New Britain herald., 1928-12-31
BUSINESS LEADERS l HOPEFUL FOR 1929
Advance in Living Standards Anticipated as Nation Grows

New York. Dec. Fl. R-Promin- ent American business men and in- dustrial leaders tell the Associated Press 1929 will be prosperous year-if business and industry apply the same intelligence. energy and foresight displayed during 1928.
 Reviews of the trends of 1928 and outlines of the prospects of 1929 written exclusively for The Associ- ated Press by naarly 200 heads of corporations and trade organizations representing 75 different industries indicate there is nothing in general economic conditions to create any ex- pectations of either depression or . slowing down of business progress.
 They look for further mergers and consultations in virtually every field as an economic necessity. but believe the new organizations will promote efficiency in production and distribution.
 They see furthe advance In living standards resulting in vastly increas- ed demand for American-made pro- ducts and . substantial gain in for eign trade. They believe this country steadily is growing in world import ance. with its industries and busin- esses keeping pact with the progress such leadership implies.
 Industries which felt depression during 1923 appear to have ascer- tained the underlying causes of their economic illness and are ready to take the prescribed treatment which will rectify the situation in 1929. Some industries are asking greater public interest, more-or less-legis- lative assistance or a change in the scheme of things through which fate has given them something of an un- fair deal. But all seem to expect even unfavorable conditions and these seem largely to be local rather than general. to change for the bet ter in the new year.
 Forecast By Edgerton
 John E. Edgerton, president of tho National Association of Manufactur- CTS, makes the following statement:
 Drawing a picture of the business ahead for 1929, of all parts of the Country-and it has been my good fortune to have visited every section of industrial America within the last few months-I can say, with a great deal of conservatism, that I believe we are going to advance along the same plane of good business. or bet ter, that we have had during the passing year. On all sides of me I have found heads of industry who are content with the volume of busi- ness they are doing: the great ma. jority are optimistic. although many Of them are expecting something of . shading off in prices. Only in a few places have found forebodings. Ono or two of our industries are suffer- ing heavily because of the trends in our everyday life. But. somewhat off, setting these, I have found numer- ous extensions in the newer indus- tries that have transformed some of these losses into gains.
 Contrary to the general impression that the coming into office of q new president means general shaking of business, believe we have every reason to be happy and confident !! that the incumbent who will take his seat in March will do nothing to disturb our industrial equanimity. His accession to the Presidency might be likened to the advancement of sub-executive of a great corpor- ation. with which he had been for years. to be chairman of the board. By reason of being head of the De- partment of Commerce for nearly ten years. he has had his fingers on the pulse of industry and business, He has made his cabinet office one Of intimate association and under standing Of the problems of industry and business, not only of his own country, but of the world at large He has had numerous committees of close contact constantly function- ing. He takes to the White House the widest industrial and business background. And in addition, as Food Administrator during the War, he had further actual experience with various of those larger admin istrations that lead into the White House. think we have every rea- son to rejoice in the outlook for the new year."