The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-08-30
HENRY CLEWS'
WEEKLY LETTER

Favora BILE developments on the Po-
lish frontier, and an apparently bet
ter understanding among the Euro
pean powers with respect to their
Russian policy have naturally given
to the foreign situation a much bet
ter tone and more hopeful outlook
during the past few days. There are
still very serious problems to be met,
however, not the least of which is the
internal situation of Great Britain re-
sulting from the recalcitrant attitude
of English labor which is indicated
in its attitude of federation if not of
favor for Bolshevistic ideas. At all
events there has been not only a very
material showing of national strength
in Poland, but also a degree of pos
tiveness and vigor on the part of both
of the British and other Governments
with respect to the hostile elements
among their own people, which is en-
couraging from the standpoint of ma
tiona1 stability. In the United States
the attitude taken by the Federal
Governmen in the present foreign
situation appears, on the whole to
be approved as being about the only
line that can be followed under pres
ent conditions of uncertainty and
doubt.
Better Industrial Prospects
Inc most nOpe1uI CeVeIOpmenL our
ing the past few days has been the
advent of manifestly better Industrial
prospects which. coupled with the ia
vorab1e condition of agriculture, is to
say the least gratifying. Definite
predictions are now being made in
many places where plants have been
closed or running on part time that
in the near future, probably inme-
diately after Labor Day, there will be
resumption of active effort which
will again restore full employment It
remains true that in a few lines of
manufacture there is still hesitation
or uncertainty largely due to the ap-
parently fluctuating course of COM
| modify prices. Announcement dur
| ing the past week that both British
and American price indexes show a
| continued downward trend has not
| helped the situation particularly, in
asmuch as few or no merchants are
| disposed to deal on a declining mar
ket The price recession has. how
ever, thus far been for the most part
| moderate, as well as regular.
| Foreign trade returns for July
| again show an upward movement OF
| exports, the increase over June be-
ing fully s23,0oo,00o, while the m
crease in imports. amounting as II
does to 100000, falls behind. Cur
I
| and cotton seem to indicate that Aug
| ust will be another large month OF
| foreign trade There is no difficulty
| in selling American goods of any de-
| seription abroad SO long as we are
willing to finance them. 1t is in the
| latter connection that difficulty is
| found and this difficulty grows in
| large measure out of the activity OF
| domestic business, This activity is
shown by the number Or sarge I'M
! filed orders in many basic industries
especially steel. while congestion on
the railways, although beginning tic
be materially relieved, is still an i'm
| poftant factor,
The Railroad Situation
Nevertheless. the railroad situation
is undoubtedly improving. Not only
is freight aeving steadily, but. from
| the financial standpoint, railroad
gross incomes are very large. Frue
| the net income after paying wages
| and taxes and ether expenses Is ex-
| tEemely Iinaited, but interest in the
figures is found in the fact that there
=