Evening Star Newspaper, December 1, 1929, Page 6

THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON. D, C, DECEMBER 1, 1929—PART ON BUSINESS IS HELD SOUND AS LEADERS PLAN STABILIZING MACHINERY | MEETING THURSDAY SEEN AS BIG STEP National “Clearing House” Is Held Necessary to Assure Trade Co-operation. (Continued From First Page.) of the commercial and industrial | agencies to these ends, and to co-op- erate with governmental agencies. “The meeting considered it was de- sirable that some definite organization #houid be established under a committee Tepresenting the different industries and sections of the business community, ‘which would undertake to follow up the President’s program in the different in- dustries.” Biisiness Asked to.Help Itself. While the government, as indicated by President Hoover, stands ready to co-operate with industry, labor and agri- culture - in the movement to stabilize ‘business d advance prosperity, busi- ness is asked to stand on its own feet and help itself. There has been no ap- peal to Congress for legislation to help | business. At the same time there is t reason why the government should purchase more necessities and luxuries and for the corporations to expand their business. Hope to Lvoid Slackening. ‘The problem today before American business and, indeed, every individual American, is how to preserve a high level of activity; how to continue the orderly conduct of life and to preserve employment and to apply earnings so that there will be no slackening of the intricate business machine on whose activity the welfare of all rests. Mutual understanding and mutual support and effect which may be derived from the activities of the business council which it is planned to establish wili be ex- ceedingly helpful in the solution of the problem. American business today is not “sick.” It is faf from it. But President Hoover and the leaders of American business are wisely planning now to prevent any sickness in the future. The job is one of readjustment to meet conditions aris- ing after the crash in the speculative market. The pledge of industry not to reduce wages and the pledge of labor not to insist upon increases in wages at this time is one of the most helpful developments growing out of the White House conferences. Stable Credit Is Factor. In the present situation there are many factors which make for business strength and many of the factors which inade for weakness in the past are absent. Among the favorable factors | are the fact that the United States is | now a creditor nation; that credit is| stable in this cguntry and the credit system sound; thit there has been care. enter wholeheartedly into the team-play needed if economic balance is to be| preserved. i It is pot difficult to pick instances where government co-operation is es-| sential, For example, shipbuilding and shipping has been on tenter hooks for several months in this country, sim- ply because the decision in regard to| the award of ocean mail contracts has | been delayed in an interdepartmental committee. The decision now has been made, according to reports, and the business of shipbuilding will soon be in position to go ahead, for with the | award of these contracts for carrying | the mails, amounting to $10,000.000 an- nually, will go %nmenu (orl hfi::,s- tion of some new ocean 3 ;fl: of them to rival the Leviathan in ize. 3 It has been estimated that about $250,000,000 will go into shipbuilding This will give a great impetus to the business and provide employment for thousands of men. . will affect steel producers an kinds of material which must go into struction cons and all the labor :"l‘\th goes into the production of those | materials. Permits Asked for Power Permits. ‘There is another exnmpk”ol M(:u fl; | t may co-operate or ?o—openfi to myllnblln the industrial and economic balance. The water ‘commission has before it a num- of applications for permits to go ahead with power projects, some of | them huge projects. For one reason or | another action on these permits has so far been delayed. While these permits are withheld, the concerns which manu- facture electrical machinery are wait- ing before starting enlarged production. | The copper companies which supply the | manufacturers with the necessary cop- per for such machinery are not produc- ey that miners are ce. means- that m Dok eay as they would be under | different conditions and in the end that | the storekeepers from whom the miners | must buy their supplies are not doing 80_well. These examples not only show the need of co-operation by the Govern- ment so as to remove any blocks that may be found in the forward movement of industry, but also the interrelation of one business’ with another. Modern industry is So complex that one industry depends on another. The woolen’ in- | dustry takes a drop when the demand | for closed automobiles becomes stronger and when people keep their homes | warmer. through improved automatic heating devices. Woolcn clothes, under such - conditions, are not greatly in de- mand. When the women insist upon tockings and clothing in- | the cotton industry Te- | also meets competition | wearing silk stead of, cotto ceeds. Silk. {rom rayon. ful seleetion of merchant