Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-06-08
TEMPE RAMENT IN
BUSINESS MEN
BUSINESS MEN SHOULD CHEER
UP is THE VIEW OF ROGER
BABSON, STATISTICIAN.
. Yn G.W

~ - Ia "
Talk about musicians and actors
being temperamental They cannot
beat the average business man who
is up today and down tomorrow.
Within period of sixty days he will
be a pessimist, an optimist, and back
again to a pessimist, when all the
time nature is slowly but surely fol-
lowing its natural course" said
Roger w. Babson in his weekly in
terview on business conditions.
"A year ago business men were
very pessmistic; then came a tenn
porary upturn in business and fol-
lowing the lead of certain Federal
officials and prosperity boomers, they
became optimistic. Since, however,
these prosperity forecasts have not
matured, they are again down in the
dumps. How long will it take US to
learn that Presidents don't make bust
ness but rather business makes Pres
idents. 1t is true that conditions
are dull at the present time partly on
account of the late wet spring, part
~ due to the floods of the south,
partly due to the strikes in New
England and New York State, and
partly due to the upset conditions
in Europe. When, however, business
Us looked upon from a long range it
will be seen that it is passing thru
only natural readjustment which
takes always considerable time.
stated over two years ago that no
permanent Improvement could be ex-
pected before August 1922, and |
still feel that way. Even after the
corner turns in the summer or fall
of this year, it will be a slow altho a
steady climb upward.
"On the other hand, as all indus
tries were not hit at the same time,
they will tend to come back at diff
ferent times. The industry that
was first hit will be the first to come
back. This was in silk industry and
a change for the better is already in
evidence. The industry which was
most suppressed during the war will
show the greatest recovery during
the next few years; indeed, it is al
ready recovering. | have in mind
the building industry. There is a
marked increase in the demand for all
building materials, notably lumber,
altho iron and steel are sharing in the
building boom. The sales of hard
ware and paints have increased. If
labor does not become too hungry for
increased wages, this squirt in new
building may develop into a real
boom.
- "Another industry which should
quickly show employment is the au-
tomobile industry, especially the
makers of the more expensive cars.
These makers were the first to be
hit and these should be the first to
come back. Following booms in the
stock market the makers of expen-
sive cars and other semi-luXuries al
ways experience good business For
the first time in two years and
half, rubber factories at Akron are
advertising for help. This same inn
provement in the employment situa-
ton is noticeable also in certain
steel centers such as Youngstown,
Ohio. and hardware centers such as
Ansonia, Corn, where a wage in
crease of 1879 goes into effect May
10th.
"Commodity prices are likewise adj
iusting themselves naturally. Those
IL. 70
such as cotton, sugar and lumber are
showing a hardening tendency, while
other products, such as furs, that
were bought by the masses during the
war in great quantities, are showing
continued declines.
"At the recent fur auctions, Silver
Fur Fox was 25et lower than in
February, Marten 4Oes lower, and
other furs are falling in proportion
Retter still. the cost Of living as a
whole is still on the decline. A man
csn purchase for rs cents today what
cost him a dollar year ago. Retail
sales are holding up very well, the
mail order houses are showing in
creases. western shoe manufacturers
are busy, and furniture factories are
working on a liberal schedule. Even
coal production is holding up fairly
well. >
All of this means that there IS
mn reason why the banker, manufac-
,nrer or merchant should be a pess-
mist or an optimist today. Neither
the prosperity boomers nor the GAIA
mity howlers should be followed