Evening star., 1922-04-15

sAre coal strikes. textile strikes.
mems clothing strikes responsible for
the falling Off in business during the
last few weeks?"
Answering this question and the
general question of whether recent
industrial unrest Will postpone pros
perity by a full year. Roger w. Bab-
tion as follows:
Business men should not get faint
hearted because of these strikes.
Strikes are not always an economic
loss. If the country were today using
coal as fast as 1t could be mined and
the coal strike resulted in shutting
down factories, such q strike would
be an economic loss. Strikes. now
ever, which occur during periods OF
depression are usually not economic
losses. 1t is not an economic loss 70
have this coal strike continue until
the great surplus stocks OF coal are
used up. 1t Is not an economic loss
20 have the textile strike continue SO
long as the supply of manu1actuIeu
goods exceeds the demand. We are 2
simply using our surplus stock ano
the unemployment is coming all al
once in punches. instead OF being ois-
tributed over a long period.
I.ikened to Damming Water.
"a strike today in most industries
Is n good deal like damminS streaiii
of water. The water Is not oeStFoyvu' ,,'
>but it is simply being heiu oacA. nc .h
water could be damned Tor mon u, III
or three months, but when tne 1ahl
finally is opened the water VIII i10W
down stream and do its work. ihe
situa tion in the basic industries tooay
might be compared with that ~ .
of water. The strikes are naNinS ~
effect of damming up the noW oa o4 ~ .
ness: of retarding the now ol
stream. but they are not oertroyrns
the markets Until these reserve pa.sSs
of coal, cotton and wooieh souuS =
mems clothing are used up there -
little economic loss. h,.tnass
"A factor that has retarded pusshSs
,h;s snrinr is the condition OF the
weather. Reports from all sections
of the country show that the "eathei
the last few weeks has been Very.u
usual. To certain extent, iIIes u,a. :,
weather conditions are atso
'the stream. You may delay the puI.
chas. Of that new summer suit, put
YOU will get it just the same. Inc
Weather is a great factor In determln-
ing when women make lneit ~
chases, but does not ult1matety p !,
vent sales The weather TINS spi .us
has been very unsatisfactory from tne
tsXtile point of view Probably no
one thing would aid SO much TO-DAY III
settling the textile strike in New Eng
land as about two weeks or gooo'
warm weather.
I.ateness Of Easter Next sunday
"Another factor bearing upon TINS
same situation is the lateness oi
Faster this year. Easter comes Apri'
Is. which is very late. raster. oa nS nS
week before Easter. is the opening .,
q number of lines of industry, anu
this lateness of Easter has DELAYED
s,ch business. Hence, the cotton m
dustry is quiet. the sales or raw Woo,
have fallen off. Leather, nousenola
furnishings, jewelry and nuliue, 80 ~
those Industries which are cioseiy con-
nected with the person ana the hoHle
are exceptionally quiet TINS spLins:;
and more so than around the Isl VI
January.
"Yet. there is more activity TO-DAY
in steel, iron, copper ana the metz e
as a class than there has been ioI
some months The lumber market Is
in stronger position than 1t was
wear go especially the better sraoes
of lumber Hardware and other ouiu-
ing materials are in greater oeriano-
1t appears that the railroads are cuan ,1
ing in again into the market. me
r,i,roads are the greatest purchasers
= 10
in the country il narmai times, anu ~
have. the rs,ilroaie come into the mar
k.t would distinctly help business.
Industry in Two Groups.
"When one takes a cross section OF
business today he divides all industry
into two main groups: One group Is
Engaged in manufacturing ciothes,
hn1IsehoId furnishings and the various
things that we buy this month or next
month, just as we see mt: me M
fiustries engaged in making these
things have been uuieting down tne
past few weeks. The other group
consists of those Industries conhectee
,,.itb The permanent development OF
cities. railroads and public utilities.
There is more activity. today in those
Industries which supply materials 10
tbese constructive forces than there
has been. A man may make more
money in selling shirt waists 70
women than in selling bricks to men,
but fundamentally the country is
much better off in having labor used