Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-24
STRIKE OF BUYERS .
HOLDS BACK TRADE
Retailers Declared Hesitant
| in Stocking Up for Christ
mas Business.
BY JOHN F. SINCLAIR.

BY JOHN r. SINCLAIR.
special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, November 24,-"The re-
eailer has no nerve. He plays safe-so
safe, in fact, that the wholesaler and
Che jobber are largely carrying the load
today" said q well known American
manufacturer to me. II sell goods in
every large city in America. The larg-
est cities are still the best buyers, in
dicating, from my point of view, that
the depression has not hit the largest
eity quite so hard as the smaller cities.
But to get back to my point" he
went on. Few retailers have yet
bought their Christmas goods. They
are cagey and are holding back. Our
trade is only a fraction of what it was
last year-in many places only 10 to
20 per cent. We have put millions OF
dollars into finishing goods and we are
ready to deliver, but there's no demand
from the stores. Why? I believe that
what's needed right now is more nerve
by the retailer. I know there are ex-
ceptions, but they are rare"
But is the retailer to blame? He IS
very close to the consumer. He Is deal
ing with him daily. Undoubtedly,
buyers strike is on. Only goods adver-
tised as bargains" are in demand. This
condition "a fear complex = has the
American people today in its grip. 1t
IS q mental disease. 1t will pass, too, in
time, as it always has. But until it
does the retailer is forced to play
safe game.
In the last two weeks the mental
approach has shown perceptible
change for the better. No business man
&c he 0lpnln
as either minor or unimportant. 1t Is
u vital, and possibly the most important
element in business today.
Germany's Obligation.
When Germany demands a morato-
rum on reparationS, it does not mean
that she Is freed from paying all repara-
tions.
Under the Young Plan, Germany
pledged herself to pay annually during
the next few years $475, 900 900. OF this
amount, the sum of $167,000,0 900 is abb
eolutely unconditional. She must raise
and transfer to the allies this amount
of money, without any right of post
ponement whatsoever.
With regard to the rest of the obi
cation, namely-$238, 000, 000-the ar
rangement Is this BY giving 80 days
notice to the Bank for international
Settlements (when the payments are
made) she can demand and secure
postponement of the transfers for a
period not exceeding two years. Now
one year after the postponement Of the
transfer, the German government Is
allowed, under the arrangement,
further right to postpone payments. for
another year, totaling so per cent of
any transfer sum which has been
delayed.
But the important point is that she
has an obligation to her reparation
creditors that cannot be postponed, de-
1ayed or modified Of about 100000
day.
1t is only that other sum, 100000 a
day, that she can postpone for time,
but, under no conditions, cancel.
Textile Industry.
Charles K. Moser, after eight months
study, has just made his report on the
cotton textile industry of Far Eastern
countries to the Pepperell Manufacture
ing Co. of Boston. He draws some very
startling conclusions regarding the flu
ture Of the industry so far as the United
States in concerned.
In a word, Mr.. MoseF, who is chief of
the Far East section of the Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the
United States Department Of Commerce,
has come to the conclusion that Amer
lean textile manufacturers are throw
ing good money after bad in attempting
to expand their markets in the Far
East He takes 143 printed pages of
statistics and data to give his reasons
why.
It seems that three great countries
Japan, China and India-are providing
for. their own needs and the textile
needs of the rest of the Far East in
increasingly large amount.
1.-THE Far Eastern markets." says Mr.
Moser, "in the future will be more
and more dominated by the cotton tex
tile output by Far Eastern countries.
American and European mills are like
" to find competition with them even
more severe than in the past, excepting,
for Some years at least, in fine cotton
and finished goods and specialities.
Here too however, ASiatic mills are
rapidly improving in efficiency, and
production and quality Of output"
The textile industry is one OF the
major ones in the United States. 1t is
more fundamental than either the auto
mobile or radio industries This report,
therefore, of Mr.. MoSer should be read
by textile manufacturers everywhere,
and particularly by those Americans
who are planning an expansion Of their
factory output in the Far East.
Telephones on Trains.
When Sir Henry Thornton installed
n tWo-Way commercial telephone SyS-
tenn six months ago on the fast pas
senger trains of the Canadian National
Railroad, between Montreal and To-
ronto run OF about 1886 miles, 1t con-
stituted some thing new in raIlroad1ng.
How is it worked out? Well, some
trains have handled as high as 81 calls
on a single trip, and the total number
for the first five months were 79l calls.
According to the American Vice
Consul Steyne of Montreal. during the
first six months of operation about go
per cent of the messages handled were
curiosity" calls and about 20 per cent
business conversations But when the
novelty wore of business calls moved
into first place Now about IS per cent
of the total number are business calls,
with social calls about Is per cent and
curiosity messages have dropped to
10 per cent.
Carriers Aid CattIemen.
The Canadian government has de-
cided to stand back of Western Cana
dian cattle breeders and shippers. Rob-
ert Weir, Canadian minister Of agricul-
ture, has announced policy of grant
ing free railroad haulage Of breeding
stock from the StockyardS at Winnipeg
Moose Jaw, Saskatoon. Prince Albert
Calgary and Edmonton to the small
cities and towns.
The Western Canadian wheat farm
er, like his brother farmer in the west
ern part of the United States. must
come to Investigation. No longer can
he rely on the one crop. 1t is too risky
especially in such times as the pres
ent.
SO the Canadian government has de-
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