New Britain herald., 1922-05-10
Factories Not Only En- ploying More Men But Are Also Looking For Better Prices For Fall Trade
Merchants Are Also Advised to Forget Past Misf0r- tunes and Prepare for Op- pOrtunities of Future.

New York, May 1o.-Business and trade conditions throughout the Unit ed States are reported by 30,000 manufacturers to Pohn E. Edgerton, president of the national association of manufacturers here today show a stable, sane, definite and continuing advance"
 We have only turned the corner was Mir. Edgerton's summary of a survey of the industry just completed. We are now leaving 1t very far be- hind. Business is on the upgrade in practically all of the basic industries. {"
 Survey Up To The Minute
 The survey was made by question within the last 24 hours so that, az Mir Edgerton pointed out it repre- sents conditions as of today.
 The great majority of our basic in dustries report that the present trade Is fair to good: some say it Is excel lent; but only small part say 1t Is poor" the report continued. There is a general tenor of bright prospects for the future and great many of the industries not only report that they are employing more men than they were a year ago but that they are looking for still further increase in their prices. when the fall work sets in.
 Tn the replies there is an absolute lack of an expression ot pessmism. A year ago we were not so fortunately situated. Many of our industries were still suffering greatly from the war effects some of them thought per haps that they would never be able to get back to normal.
 Various Industries
 Tn the steel industries today the survey shows conditions classed as excellent among six per cent of our membership; 25 per cent. are good. 52 per cent as fair and 17 per cent as poor.
 Tn the textile industry, 70 per cent. of them report conditions run ming from fair to excellent and 30 per cent report poor conditions
 Machine Business Good
 'In the machine and tool industry we find so per cent. of the replies re- porting conditions fair to excellent and the remainder not so encourag- ingly.
 "In three industries where re- trenchment is ordinarily acutely felt ---automobil jewelry and leather the showing is not by any means gloomy although not so good as in other lines. From the automobile trades good reports are 70 per cent; in jewelry, so per cent, and in leath- CT, 60 per cent.
 "All of these businesses from steel to jewelry report prospects for high percentages of increase between now and fall"
 Hoover's Suggestions
 New legislation to remove the un- certainties regarding trade association activities was suggested by Secretary Hoover in an address before the as- sociation.
 Without entering into legal formu- lation." MT. Hoover said, my sug- gestion is that there should be a min or extension to the Clayton act to tn Q effect that interstate trade associa- ions should be permitted to file with some appropriate governmental agen- cy the plan of their operations and the functions they propose to carry on. That upon approval of such of these functions as do not apparently contravene, the restraint of trade acts they may proceed with their opera tions
 Against MonopOlies
 "If, upon complaint. however. eith- CT of individuals or the law officers of the government that these func- tions do restrain trade either after q hearing and proof, the right to con tinue these particular functions shall be suspended and if continued they shall be subject to prosecution. Also. if 1t shall be proved that they have extended their activities beyond the functions in their original pro posals they shall be subject to prose cution from restraint of trade viola tons.
 Associations which do not wish to secure this limited interpretation Of the law with it's assistance to conf dence should not be required to do so; they, however necessa rily assume themselves the job of interpreting the law with the risks such Interpretation entails.
 Protect Small Business
 These ideals would he inapplica ble to consultations of capital, and l would not propose that they should. All who knew the situation in these a associations will realize that in the main their membership comprises smaller businesses Such measures will serve to protect small business for big business takes care of itself
 "The legitimate and advantageous trade association" he said. perform some 30 odd different functions in the interest of their members and the at large. A minority un- ,Iertake activities that have been call | ed into question. The legitimate ira de associations possess four important
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