The Washington times., 1921-02-26
BUSINESS REVIVAL
PREDICTED IN 1927
William E. Metzger, Pioneer
Automobile Man, Is 0pti-
mistic Over Future.

DETROIT. Feb. fs.-Thst We shan
witness q revival of business and
employment generally In 1921 IL the
prediction OF william f. Metzger. one
of the pioneers OF the automotive in
dustry. director OF the National
AutomobtIe Chamber OF Commerce.
Vice President of the Columbia
Motors Company. and an official in
Germs.
Mr.. Metzger's cheerful prediction 10
based on his long experience In
many lines of business. on first hand
information from some OF the great
eat and far-seeing bankers and man
ufacturers. and on = summary. OF
fundamental conditions just COM
pleted by the Columbia Company. He
expects 1921 to be year OF sure.
steady growth in business and a per-
tod In which a firm foundation will
be laid for years OF prosperity.
WHAT MERCHANTS SHOULD DO.
There arc two things for every
business man to do NOW" says Mr..
Metxger. "One is to employ every
fair method TO keep his wares NOV
Ing for the next two OF three months
The other 10 to lay plans now for
future buainess. that is business
three or four months away. such as
naturally comes with the change of
seasons in the Spring. This applies
TO all lines OF business including re-
failing OF automobiles.
There is nothing mysterious or
alarming about the present situation.
We and all other countries are pay
ing for the world wr. 1t caused
tremendous wastage of men. money.
effort and resources and all that
waste must be paid for. Just rs II
takes q man who has been i'll almost
10 the point of death a long time
10 recover. SO 1t will take the world
time to recover. Some countries will
recuperate more quickly than others
because they were not SO hard hit
by tho war and because they have
the treme ndous natural resources for
tho creation of new agricultural and
manufactured wealth that will make
their convalescence not only easy,
but quick. Such q ono is our coun-
try. For that reason We should all
be glad that we live in the United
States.
There are many signs now appa-
rent that recovery in our country Is
well under way. And those who
observe conditions abroad know that
reaction of a more favorable char
acter is prevalent in England. France,
Holland, Belgium, the Scandinaviaa
and other countries.
CAR DEAND WILL REVIVE.
"Just because the demand for au-
tomobiles, tn select a specific article
as an example, has fallen off," con
tinued Mr.. Metzger. "does not at all
signify that IL will not revive soon.
This Is the fastest-thinking. fastest
acting, the 'snappiest' nation, in the
world today and 1t demands every
facility that will result in the best
accomplishment In tho shortest pos
sible time.
That is tho fundamental reason
Why the desire to own a motor car
is inbred in tho heart of every
American, and that desire has not
ditions. TAe longer demand is re-
pressed the greater the buying re-
action when 1t comes-and that will
be soon.'
Just now demand is slow in all
lines. Home building has fallen off,
people are doing with shoes,
coats, hatS, gloves, and many other
things ordinarily, regarded as neccs-
stiles, just as long as possible.
.The result Of this attitude has
been WHAT" asked Mr.. Mctzger.
Liquidation everywhere and in al
most everything" to answer my own
question.
"On every stock market we have
seen impressive fall in the prices of
shares, but without the panic that
usually comes with such condition.
Wheat, corn, oats and other grains,
cattle, hogs, livestock. all have fallen
in price. Cotton is at the lowest fig-
ure 1t has seen in years. We all know
what happened to sugar. Copper is
down to record low prices. The, wool