The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1924-03-14

W. In Lynn only OF the 81 shoe establishment report
normal operations
The December report of the Department of Labor
Of the United States showed that less than % per
cent of the industrial establishments reported part time
operation and per cent entirely closed down. And
in addition to that onethrd of the establishments re-
porting full time operation were operating below full
time capacity.
In connection with the tremendous decrease of the
volume of production there is decrease of railroad raf
fc and a decline of railroad operations.
H.
The propaganda of the capitalist press, govern
ment and banks attempts make the public believe that
with the beginning of 1924 the economic conditions are
changing to the better That is just as little true as the
decetfu propaganda which conducted by the same
elements with President Coolidge at their head during
the growing depression in the second half of 1928 1t is
true that the untitled orders of the Steel Corporation
have showed $4,000 tons in january But this small in
crease makes very little change in the general situation
We should not forget that the untitled orders of the Steel
Corporation at the end of January 1924 were less by
2112O00 tons, 80 per cent less than at the same
date IN 1928 Iron production in the last week of
January per cent less than in the same month of 1928
The New York times of February was forced to admit
that TO predict repetition of the wholly abnormal in
dustnal boom OF the early months of 1923 would be
little rash" And the New York Times states about
the textile industry in the same article 'The SINGULAR
dilemma IN which the textile mills are placed between
raw material costing 25 per cent more than year ago
and finished goods which selling to 10 per cent low
er, with consumers holding out Obstnatey against adj
vances doubt reflects the exceptional character of the
cotton situation But to the extent that it indicates IN
willingness among buyers Of goods to follow rising
market in their purchases nless they have absolutely
used up their stocks of goOds) it has it's bearing on the
general business situation A sensational trade boom
must in the nature of things rest the taking of the
opposite attitude by consumers and if they will not take
it in the cotton trade where if anywhere is warranted
by the actual suppyand-demand position-then it can
hardly be expected elsewhere"
Efforts to Check Depression.
The Philadelphia Reserve Banks monthly summary Of
business conditions covering SO various trades saws that
Of the 36 trades at the end of October trades could be
classified good at the end of November only at the
end Of December 3, and at the end Of January l.
1t is true that the capitalists are making bio eff
forts to check the aggTavaon of the economic depres
sion. The two billion dollar railway construction
program and the big orders for Japanese reconstruction
are the last great of the capitalists which thew
can muster against the economic crisis. But it would
be entirely antMarxist to believe Gas some comrades
inclined to dO) that the capitalists Notwithstanding
big monOpOes which eliminate competition on national
scale (hus making it much the sharper on an inter
national scae that these capitalists are in position to