stocks, sim- plified standards o that fewer articles have to be carried in distribution, effi- cient transvortation, so there is instant delivery. There are no large accumu- lated stocks and commodities as there were, for example, in 1921." There are no inflated commodity prices to threaten factories with losses as there were eight years ago.. A partial list of those who have indi- cated their intention of attending the conference was given out by the Cham- ber last night, includes: R. H. Aishton, Association Railway Executives, Washington. William H. Albers, president National Chain Store Association, New York. Sewel Avery, president United States Gypsum_Co.. Chicago. ph(l:a' B. Barclay, Barelay Bros., Philadel- n armeuci anufacturers’ Association, New York City. Bernard M. Baruch, H. Hentz & Co.,| Ne:inYol;h - O] aylies, president National iation of Cem: fswocia ent Manufacturers, Frank A. Blair, president Proprieta: Association of America, Washington. i L. E. Block, chairman Inland Steel e ohn W. Blodgett. chairman Blodgett & Co.. Ltd., Grand Rapids, Mich. F. Branham, president National Wholesale Grocers’ Associa- tion of the United States, New York. Edwin P. Brown, chairman of board, Urélud Sl'lt:beB Inve'ry Co., Boston. . Arthur. Bruce, -vice president E. L. Brgee‘fkl,, Memphis. il 3 ., ident N < :unnmu!l: . pres 3 ational Coal . H. Brownell. president - lum New Ym'kp S ln ur S. Bent, president Bent Bros., Los Angeles. ¥ R L. W. Baldwin, Pu;-m’c Railroad Co., St. Louis. . J. lent, Chesapeake ©Ohio Railway, m& Va. ¥ E. G. Buckland, New York, New T B e . Crane, president, Lead In- dustries Assoclation, New York. H. L. H. P. Cannon & Son, E. B. Cosgrove, president, National Canners, Washington. C. P. Cooper, vice president, Ameri- | aa Telepmc:: 1]!1 Telegr‘:’ph. Né' York. | loward nley, president, Walworth Co.. Boston. { W. R. Cole, president, Louisville & Nashville Railroad Co., Louisville. P. E. Crowley, president, New York Central Lines, New York. Victor L. Brown, president, Motors Acceptance Co., Milwaukee. W. A. Bonitz, Crescent Brick Co., ! Pittsburgh. John Bush, president, Northern Hem- lock & Hardwood Manufacturers’ = ciation, Oshkosh, Wis. W. L. Clause, chairman of the board, | | president, Missouri E | | Co-operation in Industry Is Viial. It is with a view to the interdepend- ence of industries and of the need for | governmental: co-operation that the business conference is now about to | be held at the Chamber of Comme: of the United States. The individual industries have made great progress in recent years in their knowledge of conditions that affect them. Many of | them have established agencies of | their own which gather facts and make | surveys ef business conditions. There | 1= a field, however, for development of | co-operation = throughout the whole range of. industry. It is such co-opera- | tion that wum?:w dHalrad‘ The ouse brought out certain facts and pledges | of industrial leaders for the coming | year's -activities. It is expected thal at the larger conference now to be held the industrial leaders will be able to obtain fl.flmlher information re- dif E “;zm?n'g: hope of those leading the movement that from an interpretation of all “the ‘reports made at the con- ference it will be possible to get an exact picture of what is going on in business as a whole. Indeed, those who will gttend have been asked to bring with them resumes of actual conditions ‘within their industries. Conference to Be Cross-Section. er to obtain a representative| cr::-zgfim of business, and at the same time keep the conference within the Hmitations of an effective working organization, spokesmen have been 2sked to attend the conference and re- port for the following groups: Adver- tising, amusements. chemicals (including drugs, medical equipment and supplies). coal, construction (exclusive of mate- rials), construction materials (exclusive of lumber, steel, etc.), exporting and im- porting, finance, electrical, foodstuffs. ssings and packing; hardware, im. ents, insurance, }’el::nhzr and products, lumber ¢mcxud\n: wood_products—furniture), mining an metallurgical, machinery (construction. factory, etc.), motor vehicles and par (including "{;’n.“pe ral), ‘nd“m ;?b‘lnt:hm(. ':flwly (steam, electric supplies, etc.), rubber, real estate, re flfl. shipping (shipbuilding), textile: (cotton, woolen, silk, rayon, carpets. utilities (light, power. ‘;:rehounn:. , telegraph), special. Every Amer\‘c):cn citizen is vitally in- terested in business one way or another —except America’s leisure class, the tramps, and even the tramps find living easier when business is better. General ly s , therefore, it may be ex- pected that the efforts at co-operation now put forward by business at the in- stance of President Hoover will be ap- The President has outlined what l}?! Federal Government may be expected to do in the way of co-operation to keep up employment in this country. His ‘program looks to a gnl increase in the tonstruction »f public buildings throug! out the country; to an increase in Gov- ernment aid in road building, and to an impetus in shipbuilding through the award of ocean mail contracts. .In addition the President is recom mending to Congress a decrease in th rate of Federal income