New-York tribune., 1921-06-19

1t requires both light and shade to
constitute q picture, and thus there is
one CLEAN of brightness adducible to
reheve the present monotone. 1t is
Forthcoming in the fact that total ex-
ports of linen piece goods during April
last OF 2,757 $50 square yards repre-
sented an Improvement of 643 700
yards over those of March. 1t may
not seem a great improvement until it
Is comprehended that it means an in
crease generally of at least 80 per cent,
so even in this detail there should be
cause for cheerfulness. However, COM
pared with the exports for April a
year ago, there is undoubtedly a great
disparity between the 10,718,3OO square
yards then exported and the 2,757 800
square yards exported in the corre-
spending month of this year In ex
planation it should not be forgotten
that as against the widespread buoy
ancy of conditions prevalent year ago
and the many adversities on all sides
now there is vast contrast. In this
respect it would be approaching the
unnatural to expect buyers in general
to do more just now than limit their
purchases to cover their immediate
needs. Nevertheless, it is possible that
opportunities of advantage are often
lost by over -cautiousness. When times
are at their worst is usually the mo-
ment to buy. Moreover, in the case of
linen purchasing there are many fac
tors portending that he who buys now
has all in his favor 1t seems to be
agreed almost unanimously by linen
manufacture and merchants of ripe
experience that prices of all faxen
fabrics at present are too low to be ten
able, and they opine that the inevitable
advance in quotations can only be
question of time. since when the de-
inand improves the market generally
must work h;gher in harmony.
Buyers Cautious
For this reason linen manufacturers
are not inclined to enter into any very
extensive commitments at current lev
els for deliveries very far ahead. 1t
is decidedly undeniable that prices now
ruling in many lines, and especially
in household linens, are such as afford
little, if any. margin of profit.
AS favoring the opinion that higher
prices of linen goods are inevitable
there is one factor which cannot be
overlooked. 1t IS the availability of
supplies of flax to cover the coming
twelve or eighteen months. 1t is pos
sible that a novice glancing at market
Irish markets at from 10 shillings to
is shillings a stone fourteen pounds) g,
but no indication is given of its quail
ity. Further, the quantities offered are
not by any means large in bulk, since
growers who are not forced to sell
through financial reasons are retain
ing their crops with the certainty that
the working out of the old economic
axiom of supply and demand must lead
to much higher prices later on. Under
present financial burdens, too, it would
seem preposterous for any, spinner,
failing orders for his yarns, to pur-
chase fax and hold it in stock. In
turn, the linen manufacturer will not
buy yarns until the stimulus to do so
comes in the increased demand of the
retail linen purchaser. Supplies of last
seasons flax have dwindled materially
and so far as can be learned in cuIti
vation cannot approach even one-half
that Of last season. Little dependence.
moreover, can, be put in any prospects
of it's augmentation by foreign sun
plies. Looking ahead, then, flax sun
plies nine months or year hence must
be both scarce and dear.
Benefit in Cuts
Reverting to the awakening of
linen demand, the feeling is held by
linen manufacturers and wholesale
merchants that retailers might do
vastly more in adjusting their prices
to the lower market level and so pass
ing on to the public the benefit in the
reductions in wholesale quotations. 1t
seems that as body the retailers have
endeavored to obtain their normal
profit margins on old purchases of
higher priced goods. rather than cut