Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-06-18

Strikes Retard
East Industries;
R. w. Babson Saws

Wellesley Hills. Mass, June IL
With the news full Of strikes, threat
ened strikes and labor unrest, Roger
W. Babson. statistician, Saturday ISSUED
the following statement regarding gen.
eral industrial situation:
For some time" said Mr.. Babson
business in the east has been reyiv-
ing. Were it not for the textile and
other strikes in New Hampshire. Mass
achusetts 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 bust
price of grains, livestock and other
farm products left the agricultural sec
tons of our country in a very bad con-
dition. You will remember the Farm
ers' conference at Washington and var
ious forms of aid enacted by congress
and different state legislatures. u
The rise in agricultural products
however. which occurred a few months
ago. accompanied by the good weather
conditions of the past few weeks. has
made the farmers feel very much bet
ter. Reports which I am receiving
from correspondence in the west are
truly encouraging. This applies not
only to the agricultural districts, but
also to the mining and numbering bust
ness. Even the automobile industry.
which is such a factor throughout Ohio
and Indiana. is feeling much more en-
c%Ouraged. 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 throughout the west and south
is reflected by the improvement in the
business of the mail order houses. The
customers of the mail order houses are
largely in the rural districts. This
shows that the farmers have again be-
gun to buy. This is very gratifying and
is one of the reasons for the continued
strong market.
Owing to the change in the foreign
trade situation and the sale of foreign
bonds in this country. sterling exchange
is much stronger. Although it may be
only a temporary movement the whole
foreign situation looks better than il
has looked for some time. Private ad-
vices tell me that a settlement is being
between Germany, England
and France regarding the German re
parations. If this is so. ii should be
a distinct impetus to business. both by
causing Europe to buy from this coun-
try and giving this country confidence
TO loan Europe. Although no change
has taken place in the Russian situa-
ton 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 England
is gradually clearing up. The strike in
Providence is about over, and produc-
ton in all the mill cities is gradually
increasing. 1t is believed that mills
will have all the men they desire after
the Fourth of July. Another factor
helping the mill situation is the fact
that many of the dissatisfied employees
are getting positions elsewhere . There
is considerable demand for common
today. Many of the striking en-
have been able TO get a satisfactory
in connection with the building
and other trades.
Thus there is very little suffering or
hardship in these mill cities. The
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 a swapping of
Jobs. So far as the general welfare of
he country is concerned, this is as sat