taxes for ind: viduals and corporations. The decreas proposed, amounting to something 1ik £160,000,000 when translated into’ the i < conferences | Ohio. ircn and steel, | tics), oil and ofl prod- | r and pulp, printing | wholesale. | Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co., Pittsburgh. ‘W. W. Cloud, president, National As- sociation of Taxicab Owners, Baltimore. W. W. Coleman, president and chair- | man, Bucyrus Erie Co, South Mil-| waukee. | William Coleman. National Metal Trades Assoclation, Chicago. H. D. Crippen, vice president, Bon- Am! Co., New York. Investment Bankers to Attend. ‘Trowbridge Calloway, president, In- vestment Bankers' ~ Association of America, New York. | J. A. Campbell, president, town Sheet & Tube Co., . Youngs- Youngstown, | 'W. W. Campbell, president, National Builders' Supply - Association, Cleve- land. H. L. Cannon, H. P. Cannon & Son, | Bridgefield. Del. Rov D. Chapin, chairman, Hudson Motor Car Co., Detroit. H. S. Chatfield. president, National | Paint, Oil & Varnish Association, New York City. Charles” Cheney, president, National| Industrial Conference Board, New York. | J. §. Crutchfield, president, American | Pruit Growers. Inc., Pittsburgh. | George E. Cullinan, chairman of ex- ecutive committee, National Electric | Wholesalers' Assoclation, New ~ York | Cit mes Cunningham. president, Tlli-| nois Manufacturers' Association, Chi- cago. | fictor M. Cutter, president, United | Pruit Co., Boston. H. G. Dalton, Pickands Mather & I eral pendent Grocers' Alliance of America, Chicago. L. C. Hall, president, National Edi~ torial Association, Washington. Harbord Will Aid Conference. Gen. James G. Harbord, president, Radio Corporation of America, New York. Fairfex Harrison. president, Southern Railway. System, Washingion. A. L. Holden, chairman executive ni‘{om;nmee. Southern Pacific Lines, New ork. Charles F. Haug, Mason, Au & Mag- enheimer Manufacturing Co., Brooklyn. George S. Hawley, president, Asso- ciation, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn. Will H. Hays, president Motion Pic- ture Producers & Distributors of Amer- ica, New York. Jeksse Herff, Stern, Herft & Co., New York. Walker D. Hines, chairman of board, Cotton Textile Institute, New York. H. B. Hirsch, Belmont Iron Works, Philadelphia. Frankiln W_ Hobbs, president, Na- tional Association of Wool Manufactur- ers, Boston. Harry Hodgson. president, National Cottonseed Products Assoctation, lumbta, S. C. Elon H. Hooker, president, Hooker Electrochemical Co., New York. Ralph C. Hudson, president, O'Neill & Co., Baltimore. Walter Humphreys, secretary, Na- tional Association Wool Manufacturers, Boston. Edward N. Hurley. chairman of board, Electric Household Utilitles Corporation, Chicago. Carl A. Johnson, president, National Machine Tool Builders' Association. Cincinnati, Harold G. Keith, president. National Boot & Shos Manufacturers’ Associa- tior., Inc., Campollo, Mass. Lloyd Kimbrough, pre: Bridge Co.. Muncie, Ind. Alfred. B. Koch, president, National l\}fflkfl Dry Goods Association, New ork. Willlam C. Koch, president, Ameri- can Face Brick Association, Chicago. John A. Law, president, Saxon Mills, Spartanburg, S. C. R. E. Lee, secretary, Federal Whole- sale Druggists' Association, Baltimore. Bernard Litchtenberg, president, As- sociation of National Advertisers, Inc., New York. C. R. Lindback, president, Interna- tional Association Ice Cream Manufac- turers, Harrisburg, Pa. George Livingston, president, National Federation, Chicago. John G. Lonsdale, president, Mercan- &e-‘commm Bank & Trust Co., St. uis. J. F. Maeenulty, vice president, Amer- ican Railway Car Institute, New York. James R. McColl, president, Lorraine Manufacturing Co., Pawtucket, R. I. CI P.. McCormick, presidegt Mayonnaise Products Manufactureis’ Association of America, Baltimore. J. A. McCarthy, vania Sugar Co., Philadelphia. H. B. McDowell, president, Pennsyl- vania Bankers' Association, S8haron, Pa. George McFadden, George H. McFad- den & Bro., Philadelphia. John cr,dcl(eon. Laird try. president, National )y Equipment Manufac- turers, Chicago. C. H. Markham. chairman, Illinois Central System. Chicago. C. A Maul president, National American Wholesale Lumber Associa- tion, Inc.. New York. C. May, vice president, F. P. May Hardware Co., Washington. J. W. Mettler, president, National As- sociation Hosiery and Underwear Manu- turers, New York. Eugene Meyer, New York. Muir-Represents Publishing Firm. Malcolm . Muir, . president, Hill Publishing Co., New York. B. J'Mullaney, president, American Gas Association, New Yo Millers’ New York. G. R. Parker, president, Parker, Peebles & Co., New York. ' Irving 8. Paull, ident, Institute of Carpet Manufacturers of America, ‘Washington. * Charles ‘S: Pearce, president, Colgate Palmolive Peet Co., Chicago. i Andrew €. Pearson, National Pub- lishers’ ‘Association, New York. 8. Parksdale Penick, president, Ameri- can Drug Manufacturers ' Association, ‘Washington. W. L. Plerce, president, National As- of Tabrics, sociation of New York. - . e, Charles Piez, chairman of board, Link Belt Corporation, Chlu;:. Pistor, Hay Foundry & Iron Works. Willlam ew York. Stanley ‘Resor. president, J. Walter Thnmglon Co., New York. Arthur. Reynolds, chairman of board, c:nllnentfl Illinois Bank & Trust Co., Chicago. (Hfio’fl. Rifil: flhgen’:ent‘xlnnlmu of Boiler a r Manufacturers' Aasodmon.