Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-07-19

OF economic forces, whereas a spQ0~
taneous rise of either wages or prices
under competitive conditions sets -
motion corrective influences. As "
the outcome Of such tendencies, ~
lance must be placed upon the com
mon sense of the people. The labcg
organizations no doub. have the pow
Ter to wreck the present prosperity, bUt
we are not expecting them to press
their claims to that E tent.
It is always nece -sary to take 49,
count not only Of the logical results
Of the economic factors in q situs-
ton, but of what other people thine
Of them and are likely to do about
them. The present situation is large
~ psychological, !. e., dependent upon
what people think and are moved to Do
in efforts to promote their inter
ests. There Is no reason why the
country should not go on in moder~
alton with full employment al
prosperity spreading until every de-
partment of industry is included.
Judging by the obvious possibilities
and probable trend we expect good
business for the remainder of thts
year at least.
Agricultural Conditions.
1t is true that the prices Of aeri-
cultural products are too low in corr.
parison with the prices Of other pro-
ducts, but the case is sometimes
overstated. All agricultural products
are not in the same position. TIE
South had very good returns from its
cotton crop last year and seems likely
to have this year., Corn is up to about
double the price at the low point, wocl
and sheep and sugar beets promise
good returns, dairy products hav~
been doing very well and the outlook
for cattle Is improving, The Bureaus
Of Labor index numbers by classce
for the month Of May shows farm
products at 1879 as compared with 16S
for all commodities. on base Of 100
for 1918. The farmer is not going to
be a free buyer under existing condi-
tions, but these unquestionably are
temporary, and meanwhile the deficit
In his buying power Is being made up
by full employment in the other in
dustries ut high wages.
| There is a good deal Of natural inn
patience that the agricultural situa-
ton RECEIVERS so slowly, but the situa-
tion is due to world conditions. Sec
Rotary Wallace has recently pointed
OUT that the production Of most 81
the grains has been largely increased.
| The receipts Of hogs at Chicago n
the ilrst five months Of this year have
been about one-third larger than Tho
corresponding months Of last year.
Such conditions inevitably affect prs-
ces, but 1t must be considered that
the increased production Of both grain
and hogs has been obtained with ve-y
little additional labor or expense. Hogn
are down in price, but not one-third.
and the increased yield Of grain has
been at lower cost per bnshel. The
manner in which the big corn SUR
plus has disappeared and the price has
rallied is significant of what is likely
to happen with other farm products.
which is down on account of the dlN-
appointing European demand We are
producing great deal more wheat
than before the war, and the carry
over this year is very large. however.
the population Of the United States
| is greater by 100000 than in 1914,
and increasing every day. And me
same il true Of otter populat,crs
which look to this country for food