The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-10-02
LOCOInObilc Lays
 Off 300, Other
 Shops Arc Full
Reduction of Present Supply Into Cash Req son by the flares Com pany-Other Factories Report That They Are Running on a Normal Condition. :.

In laying off 300 men last night company has issued to the press statement setting forth the reasons for the reduction of force, the bur den of a heavy inventory, and a nat ural falling off in sales at this time of the year being ascrfbed as some of she causes. MT. Larson is optimis- tic however in regard to the future of general business and says that in Hhis opinion, the steps being taken by y1nanufacturers in reducing their EpriceS will in a very short time brin2 business conditions back to one of lsteady upward growth His state- sment follows:
 Hast evening we laid off approxi- lmately 300 men, and to avoid any Imisund derstanding, here is the req son:
 We have been burdened with a very heavy inventory for sometime, iand due ito the natural falling off in sales at this time of the year, our Liquidation of this inventory has not been as rapid as we would like The fstep we have taken, is one of the sneans whereby we will reduce our hnventory and turn it into cash in the tnext two or three months, as we have a good portion of finished ma terial, which by very little labor, can be turned into finished cars
 'sWe were very sorry tos have been compelled to take this Step at this dnu l DeuCVe the men realize Hhat business conditions do not per- 1nit our continuing as in the past, until such time as conditions inn prove
 we believe that the steps now be- Ing taken by various manufacturers 1n reducing their prices will in a comparatively short time, bring gen eral business conditions back to one of steady upward growth We will, of course, take on additional men the moment conditions warrant it
 "E- I. LARSON,
 Manager .'' The concensus of opinion of twelve general managers or superintendents of Bridgeport's leading industries to- day given exclusively to The Times Is that -Brid geport industries do not at the present time all are running on apparently normal conditions
 Several of them employing large plumbers of people declared that their plants are doing more than a norrnal business and others summed up conditions in their plants as Every healthy" All are of the opinion that while there are a considerable num- 7oer of idle men in town. it is scarcely snore than the number to be expected an a manufacturing city of the size plant always a considerable number of what are classed as drifters- They tdo not remain long in any plant Some make good wages and do no. M,are to WOrk steadily anywhere Ih{ division of labor out of employment at least not workin, would be abou B0-5O said one prominent employment manager, this morning In some O Mailing off in business in certain de Dartments and consequently ther' Dhave been skilled mechanics laid of nhere, but not in large numbers.
 What is happening, in the opinion of all the managers talked to today, i simply that the country has passe. she crest of the wave of high prices U'he people in general encouraged b. ahe era of high wages have indulge' bn an orgy of wild spending and mus now settle down to a sane basis whicl Is exactly what is happening to bf business In addition to these condi lions there is always to be expected Mailing off in business immedfatel. preceding the presidential election Ghis has always happened and man industries will to a considerable ex tent mark time" now until after cleo tion-
 In other words the tremendous fin Nation of business due to war condi lions must now be and is being fin Hated, but no one seems to think tha Bridgeport faces any serious sfttza hon- Good mana cement of domesti affairs. which means laying off lc Df unnecessary spending for 1uxuries getting down to bedrock in econc mixing. is the thing needed.
 The Graphophone company in re ply to the query of The Times sai that fin only one department hay they ceased operations. The exper menta1 shop in the East End plar which employed about 25 skilled m1 chanics has been closed. 12 of thes mechanfcs have gone into other ds partments and at noon today the otht IF were of necessity re1essd. In a other departments there has been T fa1lfng off
 At the U. M. C. the report fig tn. conditions are normal and there mo reduction of force contemplate There is no change in labor there e. cept the normal shifting that follow fin all plants
 The Bridgeport Brass compar voiced the sentiments of the U. M. Conditions are healthy said one
 the officials of the Brass Compai and we are not laying off men.
 All other plants interviewed e pressed the same sentiments and d <nln fa nrfn