Evening star., 1924-10-31
BETTER BUSINESS
PREDICTED NEAR
Demand for Goods Expected
to Follow DuIIness of
Prediction Days.
BY j. G. ROYLE.

NEW YORK, October 31.-One OF
the crosses which business has to
bear Is the cross placed under a party
emblem every four years in a presi-
Dental election Today business un-
doubtedly Is slackening, owing to
election influence. This does not re-
fleet doubt of future prosperity in the
minds of manufacturers, bankers and
merchants 1t simply means that for
the moment buyers all over the coun-
try are withholding orders until they
are sure who is going to be President.
A distinct difference of opinion ex-
lists in business circles as to the ef-
feet of the election. Judge L. III. Gary.
chairman of the board of the United
States Steel Corporation, lays strong
stress on the election result as a busi-
ness factor, and has said plainly that
on the result depends the future of
the steel demand. His utterances un-
doubtedly have had some effect in
slowing down the movement of steel
into consumers hands.
Good Trade Predicted.
On the other hand, the House of
kuppenheimer. large factor in the
clothing trade. declares the farmers,
merchants and manufacturers them
selves hold the key to prosperity and
that the election Is not a factor in
gauging supply and demand. A re-
view by this company declares that a
period of sane prosperity attended by
neither boom nor gloom may be anti
cipated.
For some months" says this con-
Germ, business generally has been in
state of doubt. 1t seemed that hav-
ing burned its fingers a few years
ago, business had decided to freeze
rather than take chance of warm
ing up at all. Manufacturers went
ahead producing as though they meant
business, but distributors held back
as if they did not mean business. AS
a result production ran ahead of con-
sumption. Consumption now is catch
ing up and the readjuStment neceS-
sary is we'll on its way.
About a billion dollars additional
has been placed in the farmers pock-
etbooks. This will bring economic
relief to those who needed 1t most.
Merchant. Change Views.
The merchant has been a self
martyr in his attitude toward the
business waiting for him. Instead
of looking ahead and preparing a
strong selling campaign he has been
hesitating in his buying and discour-
aging customers by his attitude But
the merchant seems to have realized
that short orders are short sighted,
and freight car loadings of merchan-
disc now are SURPRISING records of
all time.
1T probably will be found that the
political situation has no more harm
full possibilities than the worlds base
ball series. If we do not fritter away
our opportunities by sullen holding
back or wild speculation. safe and
sane prosperity is certain
This optimistic prediction is borne
out by a review of the activities in
dcnd on United States Steel has
cleared the situation SO far as that
commodity is concerned. Railroad
traffic has never been larger and net
earnings are satisfactory in the
main. The automobile industry is
straining at the leash. prepared for
Increased production as soon as Nov
ember 4 has passed.
Big Equipment Demand.
Electrical equipment orders are
steady, If not phenomenal. Farm ma
chinery sales are increasing steadily
and, while competition in the tire and
rubber industry is keen, production
is on a high and profitable basis. Pro-
ducerS of copper, lead and zinc are
doing a big business, although at
relatively low margin OF profit. Coal
demand is increasing, with conse-
Quent additional activity in the an
thracite field and a gain in bitumin-
Gus production.
The textile trade is showing some
improvement, although the situation
in New England still leaves much to
be desired SO far as cotton cloths are
concerned. Floor coverings, however,
are active, and the responses to the
openings of new lines this week have
been most gratifying. Worsted and
wooden manufacturers turned the cor
ner in September. The silk trade is
booming.
Sugar prices seem destined to re-
main within restricted range
for some time to come. Lumber
stocks are low, but manufacturers
anticipate an increased demand after
election. The oil situation still is
clouded by heavy production, which
has run higher than even the strong
ly increased consumption recorded
this year.