“cenevn. N. Y. Milton E: Robinson, president. N tional' Retail Coal Merchants' Associ- | ation, Washington. Ralph M. Roesevelt, president,. Amer:~ can Zinc Institute, New York. Wilmar W. Salmon, president. Gen- Railway Signal' Co.. Rochester, N.Y. William Schlake, president Common Brick Manufacturers' Association of | America, Cleveland. John T. Scott, president First Na- tional Bank. Houston, Tex. Arthur W. Shuttleworth, vice presi- dNe“"I Mohawk Carpet Mills, Amsterdam, F. A. Selberling, president Rubber Manufacturers' Association, New York. Harold G. Smith, president National Metal Trade Association, Chicago. H. G. Smith, president National gcl;{u‘ll of American Shipbuilders, New ork. Leslie C. Smith, secretary Nation: Association of Ice Industrie :léilute of American Meat Packers, Bos. n Co.. Cleveland. elson R. Darragh, president. Na-| tional Association of Fur Industry, New York. William J. Dean, prelsident. Nichols. | & Gregg. St. Paul. | D":ul C. D‘ell y e president, Silk Association of America, New York. | Alfred W. naven. president New | England Shoe & Leather Association, | Boston. | Lammot Dupont. president. Manufac- | turing Chemists’ Association of United States, Wachington. John E. Edgerton. president. Nat ssociation of Manufacturers, York. Justion H. Edgerton. president, Na- "lnnrl Retajl Credit Association, St uis. Elmer Erickson. vice 'president lnd‘\ general manager, Midland Warehouse & | Transfer Co.. Chicago. i ‘Thomas Ewing. jr. vice bresident | Alex. Smith & Sons Carpet Co., Yon- kers, N. Y. D. B. Fegles. president. Fegles Con- struction Co., Minneapolis. Willis R. Pisher. chairman board | Tanners’ Council of America, New York | * Charles N. Fitts, president; New Eng- land Structural Co. Boston. T. T. Flagler. president. ciated | General Contractors of America, Wash- ington. Herbert Fleishhacker, president, An- glo-London-Faris National Bank, San Francisco. Frederick Prazier. chairman, General Baking Co.. New York. Kerwin H_Fulton, chairman of board Nutdoor Advertising® Assoclation of Ameriea. Chicago. Prank G_Gates, Tyler & Simpson Co ~dmore, Okla, Charles W. Gold. V. P, American ‘e _Conventjon, Jefferson Standard ‘fe Insurano@Co. Greenshora, N. C. ional | New . E. Stone, president American Hard- v‘;n; Manufacturers’ Association, New ork. Henry Stude, president Bakers' Association, Chicago. John A. Sweetser, president Bigelow Sanford Carpet & Rug Co., New York Louis Swift, presid-nt Swift & Co., Chicago. Gerald Swope, president General Elec- tric Co., New York. Charles G. Taylor, jr., assistant ma ager and actuary Association of 'Life Insurance Presidents, New York. Charles F. Vaughan, president Dun- gan Hood & Co., Philadelphia. Milling Men Wil' Altend. George M. Verity, president American Rolling Mill Co., Middieton, Ohio. C. B. Warkentin, preside) Flour Milling Co., Kansas City, Mo. ‘Thomas J. Watson, president Intern 2tm:l Business Machines Corp., New ori A. D. Whiteside, president Wool In- stitute, New York. Lawrence Whitiey, president National Association of Credit Men, New York. Albert H. Wiggin, chairman of board, Chase National Bank, New York. Salmon W. Wilder, chairman of board, Merrimac_Chemical Co., Boston. Daniel Ohio Railroad, Baltimore. Arthur P. Williams, president and general manager R. C. Willlams & New York. John G. Williams, secretary National Association of Taxicab Owners, Balti- more. S. L. Wilson, president American Paper and Pulp Association, New York W. M. Wood, Mississippl Valley Struc- tural Steel Co., Decatur, 1) David J. Weod American S.Ifl R. Ggi. onr-sident, Union Pa- 1Ae Svetemn. §fnahs, Nebr. Kioclation. S5, Lo, , St. Loujs. : E. s.'&?:rhnn. {‘screury Indus- sident, Indiana | resident, Pennsyl- | McGraw, | George D, Olds, president, Association | Grocery Manufacturers - of Amerlur: | - | state of hysteria without caust | L Midland | Willard, president Baitimore & ___(Continued From First Page.) 2 | Christmas trade promises to reach high levels. Washington banks yester- day mailed Christmas savings fun checks aggregating $7,500,000 to 87,000 subscribers in the Capital; more than 4,000 increase over those participating | last year. It is conservatively estimated that 40 per cent of this total, or $3,000,~ 000, is almost immediately turned bacl into Christmas buying. "wo Factors Are Cited. Two factors were pointed to by ti:e Co: | majority of business leaders as of major importance in encouraging them to car- ry on their plans with confidence. They were: A basic purchasing power in Was] | rolls which is almost non-fluctuating and little affected by any general busi- ness or industrial depression: and, ‘The great building program. of . the Government, giving employment to an increasing number of persons and in turn loosing money, dnto the commodity markets. The tax reduction plan and Nation- wide building program put under way by President Hoover were cited as con- tributing to a renewal of confidence. Bankers, especially heralded these de- benefit to | velopments as of material | business everywhere. Statements of business men, revealing the optimism. with which: they regard the future, follow: