The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-09-02

DY ). 6. R0YLH.

Ysarl1S6ks I'D Suaal
BY ]. G R0YLE.
Copyright is11. ~ TAa Afyus.)
New York. Sept sa-Prices for
commodities win become stabilized
within the next fsw weeks 70 81
greater extent than st any time IN
two years. The prices It which the
majority Of raw and manufactured
products viii find their leyel will
Be higher than >today's QUOTATIONS..
This will b = direct result Ut
higher wages. sustained fuel costs,
augmented buying and increa1ed
cost Of living.
This stabilixation program is not
going to be seriously affected By
the injection BY the attorney gen.
eral Of the strike Injunction into
the general labor situation. Even
q general Ntrike. il called. would
affect only 100000 members Of
the American Federation Of Labor.
Furthermore, . general strike. as
Gompers pointed out today. must
be preceded by . vote which would
take at least several weeks to con-
duct. By that time, the shcpmen's
strike is wholly possible Of adjust
Ment.
But producers, manufacturers,
distributors and consumers will
know at least where they stand and
they can lay their plans and carry
Fout their programs on definite
basis. Adjustments of conditions in
the bituminous coal fields, the iron
and steel industry and in the New
England textile mills have been
largely instrumental in bringing
about stability.
Any anxiety regarding . fuel
shortage Is being rapidly removed
by the humming activit yat the
mines.
The shopmen's strike never has
become a dominating peril in COM
merce and industry. The injunc-
ton asked for in Chicago by the
attorney general and granted by
Federal Judge Wilkerson may still
further nullify its effects. But of
far more significance are the an
nouncements from the more i'm
portant carriers that they are in
crsasing their shop forces success
fully and are purchasing new mo-
tive power equipment. Orders for
locomotives already placed this
week by the Chicago & Northwest
ern, the Missouri Pacific, the Louis
vile & Nashville. the Missouri,
Kansas and Texas and other roads.
Upward Swing.
The upward swing in commbdity
prices Is not surprising in view OF
conditions reported in dispatches
received within the last IL hours
from various sections of the coun-
try. The 20 percent wage increase
in common labor in thet steel in
dustry went into effect Friday. Coal
prices, with production still strug-
Cling valiantly to regain normal
tonnage, will remain above pre-
strike levels for a number of weeks
at least. Steel prices are advanc-
ing as a natural sequence but are
marching in step with demand
which is more and more insistent
Fuel oil has won new customers
as result Of the coal strikes and
has captured markets never opened
to liquid fuel before. Therefore
prices of that commodity are slated
for an advance. of approximately
Is cents a barrel despite the ire
menduous stocks Of crude oil now
in storage.
Recent price cuts in automobiles,
increased costs Of production and
a slightly lessening demand have
| brought period of stability to the
! automotive industry which may be
counted on to continue at least un-
til the New York auto show, next
+! January. Lumber, brick. cement
lime and other building material
will continue to respond to the &C.
] tivity in building construction.
| Higher leather prices are in
prospect, for hides have advanced
steadily and resistance to advances
for leather cannot be maintained
| by she manufacturers and tanners
indefinitely. A readjustment which
!. will bring hides down slightly
bring leather up, and leave shoet
J with a minimum advance, seemi
probable.
i Cotton Goods Higher.
| Cotton goods are slated FOL
slightly higher quotations, since
labor costs In New England have
increased and it now seems Ger
tain that raw cotton viii continu,
to range between 20 and q cents Z
pound. The raw wool market il
, firm and the only factor likely t.
. shake it, and that only slightly, j.
a readjustment Of tariff rate.
downward by house and senat.
!. conferees. Apparel prices are trend
ing upward in the wake of i'm
, proved fall buying.