Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-28

WASHINGTON, May 2T.-Archcr
Wall Douglas, chairman. committee
"n statistics ANA standards. Chamber
of Commerce 81 the United States. Is
sues the following statement ON bust
mass conditions:
The coal miners sirik" has not rs
tct shown any depressing effect upon
hUsin'es, say" locally where the clos
inS down NJ the mines has greatly
decreased The purchasing power Of
tn"s" particular communities.
There has boon q sudden general
discovery mat the inherent and SO
fhr iucurahlo diniculty about coal
mining, especially bituminpus. is tho
si'prrabWndancc uf mines some 5000
IN all This is an old story To th.
coal operators and to all students Of
the situation, nut nobody has ever
found the way out. Much emphasis is
nos placed on the great number 81
miners ana i; Is suggested that tn.
surplus miners seek other Jobs: then
everything "i!l 10" lovely. This is "a
solution that does not solve. or in
tho Language Of medicine. it s pallia-
'iV" rather than remedial. lik" taking
dope 10 relieve, deep seated pain. The
only result woulF be- that fewer men
would nave longer working hours
an" get more pay. but tn. mines IL
all w"r" running. could not possibly
run fun. r" great is their capacity.
There would Stili bc expensive opcr-
alton on part tim" with tn" miners
sun being paid not alone on the basis
~ time they work. but also on time
they are idle, as IN now practically
the case.
The real solution is TO run only
enough mines TO supply tn" demand
:. nd "a no, ~ al 10
nAh"dy has yet been able 10 persuade
some mines 10 go out Of business aud
let others run in order that q serious
cconomic problem may he solved
Industrial Life on prradc.
Industrial life is distinctly on the
upgrade, although this has 10 hc
qualified as to sections, as in the case
OF cotton manufacturing. which *
well employed in tn" south. but para
lyzcd by prolonged and futile strike
in the New ENGLAND states.
Iron and steel manufacturing *
especially busy and is acCompanicd
10y higher price in some crude prod
ucis. What has happened has been
uhviouS for some timc. Namely. that
the increased demand from distrihu-
tors. both retail and wholesale. which
set in March. would find the manuiac-
tur"rs utterly without amy stocks on
hand. ana consequently unable Ia take
care OF the larger VOLUME Of trade
even though It's iiicrcas" was not one
OF great proportions. 1t simply rep
rcscnts til" filling up "f half-cmpty
shelves and has n" relation to spccu-
lation. not purchases ahead, other
chan for immediate wants.
II is Stlll the testimony az every
travelling s;lteman that selling goods
is "a matter 81 the kcencst compct!-
ton ana thai dealers scrutinize prices
rs CLOSELY "a .v.r. iiu' il is equally
evident that ihcrc is more business
in most. although not all. sections.
The improved rHtlook FOR crops counts
for much. and In the agricultural re-
ri"ns Sustained higher figures for
farm products play u large part in the
present buying. Advances in prices
OF manufactured commodities. on tho
other hand, &C; rs detorrcnts to buy
ing rather than as incentives. Nor
does tho cause o: such advance make
any difference so FAR as the buyer is
concerned.
The oft expressed belief that a
somewhat firmcr, If not higher, level
OF prices will produce a sense OF
stahili2ation and impart a feeling Of
security in purchasing, fails To find
any reflection in the minds Of con
SumcrS. For there is Il generally oh
Gtinatc prevailing conviction among
the many, especially in the country
districts. that rcadjUStmcn; in prices
is not yet complete in all lines ana SO
they demand ito hc shown" when
ever advances are asked in commodi-
ties thn; consumers think may not
have Struck bottom yet. Hence, IL
is that the prevailing high prices in
the stock market as Indicative Of gen
u!nc prosperity in the near future do