Brighter Future Is Assured In Opinfon of Murphy. E. J. Murphy, president of the Wash- ington Board of Trade (E. J. Murphy’ Co., Inc., paints): “Our observation of conditions gives us basis only for the conclusion that husiness is: goad and is going to be better. The current year for _us has een between 15 and 20 per eent batter than the past ‘year and we | | | anything Mr. Murphy. e st Chamber of Commerce Members Hopeful of Future. ‘Washington Chamber of Commerce: “Reports from members of the Chamber of Com- merce and my per- sonal observations provide besis for the conclusion that business in Wash- ington & W a very satisfactory condition. We find that Washington 'has not suffered noticeably from the happenings on Walk: Street and that in the past months commercial activi- ies in Washington ave been in & healthy state. Mr. Darr. | Bankers and merc well satisfied with the -existing condi- tions and the outlook for the future and there is every reason to believe that this year will be brought to a very success- ful -concluston.” Easier Financial Conditions Prevail in District, 4 Maj. Gen. Anton Etephan, president of the Merchants' and Manufacturers® Association: “The Christmas shopping season here is now actively underway and in past months retail trade has shown normal advuncde‘!n over f:;- responding periods of last year.. The by Reserve Board for ‘W as hington _for October showed an | increase of nearly 5 per cent over the same month of last year and this is one of the best barometers of con- ditions _for that month. Reports for November as yot are not available, but shopping has beerr going on as usual. The Christ- mas shopping season will be heightened with the distribution tomorrow of $7.500,000 in Christmas savings funds, | this being an increase of $500,000 over |1928. It is encouraging to know that there is a greater per cent of subscribers Gen. Stephan. indicating the purposeful saving habiis | of residents of this city. Distribution of this large sum will put. more money into circulation here. ~Conditions here are easier in a financial way, with more meney in circulation. Conditions should be even more assuring with the leader- chip of President Hoover bringing about | great industries of the country in over- | coming New Cars as Barometer Show Trade Gain. Rudolph Jose, president and treas- urer, Washington Cadillac Co.: “Figures con- cerning the auto- mobile busn generally in Wash- ington are indica- tive of the general prosperity of local citizens “and the bility of the bu: ness structure here. In October there ‘were more new automobiles * reg- istered in Wash- ington than in the @ame month of 1928; and there were more used CcArs registered than in October of the previous year. During the first 10 days of November a study of figures shows the same trend, more new cars and more used cars being registered | than in the first 10 days of November. 1928. These figures indicate present stability of business and give en- couraging picture of the futur Non-Industrial, Washington Has Steady Trade. | Mr. Tone, Co., department store. ‘We hellevep that there will be pra tically no difference in busincss condi- | tions” here as a result of the stock market fluctuations. Our November | trade will tofal between 3 ‘and 5 per cent ahead of November of last yeai. The index for Washington in October | was 4.9 per cent above that figure for | October. 1928, and the trade handled exerutive manager | by this firm w; ething above that Credit b Rure. | “We hav real difference ' in the huyeln "wflg:o of customers | recently, as d with_last_year. d | advance over totals of ington represented by Government pay | but brighter than Charles W. Darr, president of the hants alike appear | to th°se funds here than elsewhere. | co-operation and concerted effort among | what might have become a| B, B, Burgunder, treasurer, S. Kann OPTIMISH PERVADES LOCAL BUSINESS Expected Falling Off in Trade Fails to Materialize. Capital’s Non-‘Fluctuating Pay Roll and Non- Industrial Character Are Factors. ‘Washington is not an industrial city as the payrolls here: are steady. We can see no reason’{o believe that there will be any changeé from .the gradual previous years and we are making plang.ofi that basis.” Prospects Are ‘Held Bright For Winter Season. W. W. Everett, vice president and general mapager, Woodward Lothrop: “We have experienced practically no reaction whatsoever from the stock market situation. Business is in splendid condition and we can see only bright prospects for the whole Wiater sea- son. Retail trade 3 handled by this organization in Oc- / tober amounted to an increase of ap- proximately 7 per cent, aver the total s for October of last year. November business has not own the same .ncreass, but we believe this due to the warm and rainy weather oc- curring during this month and will mean that some of the anticipated business will come later. We have watched merchandising closely in re- cent weeks to see what effect might come from the stock market fluctua- ticns, but as yet have seen no indica- tions of bargain hunting: that' fs, of shopping for price without regard to quality. Volume of Shipping Is Seen As Offering Assurance. Charles H. Frame, superintend-nt Raliways Express Agency, Inc: “The sun still is shining in Wash- |ington despite the storm clouds that | passed reccntly over Wall Street. We | cznnot put a finger | on any loss that can be attributed directly to the stock market. Washington ship- ments have been hoiding up nicely, and this is indic: tive of the confi- dence of local merchants for the Mr. Everett. Our work is not heavier than dur- ing the same period /ast year, but we rather expected some slump which | has not been | experienced. We, | therefore, are not apprehensive as to | the future and have, indeed, invested |in new equipment which would have | been obtained later, in part, if there | had been any reason to fear a reces- sion in operations. October business ‘was not as heavy as in the same month | of last year, but during Octob-r, 1928 | there were big shipments of campaign iiterature which are not now in circula- tion. Merchandising shipments prob- | ably were better than in last October.” ismh Market Conditions | Not Noticed Here. | Harry King, a proprietor of King's | Palace, department store: | . Frs “The percentage | of residents of this city, or elsewhere | affected by the | stock market con- | ditions is negligible. Trade in merchan- dise of popular pric> is not affect- |ed by market con- ditions. Our records | show a noticeable | increase in busi- {ness in bsth Oc- tober and Novem- Mr. ' ber.” = | Winter and Spring Faced With Great Optimism. + Frank R. Jelleff, department store owner: | “We are going ahead with our Christ- mas plans made six months ago, being { reasonably confident that they will be | realized. |, “When the stock market tumbled we immediately stop- ped, leoked and listened, but find- ing that our bu: ness was appar- ently not being affected, de- |cided to go ahead 1easonable caution, hut a de- termination to achjeve the goal set. We therefore | canceled no orders {and are anticipa ing a splendid De. cember business “Qur plans for the Spring season now in the making are aiso being werked out with a feeling of optimism, for we see mo reason why retail busi- ness in Washington should not con- tinue to forge ahead. “With the great building program of the Government well under way and new work contemplated, with the Gov- ernment contemplating no reduction in the number of its employes, but rather the increase which the natural growth of. the Government’s business must re- quire, we can see only bright clouds upon the business horizon of our city.” Bimilar expressions were forthcoming from business elements outside the de- ™ .‘ Mr. Jellefr. s | partment store fleld. Whatever slack- | ening in business that is apparent is ascribed more generally to comp-tition than to a fundamental weakness of buy- ing power. | Long-Awaited Depression s to Arrive. The statement of George Harris of arris & Ewing, photographers, fur- v nished an interesc- ing commentary on the effects of a psychology which is rapidly being dissipated “I've been hear- ing: about depres- sion, depression, de- pression for: two months and finally prepared for it,” he said. “But it hasn't come. Busi- ness in my line is and gives H every continuing good. don’t think there Mr. Harris. is going fo be any depression in Washington.” Believes Commodities Trade Unhurt by “Crash.” ‘The expression of John H. Wilkins president of the John H. Wilkins Co coffee merchants, a firm doing ex tensive business in territory radiatin out of Washington, also was regardec as significant. “'Every mont| 1929, including the present month Ovember, has shown 2 distinet gain of ovel he_stmilar zof 1928, he stated. hay reason to feel that Christmas season. | p | Supply Co.: romise of | ton business is movin- sound, conservative bas Mausical Instrument Salcs Are on Increase. 0. J. De Moll, De Moll Plano Co.: “The musical in- strument business has been bad, but it is improving and conditions are such that I think we feel much better in six months. Everybody is buying radio equipment and sales of planos have dropped off, naturally, but in that line prospe:ts are brighter. We learn that an in- creasing number of children are taking piano lessons, and the instrument is coming into more attention.” Trade Volume Makes Hopes Of Good Year Bright. Z. D. Blackistone, floxist: “We operate throe cash and earry stores in addition to our main stors and feel that w: zet & f!efly gOOC idea of the trenr of business. In o line there has bee: | & very substantia fand encouraging | increase. At our | main store busine:s over a recent 30- day period was 20 | per cent in excess of the same pericd |last year and twn o{ our !b(;.ml;h stores reported sub- stantia) Increasey, i+ Blehistene. | We had anticipated the best year in Basis for Trade Depression some time and expect that favorable | Believed Non-Existent, | conditions will continue.” Mark Lansburgh of Lansburgh Bros. | Little Unemployment Expected | department store, chairman of the dc- Here Next Year. partment store group of the Merchants Corcoran Thom, preside: and Manufacturers' Assoclation: ican Security & Trust Co. “We are not ““Washington, being the capital of ggw}i;g ;rne;etr z'zl,?.: | the Nation, is in a . s : business is ahead fl;c,,‘:h;;“s;“?:‘: f the same period | ?