Show economic econome c nigh highlights L it lights ahk affert III the dinner aln patio Vivid dividend end chertie mill imd tn tin of mery er Not abl trot lems ironi local welfare if the alio world la Is sick alck enough to have gained tiny any me dense 1180 tile tho economic tio nife conference will bo be it ft sue less cesa so james middleton cox ono one of tho american delegation just before sailing ills ilia attitude jibes with that of most moat observers ob servera they believe that tho the world la Is sick enough they know likewise that a pick ack world la Is not necessarily a on one whon when george V imperator and rox rex formally opened the confer conference enco nono none felt that it would bo be an all success many were unable to bollomo that it would prod produce tico much of definite and permanent worth there ciro anro too many warring interests at play as in a drama plots and counter plots will underlie the smooth tenor of the proceedings it Is it a sato safe foro forecast cast that luring during Ls la first weeks tile the do delegates legatos will be sparring for position testing their ground thoro there will be a great many polito speeches chea pretty gos goa turoa abstruse discussions tho the real work will come collie later thoro there will bo be a continuous thinly veiled battlo between various sectional interests opposed philos oples As tho the conference opens the world it faces might be described briefly in tills this manner A europe which Is closer to war than at any time kinoe 1913 with armed troops patrolling patrol lug liag unfriendly borders and looking jealously at allon lands an increasing spirit of nationalism in many ninnor powers of which germany under hitler la Is tile the classic example in the par far nast baat a growing spirit of imperial ism on tho the part of 11 tho japanese which musi inevitably cause the chinese to develop it still greater enmity ty for all foreigners wido spread unemployment and industrial debility lit in every country monetary systems and tot t terling 0 ring currency standards and in most powers fear and distrust of the rest of the world cheso these matters are not discussed in tho the agenda hut but they will have much to do with tile tho poll P cloa of tho the delegates and they will influence tile tho proceedings tit at every turn what the agenda does doea specifically mention for discussion follows monetary and credit policy prices resumption of move ment of capital restrictions on lit in trade tariff and treaty policy organization of production and trade these aro are high sounding labels and the subjects they cover axe are greek to ninety per con cent t of tile ho worlds people dut the economist can translate them thein into terms of jobs wage scales living standards it tile the conference collapses lt it will be because the politicians dominated by racial prejudice and na do the dictating if it succeeds lt it will be because the world has at last be become corne so sleak that it Is willing to go the limit for a cure on the eve of tho the conference tho the department of conini commerce erce announced the lie world trado trade slumped to last year as aa coin corn S 00 in not ot all of tills this la Is tho the result of do L nril ot of it Is tile tho result amons ns as nuy buy DrI tish nuy buy american oven bluy lit in it IL ali tim I 1 i i it t 14 1 tile tha purpose of tile tho conference conf orenco to deill onatia tho the tolly folly that such slogans represent anti anil do 10 lo awny away with thorn thona of 0 areat c iea I 1 importance to the nn tion Is president Proal dont pro gr lit in on oil ac 1 c relationship of government and research Ilc search leill cn ca oa es that cutthroat competition with tile tho resulting waste la is a strong influence in prolonging depression inasmuch na as it forces prices down and provenza pro venta venti them from rising in the past tho the antitrust antl laws have stood in tho the way ol of agreements aRroo monts to offset tilts tile tho presidents plan Is to abro gitte the trust laws lawa permit industries to work together in controlling production and prices with tile the gov ornament as arbiter ai biter Covern government ment would have a strong voice in determining wages lagoa hours houra of labor out put price etc business lima shown itself ready to cooperate factors nt at play now justify tile the bollot belief that a heavy upturn in build ing work will occur before long during the past two months small residential building has been moving steadily upward the material makers havo have noticed a bettor better that than seasonal gain in orders building upturn would bo be felt in every industry lumber steel transport metal paint and varnish electric gas etc and would pro pio vado a vast amount of now new employment with a consequent jump in buying power also important would bo be its favorable effect on security values i |