The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1921-05-27
STATE OF TRADE
RETAIL TRADE IN CITY REPORT
ED TO BETTER, BUT coUN-
TRY STILL is BACKWARD.
Jobbers and Manufacturers Conserva-
tive in Observation-Disclosures Is Pro-
crossing, But the Goal of Pre-War
Normally Is Long Way off.

New York.-The past week has
shown the usual combination of favor
able and unfavorable business indica-
tons, with the former slightly in the
ascendant. Retail trade seems better
in city than in country districts, where
the farmer is busiest and where re-
duced buying power is most complain
ed of. Jobbers are beginning their
preparations for inventory taking as
of June 1, and are, consequently, not
disposed to go much into new under
takings for the time being. They have
no desire to carry a lot of stock, in
view of the uncertainty as to the
courses of prices and the hating meth
cd Of buying on the part of retailers.
In certain of the dry goods lines,
especially in cottons the better opin-
ion is that the declines in prices have
reached lower levels than they are
likely to remain at for any length of
time AS it is, whenever demand be
comes little stronger, the disposition
is to increase the price of any con-
struction called for. There are some
mill men who do not favor such a
course, believing that it is responsible
for some of the reluctance by buyers
to order as much at a time as they
really should. If the latter could be
assured of something like stability,
they would be more inclined to put in
larger orders.
But the mills themselves are not
eager to contract far ahead. Most of
their managers think they have done
rather more than their share toward |
the general liquidation and that they |
should get prices for their products |
somewhat better proportional to those
set in other lines of manufacture.
They can not see the fairness of a
large drop in the prices of certain
commodities without a corresponding
one in the others in common use.
They would be content if what they
buy would be at the same ratio toward
what they sell as it was before the
great unsettlement began, which is
now on its way to normal again.
p Much is heard from time to time
about returning to the normal in the
matter of business. But the term does
not mean the same to all who make
use of ii, nor is the impression equal
ly conveyed by it one that is justi-
fable. That impression is Of the like
lihood of a return within a reason
able period to the conditions that pre-
vailed before the war. Yet mo-
ment's consideration should show the
of this. One factor
alone is sufficient to demonstrate this
the matter of taxation. This, TOO,
is one that will continue for many
years to come. Interest and the sink
ing fund of the government debt have
to be provided for out of the coun-
try's production, and this eXaction
must add to the cost of what is pro- !
duced. There is no way of escaping
this burden At the same time the
increased expenses of the state, coun-
ty and city governments also call for
added taxes, which mean more addi-
tons to costs.
These things affect everybody, and
not merely class. They act as I
bar to the reduction Of expenses in I
the matter of labor, as well as of ma
terials, transportation and the other q
elements of production. distribution 8
and sale. In a measure, and under !
the stress of circumstances, efforts are I
being made in divers Industries to I
overcome this handicap by greater eff 7
cheney. This is because the general i
public is steeling itself to get along z
without a number of things because e
t can not afford to pay the prices ask O
ed for them. But there are certain r
Kings which are necessaries and
which have to be provided for. These
he people must have. They include
food and shelter.