The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-09-17
GENERAL TRADE
GOOD, SAYS
PACKER
r. {. White Ayers Satisfactory
Business Conditions Are Re-
Elected in Meat Prosperity.
BY r. EDISON WHITE,
Praaidank nf Armnnr 4 CO.


Written for Cosmopolitan News Service.
CHICAGO, Sept. 17.-Insofar a.
the meat packing industry is .
barometer Of general business con.
ditions-and it has been good
barometer In the pastthe pros
poets for the immediate future are
excellent. National prosperity Or
the lack Of it is always reflected
in the meat bill, and the fact that
the American public has greatly
increased its meat purchases in
the past year is significant.
A record breaking amount Of
meat had to be marketed because
Of the tremendous receipts OF live
stock sent In from the farms and
ranches, but the country was in
financial condition to absorb the
increase at steady and even slightly
stronger prices. 1t was most
unusual condition and full meaning
to people who study economic
causes and effects.
Industry Good.
The experience Of the meat in.
dustry Is not the only harb,nge
of prosperity. When labor is fully
employed. as is the case now. and
when crops are large. as IL also the
case. times are good. Ordinarily
our industry finds 1t exceedingly
easy to get plenty Of labor and
while we have suffic ency, the
days Of an unemployed crowd out
side the gate seem to have passed.
Excepting wheat, which, unfortu.
nately, has been given the spot.
light, the crop situation is very
favorable. An excellent yield OF
corn Is promised and the prices are
from Is to 20 cents bushAl better
than they were q year ago. The
, South Is making an excellent cotton
crop at the best prices which ever
prevailed at ginning time. II L
true that the wheat outlook is no,
satisfactory.
In fact, it is anything but salts
factory Tor those farmers who have
stuck to single crop in the face
of the eyergrowing recognition Of
the need for diversification. Ever
wheat, however, Is showing sont
signs Of recovery and there is Ger
tainly reason to be hopeful that W.
i will again see exemplified the truth
of the old adage. that ''our worst
troubles are those that never hap
pen."
Railroads Well Off.
The railroads. the motor manu-
facturers and most industries that
are considered basic. all are enjoy
ing volumes which show clearly
/ that the people are well employed
have the wherewithal to buy what
! they want and need. and that they
!, are doing 1t.
There is occasion for particular
grattf,ca at the maner in which
President, Coolidge Is dischargine
the responsibilities which fell upor
his shoulders. He has already
evinced sanity, caution and a ca
pacity for getting results rather
than a desire to occupy the lime
light or play politics.
Our business has been unexpect
edly good thus far this year and
the best part OF our season Is be-
fore us. When our business is good
1t means that the nations produ
GERS have a good outlet for their
products, It Is the smooth and ef
ficent functioning Of the distribu
tive machienry which turns agricul
tural output into wealth. and. con
, seuently, I feel Justified in taking
a very optimistic view and in ex
pecting better days ahead of Us
| than those which have gone by.