Connecticut western news., 1922-06-15
CERTAIN LABOR
 BECOMING SCARCE The Statistician Sees Promises of General Improvement in Increase of Employment

With the news full of strikes, threatened strikes and labor unrest, Roger W. Babson, statistician today issued the following statement re- garding general industrial situation:
 "For some time", said MT. Babson, "business in the East has been re- viving. Were it not for the textile and other strikes in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island business conditions in New England, New York State, and Pennsylvania would be very good today. During the past year, the Central West has been the weakest spot in the business situation. The abrupt drop in the price of grains, live stock, and other farm products left the agricultural sections of our country in a very bad condition. You will remember the Farmers Conference at Washington and various forms of aid enacted by Congress and different state legisla- lures.
 \"The rise in agricultural products, however, which occurred few months ago, accompanied by the good weather conditions of the past few weeks, has made the farmers feel very much better. Reports which l am receiving from cores pondents in the west are truly en- couraging. This applies not only to the agricultural districts but also to the mining and lumber business. Even the automobile industry, which is such a factor turnout Ohio and Indiana, is feeling much more en- couraged. Of course, the union coal fields are quiet, but the non-union fields are more active each week. The cut in freight rates should help the coal and lumber business. The demand for cotton continues strong and the South is gradually feeling better. This better feeling turnout the West and South is reflected by the improvement in the business of the mail order houses. The custo- mers, of the mail order houses are largely in the rural districts. This shows that the farmers have again begun to buy. This is very gratify-
 
 continued strong stock market.
 lowing to the change in the foreign trade situation and the sale of foreign bonds in this country, sterling exchange is much stronger. Altho it may be only a temporary movement, the whole foreign situa- tion looks better than it has looked for some time. Private advices tell me that a settlement is being ap- preached between Germany, Eng land, and France, regarding the Ger man separations. If this is so, it should be distinct impetus to busi- ness, both by causing Europe to buy from this country and giving this country confidence to loan Europe. Altho no change has taken place in the Russian situation during the past week, yet signs even in Russia are favorable at the moment. For the first time in many years, things look encouraging in Europe.
 "The strike situation in New Eng land is gradually clearing up. The strike in Providence is about over, and production in all the mill cities is gradually increasing. 1t is be- lieved that mills will have all the men they desire after the Fourth of July. Another factor helping the mill is the fact that many of the dissatisfied employees are getting positions elsewhere. There is con- siderable demand for common labor today. Many of the striking em- ployees from the textile and other mills have been able to get satis- factory wage in connection with the building and other trades. Thus there is very little suffering or hard ship in these mill cities. The strikes may never be officially declared off. They may be ended by the mill owners securing other employees from the country districts, who have never before worked in the mills, and by the old mill workers getting positions in other lines of activity. The strike is developing largely into
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