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Show WHAT THE BUSINESS MEN ARE SAYING. Lately a New York business house sent out a questionnaire to 4500 men of affairs, In an effort to obtain a consensus of opinion as to whether this country was in danger of a recession re-cession in business with the ending of the war. Through the courtesy of Joseph Scowcroft, the Standard Is enabled en-abled to present a summary of 1710 replies received, tabulated as follows: Will your business be directly affected af-fected by peace In Europe? 728 answered Yes; 750 answered No. Is the consumption of -the goods you distribute or manufacture, appreciably appre-ciably rcducod by tho relatively higher high-er prices now prevailing? 229 answered Yes; 10S8 answered No. Is there any unemployment of labor in your section? 225 answered Yes; 1332 answered No. Is labor in your neighborhood contented con-tented with the wages that ars now being paid? 887 answered Yes; 698 answered No. If to the former question you answer an-swer "No," do you think there is any serious probability of important strikes during the coming summer' 309 answered Yes; 900 answered No. Are the business men with whom you come in contact satisfied with the operation of the Federal Reserve law? 1244 answered Yes; 157 answered No. Do the business men with whom you come in contact feel that there Is any inflation of currency or credit in this country? 307 answered Yes; 1149 answered No. Are the people in your section constructively con-structively active? That is, are they building new houses; enlarging their plants or making permanent improvements improve-ments that bespeak their confidence in the future? 1228 answered Yes; 301 answered No. Are the business men In your section sec-tion content that the tariff question shall be taken out of politics by the creation of a Tariff Commission? 1416 answered Yes; 65 answered No. "If is said and generally believed that the market for real estate is the last thing to reflect prosperity. Is it becoming more active in your section? sec-tion? 985 answered Yes; 500 answered No. Is the feeling of antagonism toward the railroads in your section abating or persistent? 1380 answered Abating; 123 answered answer-ed Persistent. Would an advance of say 5 per cent in railway freight rates be generally paid without serious protest by the shippers or consignees in your community? com-munity? 912 answered Yes; 561 answered No. Are the wage-earners In your section sec-tion disposed to save or is greater extravagance the result of better times? 761 answered They are saving; 520 answered Increased earnings have led to greater extravagance. Is public sentiment in your section opposed to or in favor of liberal provision pro-vision and expenditure for "preparedness" "prepared-ness" by the JatIonal Government? 78 answered Opposed to; 1296 answered an-swered In favor of. Has the war in Europe increased the sense of chic responsibility and American nationalism among the people peo-ple of your section? 1310 answered Yes; 185 answered No. Assuming that you believe in an extension of our foreign trade, is such extension, in your opinion, possible pos-sible unless adequate protection Is afforded af-forded by our government to American Amer-ican citizens resident or having property prop-erty Interests outside of the United States? 181 answered Yes; 1155 answered No. Are the pcoplo in your section generally gen-erally in favor of military intervention interven-tion by the United States In Mexico? 696 answered Yes; 653 answered No. Here are statements which were made in the letters: Preparedness should not be a political poli-tical question. I object to a change In our government gov-ernment every four years. Public men and the great majority major-ity of the people do not understand economics. Peace would not affect prosperity but increase our sense of security and stimulate our work of Improvement. Improve-ment. We must have foreign trade or perish. America cannot consume oue-half of the cotton goods its coarse mills produce Make every boy a soldier on modified mod-ified Swiss or Australian system. Begin It now, only keep out of the fighL I believe the new standards, especially es-pecially of labor compensation and hours of employment, will plague us after the war. Labor is the only thing In America Amer-ica that wasn't liquidated in the' period of readjustment. It matters not how much labor earns; they are inclined to spend Efficient labor is at a premium. If we expect Americans to spread American trade we must give them protection in life and property. The growing love for extrava-gapce, extrava-gapce, so characteristic of Americans, Ameri-cans, is finding its quota of devotes de-votes in our community. If the world generally once gets an idea that this country will not protect its business men, all the efforts ef-forts to extend foreign trade will be vain. Some years ago every laboring man desired to own his own home, at present they are renters. The ending of the war may unsteady un-steady business from shock but like all such things the shock will Tint InKt. Inns' Antagonism to the railroads has not only checked railroad extensions exten-sions but prevented tho development develop-ment of vast areas and interfered with natural prosperity. There is more employment than laborers. The reconstruction of Europe will require an enormous amount of American lumber. The Pacific coast has not yet recovered re-covered from the depression that came with the beginning of the war. The increase In wages has demoralized de-moralized the negro labor of the south. Business is blindly feeling Its way for a new basis. Unless we have a real projective tariff the business of the country will fall into the same rut as before be-fore the war. Business for the next five years will be most satisfactory-There satisfactory-There is much unnecessary alarm about the future. The great stimulus all our activities activi-ties have received and tho momentum momen-tum acquired Is a force to be reckoned reck-oned with for a long time to come. Our future Is a matter of vision, courage and confidence and a thorough thor-ough understanding of our strength. Off all things business men heartily heart-ily welcome the divorcement of the tariff from politics. |