“' o AR 1 Juite different from | nolding its own. 1 et e It | think the same is O | true_of the great hole ailte wHD | auercer & t should arise which epart- affect other cities, | ment stores. 1t | Washington would | seems to me there not be affected | is no basis for de- pression. We are e o a0y going rigit ahead O foet inat ‘There has not been iyt o an increase in car ot cwert cellations of mer- Gl | chandise and we business _during the next year. e AraEy There will be littlc year.” unemployment and | buying will be on Growth in Trade Forces a large scale.” Equipment Expansion. | Trena Toward Wise Investment Louls Levey, the Frasee-Fotomac | Re6arded as Cortats, laundry, head of the laundry section of _Paul J. Crummett, general manager, the Merchants and Manufacturers’ As- | ome Ol Co.: sociation: ‘ “The people who have been tempc “The laundry | rarily embarrassed by the present si | business has had a | uation will undoubtedly curtail thec very successful | expenditures, which will have some r* | year. Manufacti fect on collec'ions and sales for a whil | ers of laundry ma- but the eventval result will be, I fe~ | chinery pr o bably a trend toward wise investment insteac | would report great of reckless speculation.” | er_sales than evel Non-fluctuating B Non- g Buying Power before. There ha Here Assures Realtor. been nc curtail- ment in our busi- John A. Petty, secretary, Washingtor ess, and any un- Real Estate Board: | favorable reactions “During the present period ‘of hesi- fancy and wavering confidence Wash- in the last twao months have been ington stands out as a city with little | sulh? ‘We are con- | stantly enlarging to fear and with | :‘::e tefll‘x,lllunemem_ much of assurance. ur needs | Diuering from most | cities, our basic and expect to Mr. Levey. |spend as much purcnasicg power is imest non- business in December and during the | year 1930 will show us a further gain | over 1929, | “The for>going statements concern our sales not only in Washington, D. but in the States of Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and North and South | Carolina, as well as portions of Eastern Tennessee, Easterr. Kentucky and North- ern_Georgi: | ““We do not believe that general busi- ness of staple commodities will suffer because of the recent disturbances of the stock market, and believe that any harm done by this will be strictly lim- ited to the more expensive luxuries which may be dispensed with by the great mass of the people for the time bel" until they are sure that all is we! Not only does a survey of repre- sentative business men disclose optimism | about business generally, bui- it reveals | a sincere confidence in the efficacy of the program put under way by Presi- dent Hoover. The expression of Mr. Wilkins is characteristic of the opinion shared in by virtually all the business leaders in Washington. “We_further believe,” said Wilkins, that Mr. Hoover has handled the uation to date In a most admirable | manner and that with the reduction of taxes and the tremendous building campaign which 1s now being planned. | that 1930 in ‘toto should prove an even better year than 1928 and 1929.” | Mr. De Moli. nt, the Amer- Mr. Lansburgh. | money next year as we have spent this | year.” | Federal Building Program Aids Trade in District. E. C. Graham, the National Electric fluctuating and little affected by any general busi- ness or industrial | depression. Gov- | ernmental pay rolls, as well as private pay rolls remain | rather ~ consistent. | There are no ex| | tensive industrial or other enterprises | in Washington de- | pendent on a national market, and so | long as our population is employed nor- mally local industries do not suffer as “I see no reason for special concern. A stabilized Go! ernment pay ro: and the bullding program being ried forward pl the W ash ington area in a favorable position for bust | ness. Intense com- petition in th» |radio industrs doubtless will have its effect on sales | but speaking gen- erally my attention | has not been di | rected tc any Mr. Petty. | turbance is almost immediately reflect- | ed unfavorably in pay rolls. | “The tremendous local building pro- | gram of the Government is well under | way and undoubtedly will be furthe: stimulated by the activities of the pres- | ent administration. This not only cre- ates employment and activity in con nection with the program itself, but it also produces activity in relocating the private enterprises and occupancies be- ing displaced by the Government's ac- quisition of private property. Also in the transfer of such properties to the Government the owners will receive cash for their holdings, which will be immediately available for investment in | homes, properties to house businesses | "tml' forced teo:‘novle, various olther types “Business in_our line is better than | sagen amy Moucing properties. mort. the same time last year. We are taking |S-6c* a0d other forms of inves ment. on employes rather than cutting them ' Expected Tax Reductions | oft and are prepared for good business.” | Held Hopeful Factor. | Curtailment Ts Not Considered John B. Larner, president, Washing- Tn Face of Advance. ton Loan & Prust Co.: % “I regard the outlook for business in | Washington_con- | sidering all adverse circumstances, as good. The Nation's Capital is very