The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-10
BUY NOW IS ADVICE
 ID MANUF LECTURERS
Buying Begets Buying and Time Has Come to DispeI
 the C0bWebS

New fork, January 9-tSpecial)- J. Manufacturers should now resume their buying of raw products in dscriminat- ing way to keep the wheels of industry turning and aid in maintaining the eco- homie balance of the country.
 This is the optimistic and hopeful mes sage sent out today by J. Philip Bird, general manager of the National Associa- ton of Manufacturers, who advanced the suggestion in a review of the general business situation.
 The time has now come" said MT. Bird, for every far-sighted manufac- turer to return to the kind of djscrimi- natory buying necessary to sustain mous try and restore prosperous business con- ditions.
 we have passed almost through brief period of the closing down of fac torres and mills in the readjustment. We are now seeing industries reopening and resuHing work on almost normal scale We will have more and more of this as we adjust ourselves and our methods to the new situation. We have seen great changes, so far, without widespread labor upheaval; and this is one of the most healthful signs for the future, because in these great turn -arounds, the employees have, not been forced to shoulder the greater part of the burden These things follow in the natural cycle of events that trail all great wars.
 For months past there have been four distinct nationwide economic strikes in progress. The consumer has been strik- ing against the retailer He has been buying unrestrainedly only the necessaries of life. He has been cutting down or many things needed for comfort and has almost eliminated other purchases. His strike has hene based on a deeply-rooted belief that the process of deflation in re- tailers stocks has been artiIciaIly re- strained and has not yet reached a point that would warrant or invite normal buying.
 "The second strike has been of the re- taller against the wholesaler and manu- facturer. This also has been based on the feeling that values and prices of man. ufactured products must reach lower levels before normal purchasing or re- stocking would be justified.
 '"The third strike has been in the na- ture of a general boycott by bankers against manufacturers and all other forces of our commercial life. The bank CTS refusal to grant credits on present
 inventory values, due to the commercial confusion, has in itself had all of the paralyzing effects of general economic strike.
 'The fourth strike has been that of the manufacturer against the producer or
 raw materials. With virtual paralysis or buying on one side and collapsng values. involving large quantities of raw ma terials held in factories. on the other. hand the position of the manufacturer flas not been an enyiable one during the last six months. So uncertain has he been over the readjustment of values and prices, that he has been bewildered. This
 hoc 0ru q n a QfefI heavily stocked with goods bought at high prices, to mark time and refrain from making even advantageous pur- chases 3 kff
 "All this has badly, clogged our conn mercial machinery. The stagpation has inflicted unnecessary loss and hardship on the very factors that have contributed to it. Accompanied with an exaggerated degree of pessimism. which overlooks the fundamental soundness of the nation. these conditions brought about an acute cessation of industrial operation But in view of the recent substantial declines in retail and wholesale prices neither the retailer nor the consumer can afford to carry the don't buy policy too far. In the long run. closed mills and stagnant demand cannot make constantly decreas- ing prices without causing commercial bankruptcy all along the line. Many of the important markets for raw materials have now reached practical and normal levels and show firm ten- dencies. Therefore. it is now the psy- chologica1 time for every far-sighted manufacturer to resume his purchasing operations on a discriminating scale, in order to sustain industry and return our national business to more healthy, nor
 maj and prosperous condition.
 "No other single commercial element
 has greater interest at stake or a moro direct obligation to perform than the manufacturer in the present situation. ] No other factor can accomplish more in a practical way than the manufacturer who appreciates the timeliness for the application of the adage that buying be- gets buying This automatically will dis pel the cobwebs about our business vision. Our industrial condition unquestionably will take a decided turn for the better l if the manufacturer now applies the oil | of activity and optimism by buying.