The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1941-01-23
"BEHIND THE SCENES IN
AMERICAN BUSINESS"
By John Croddock

NEW WORK. Ian. 20-BUSINESS-Looks as
though we're rapidly approaching the time when
we'll have to take down the business as usual" sign
over the doors of many of our industries. It's been
contended for months that Uncle Sam couldn't go
into the armament business-for himself and for
nations elsewhere that are fighting what is often
described as our battles-on the scale that now seems
necessary, and still have the time, talent and materials
necessary to carry on everything else at normal speed
and in normal volume.
D~ISLOCATTON appears just around the corner,
with official acceptance of the above view. And 1t is
beginning to appear, to economists studying te
situation with an eye to the future, that along with
passing of the business as usual" status will come, to
a noticeable extent. the passing of profits on some
usual-that is, Washington &C.
onomists have arrived at the unacceptable conclusion
that, for example, if automobile production must be
curtailed in order to provide needed steel for arma-
ment, other businesses which lean heavily on the
auto industry will be greatly affected because OF the
curtailment of purchases by this t%op-notch peacetlme
customer of theirs. *
CONFERENCE.-The question is Will the
defense work make up for the normal business thus
showed aside? Consensus is that, in the over-ali
picture, it will more than do that; for most COM
panies, such as aircraft, steel, ship-building, copper
and aluminium, it assuredly will do so; that for others,
notably motors, the answer is probably" and that
for some others, like building materials, agriculture,
and household appliances, it's probably not
NO SHOW-Just what's going to happen with
respect to the auto industry's production Of cars
and changes of models, in view of defense demands,
is the question that gets most attention of The
layman, outside Of the question about how the
the defense drive itself is coming along. Indication
that something will happen N this field, though, came
last week when the Automobile Manufacturers As
ISOLATION cancelled the National Auto show booked
for next October in New York. 1t was pointed out
that this action will not control the cause each
company may follow in the matter of new models for
AZ.
TALK in automotive trade circles, though, has
it that it's quite doubtful if many changes other
than new colors and incidental accessories will be
made IN 1912 models. Changes involving only minor
alterations in body or motor design naturally require
new dies and tools. Therefore, to pass up such changes
would release toolmakers and machine tools for de-
Tense production without seriously impairing the nor
NAL output of passenger cars upon which the nations
business and agriculture today are so vitality depend
ent, according to J. w. Frazer, president of WHY'S
Overland. 1t would also help to prevent recurrence
of the situation Of 1918, when passenger car
output was curtailed, demand increased tremendous
iy, and cars sold At a terrific premium, said this
modern pioneer in the low-cost, full-size cars.
ARBITRATION AWARD-Because business men
engaged in international trade. know that disputes
with .far-away customers put red ink on ledger books,
there are many thousands who use arbitration to
settle controversies out OF court. Wath this IN mind
c. v. Whitney, president Of the American Arbitra-
ton Association, has just announced the creation
of an annual award to the American business or
ganization most effectively promoting the use Of
arbitration in foreign trade. Annual selection of the
firm to receive the silver plaque will be made shortly
by a jury of business men, educators and public
officials. Donor is Eugene F. ~Sitterley, publisher of
importers Guide" an international trade publica-
ton. Incidentally, this journal is said to have the
most complete collection of telephone directories in
the world, with the books mounted on a huge re-
voving wheel for convenience in searching for
names of business houses anywhere on earth.
THINGS TO WATCH FOR-An airplane that is
half automobile" having four wheels, two seats,
sedan-like fuselage, and driving like a ear It's to
be priced at 1000, may open the skyways to man a
well to do, but not rich, man. Propeller is behind
the sedan-type body Love insurance" poli-
cies, taken out through your favorite florist-for a
flat fee, the florist takes care Of seeing that all
loved ones get remembered appropriately. with flow
es, on all birthdays, anniversaries, and so forth. for
a full year Dry goods stores operated on
the super-market principle that has scored so re-
soandingly in the grocery field :.