dif- ferent from other large cities in that | its_stability is as- sured for obvious | reasons. The re- | cession of savings ! reported through- out the country i not reflected in our local banks. “The proposed reduction of taxe: /in the lower | brackets I Teel cer- | tain is assured. It is expected also that the corporation tax will be reduced. | These changes will materially benefit business everywhere.” h P Hoover's Mave to Stabilize ‘This year, for the 11 months up to November 30, we find ourselves more | \"UStrY 18 Lauded. than 12 per cent, Jos*Ph A. Berberich, general man- ahead of last year. | aReT, Berberich : * % % At the pres- swering The Star's query, ‘How's ent time we in| Business’ it is a pleasure to Teport it Washington have _mru(l‘:fl in the 61 years of this organ- certal o ; mfiug“mfl"’,‘c‘l‘f";gl “President Hoover is to be congratu- | the Federal build-| Ated on calling these conferences of | ing_ progrsm business leaders. They furnished the marked increase in | MRFCTIAl that chased away the shadows local - manufactur- e o e mares ing_industries, and o a keen realization Ll e on the part of out- B e e side capital as to| the soundness of the real estate in- vestments within the District of Co- lumbia, “All of these fac- tors tend to keep money in circulation, and as long as we each do our individ- ual part of keeping money in eircula- tion here it seems to me that we have; only sound and steady progress to look forward to. “With our increase so far this year of more than 12 per cent and with pnt-i tically the samie Iricrease for the month gince the change in security prices we n the mids can not help but feel that all Washing- beus others Mr. Graham. Ly opinion is that the first six months ot the new relr will be quiet, but that the latter half of the year will mere than | cover in returns to business.” | Company Increases Personnel | As Business Gains. F. W. Harper, E. Morrison Paper Co., | head of stationers’ section, Merchants and Manufacturers’ Association: Howard L. Wil- kins, Wiikins-Rog ers Milling Co.: | “Business ha ’becn good and prospects ar: | bright. We are ir | the midst of con | struction work a our plant and an ticipate no curtai: ment of opera tions.” o e % Mr. H. L. Wilkins, Mr. Larner. Stabilizing Factors in Capital Are Cited by Moses. Radford Moses, W. B. Moses & Sons, department store: | fore the Advertis- ing Club of Wash- | ington, which was broadcast to the Nation through WMAL. “Business grada- fon is a state of mind — dependent n our mental and, physical alertress | Our business was established in 1868. | # panic and, there have | then, actual and on Mr. Moses. srward: on a| | | poper, but all the while Washington and the country have been and are still growing bigger and more uceful. De- velopments have far exceeded the dreams of our most rosy optimisis. Washington aiways been a good 18 & better one today. ‘s security is manifest In the big buflding program that is going on right now and is guaranteed for the futnre. And that goes for the halance of the country. “The National Capital Is not & specu- lation. It is a substantial inveatinent that constitutes a place of contentmen for those who are alive today and holds guarantecs for our children assure their future, ; “Our bank balance cn the last dat e month is the greatest in ou history, our sales have doubled and | 12 months and o:: . We at the head o the business and every one connccte with It dq A fair day’s work. Such pe formance has pajd dividends that » highly gratifying. MRS. BYRD IS HAPPY HUSBAND- SUCCEEDEI | By the Ascociated Prezs. | ., BOSTON. Mass., November 30.—M: Richard Evelyn Byrd, jr. wife of t! flying explorer, today said: “I am ver: ‘happy and so is every other membe: | of the household,” in" commenting on her husband's successful flight over the South Pole. She sald she was confi- | dent of her husband's success durinr | flight, as she has been since the star( | of the expedition. GOV. ALLEN LAUDS BYR BOSTON, November 30 (#).—In radio broadeast. Governor Frank C | Allen tonight offered Comdr. Richar | E. Byrd the congratulations of himsel and the peopie of Massachusetts on thr explorer's flight over the South Pole. “We were filled with pride,” said thr governor, “when our flag was planted by you at the North Pole, and again tonight our hearts are thrilled with the same fervor at the news that you have completed your successful flight over the South Pole. We rejoice t! you have achieved at last man's mas- tery over this earth. I¥’s Here at LEWIS & CO., Seventh_(_& G Sts. N.W. Nov. 28=Dee. & test in other cities where any national dis-' Victor has assisted us in preparing a special sciene tific demonstration that we want every musice lover in town to hear. It blows away the smoke screen of words as a wind banishes a*fog. In five minutes this remarkable test will show you more about radio TONE QUALITY than a whole library could teach you. We'll prove what Victor- Radio TONE has done’ to improve radio enter- tainment. No obligation, You can’t afford to miss this remarkable test. VICTOR-RADIO' CONSOLB R-2 The radio that is really s musica! Instru- mer'. Victor's greatest achievement is TO B oo s o000 $ X 78:22 Comple LOUIS & CO. Seventh and G Sts. N.W. QUALITY RADIO