Evening star., 1922-09-02
BY J. c. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
New York, September 2-Prices
for commodities will become stabil-
lied within the next few weeks to
a greater extent than at any tiue
in two years. The prices at which
the majority of raw and manufac-
tured products Will find their level
will be higher than today's quota
tions This will be a direct result
of higher wages, sustained full
costs, augmented buying and in
creased cost Of living.
This stabilization program is not
going to be seriously affected by the
injection by the Attorney General
of the strike injunction into the gen.
eral labor situation. Even general
strike, If called, would affect only
100000 members of the American
Federation of Labor. Furthermore.
"a general strike. as Gompers pointed
out today must be preceded by
vote which would take at least sew
eral weeks to conduct. BY that time,
the shopmen's strike Is wholly pos
sible of adjustment.
But producers, manufacturers. dis
tributorS and consumers Will know
at last where they stand and they
can lay their plans and carry out
their program on a definite basis.
Adjustments of conditions in the
bituminous coal fields, the iron and
steel industry and in the New Eng
land textile mills have been largely
instrumental in bringing about sta
bility.
Any anxiety regarding a fuel
shortage is being rapidly removed
by the humming activity at the
mines.
Never Dominating Peril.
The shopmen's strike never has be-
come a dominating peril in commerce
and industry. The injunction asked
for in Chicago by the Attorney Gem
eral and granted by Federal Judge
Wilkerson may still further nullify
it's effects. But of far more signifi-
cance are the announcements from
the more important carriers that they
are increasing their shop forces sue
cessfully and are purchasing new
motive power equipment. Orders for
locomotives were placed this week by
the Chicago and Northwestern, the
Missouri Pacific. the Louisville and
Nashville. the Missouri. Kansas and
Texas and other roads
The upward swing in commodity
prices is not surprising in view of
conditions reported in dispatches re-
ceivsd within the last twelve hours
from various sections of the country
The 20 per cent wage increase in COM
mon labor In the steel industry went
into effect Friday. Coal prices with
production still struggling valiantly
to regain normal tonnage will remain
above pre-strike levels for a. number
of weeks at least. Steel prices are
advancing as a natural sequence, but
are marching in step with demand
which is more and more insistent
Fuel OIL Wins Favor.
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 tremendous 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 until
the New York auto show next Jan
uary. Lumber. brick cement. lime.
and other building materials will
continue to respond to the activity
in building construction.
Higher leather prices are in pros
pect. for hides have advanced steadily