amount through the
export Of potash
The seccessionist movement IN
Bavaria is getting stronger. If 1T Is
carried out and a separate state Is
established. economic chaos may re-
suit.
s-Germny's crops, on the average.
are slightly less than those of 1919.
There are no raw materials. no mar
kets and little or no coal. Industries,
such as those producing shoes. tex
tiles and steel fabricationss are work
ing on part time.