The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-01-19
By ROGER w. BABsoN


Babson Park. Mass, Jan 10 49,
There has been a slump in many
lines OF business since January /.
Retailers naturally expect a letup
in sales after Christmas; but their
sales usually pick up again before
this.
Steel Industry Steps Up
on the other hand. some basic
industries are again speeding up.
The shell steel needs have been in
creased to $4,000 tons per month.
while the demand for plates, bars.
etc. for heavy tanks is very great.
Crude oil output is continuing 70
show an increase over the same
period last year; it is producing
the incredible amount of about
100000 barrels per day, Paper
products, which are in such great
demand for packing ammunition
for shipment. are being increased
above previous requirements. Lum-
Der products also are ahead OF a
year ago. Farmers received 1870
more money for their crops in 1914
than in 1913 and 5Gt more for live
stock and live stock products. Rail
road gross earnings, however.
which are the best barometer Of
general business, have ceased to
increase: while electric produc-
ion has begun to decline.
Various reasons are given for
this slackening in general business.
Some families have decided to buy
no more cheap war goods; others
are mixed up by the various
changes in ration points; while
many are thinking only Of their
boys abroad and have no heart TO
buy much; while everyone is get
ting tired Certainly cloud of
some kind has shut the sunshine
OF Main Street since the bad news
came from France. However. u
will be found that this cloud has
silver lining.
Farmers are Looking Ahead
Recently several important ad-
dresses have been made to farm or
CARNATIONS. Farmers are being
told by their friends that they must
expect a severe slump in agricultur-
al prices after the war. This fact
is now Sinking in and many
farmers are rather solemn. Rail-
road labor which has been riding
high and handsome, IS likewise
realizing that railroad traffic will
fall off terribly after the war. Most
of the railroad employees. taken on
during the past two years, will be
then out of work.
Most postwar new inventions"
will be labor-saving in effect They
will result in fewer people being
employed. Since the November
election. even the government has
had the courage TO tell women
workers that they will be laid of
first. Bankers and investors who
have been counting on a big foreign
postwar demand are realizing that
this is possible only by their loan
ing money to European govern
ments.
Becoming Conservative
When congressman were home
for Christmas, they explained that
most OF our Allies are. more or
less. communistic. These congress
men asked their constituents II the
L. S. should loan these Allies mon
ey to start socialistic and national
ly-owned industries? What has
happened in Belgium. Greece and
elsewhere is making many ask for
what we are fighting.
People are beginning to wonder
whether the talk by Churchill and
Roosevelt demanding ''uncondition-
al surrender" is either Christian or
wise? We are coming to realize
that world peace will exist only as
every nation surrenders ncondi-
tionally to God. rather than to the
British Empire or to Mr.. Stain or
even to us Americans.
Postwar National Income
Talk about a postwar national
income OF $50 billions continues.
Such talk is crazy. With the newt
able postwar depression in aEi-
culture. railroads. shipping. avia-
ton. and all kinds OF war work.
there will he much unemployment
This can temporarily he relieved by
more government borrowing and
initiation, but would mean cOntinu-
ed high taxes Some day taxpay-
ers will rebel. The only permanent
cure for unemployment is for most
cities to throw out their present