VOL. LIX NO. 18,318
Entered at Portland (Orcson)
Poxtof fice as Second-Class Matter.
PORTLAND OREGON, THURSDAY, APRIL, 1, 1920
PRICE FIVE CENTS
HOOVER'S FRIENDS
MISSISSIPPI FINALLY
REJECTS SUFFRAGE
SPKARKRS SUPPORTING MEAS
URE HOOTED AND JEERED.
PEACE PAGT WITH
FIREMEN SPURN RISE
AND VOTE TO RESIGN
CRIPPLED SCHOONER
IN TOW OF OCEAN TUG
BRITONS RAP U.S.
SHOES' VALUE SOARS i
ON TRIP TO SIBERIA
FOES JOLTED
L
PRO-IRISH PLEAS
I CHICAGO EMPLOYES THINK 10
MULTNOMAH WITH PASSEN
GERS AND CEMENT OFF BAR.
250,000 PAIRS RETURNED FOR
SALE IN V. S.
PER CENT NOT ENOUGH.
FYTRflUflPflMT TM
AND
GERMANY P
HIED
ENRS, SAY RANKERS
pJne-Up With Republi-
cans Stuns Everybody.
NEWS IS CLOSELY STUDIED
Announcement Proves Pain
ful to Many Democrats.
vOME CHAGRIN IS NOTED
Republicans Welcome 'ow Member
i r Party, but Manifest No
Great Enthusiasm.
OREGON! AX NKWS BUREAU,
ashington, March 31. Even those
"ho had been accusing Herbert
i 'oover of false pretenses In denying;
desire to enter politics looked
J unned today at the sudden an-
lunuement that he was in the race
'fas a republican.
f And the shock doubtless would have
been even more pronounced had not
'Mary Pickford, who said two weeks
ago that she would never wed again,
absorbed some of it by revealing; on
changed he" mind.
the same day that she. too, had
The Hoover announcement was
studied curiously from many angles.
e most interesting: of which relat
ed to how much of the democratic
trengrth accumulated during several
leeks as a shrinking; bi-partisan can
idate could be cashed in as an asbet
( a republican contest. First, for
tatnole. it was pointed out bv to-
"tlcal observers, Mr. Hoover was in
f oduced as a candidate by the New
f ' irk World, democratic administra
T n organ.
Democrats iihool "Hoover."
Immediately thereafter large groups
of democrats, ma,ny of them promi-
nt, came out for Mr. Hoover in
terms equally as liberal as those of
O e World, which declared it would
upport Mr. Hoover on any ticket.
What happened in Washington and
'"regon, for example, has been hap
pening in practically every state. In
'regon, it was recalled here today
I ;rat, perhaps, impulsive-.y, announced
L Immediately his preference for Mr.
a Hoover and spent weeks in getting
t signers to a petition to put the former
food administrator on the democratic
f'primnry ballot.
V In Seattle and Spokane other lead
ting democrats came forward in the
f same way, and throughout the coun
'y the "Hoover for President" slogan
as taken up and sounded in loudest
votes by democrats.
fc Now Will They Follow?
. The burning question is. Will ex
Governor West of Oregon and those
valiant democratic leaders in Seat
L tie, Spokane and elsewhere be true
to their plighted faith and follow Mr.
Hoover over into the republican party,
where he chooses to plant himself
after having declined in Oregon, Call-
f Georgia and a half dozen other states
va permit his name to go on demo
Vtlc primary ballots?
No doubt, Mr. Hoover himself is
'lanus on tns point, which was the
niuai. uibcusseu. touay uy puu-
ns and statesmen. The New York
Id, Mr. Hoover's original sponsor,
ed the announcement with the
e enthusiasm that nas character
all of its campaign in his behalf
.maturing it as the biggest news of
e day in a bold line stretching
ross the first page, which read
Hoover Announces He Would Run
a Republican."
Some Chagrin I Aoted
Among republicans there was no
ecial enthusiasm over the announce
ment, while democrats showed chagrin
ver the fact that their party, or
tomincnt men in it, had gone so fa
w i promoting tne Hoover Doom
was the evident realization
long democrats that they had pro
9 A a A much t n n H i
ded much good material which could
f j used in Mr.
f the event of his
Hoover's interest in
nomination by th
t
f Senator McKellar. democrat of Ten
,'essee, could hardly contain himself
v nen the senate met. He had come
.-eked and primed for a broadside a
Mr. Hoover, who obviously had onl
become a target of the Tennesseean'
v rath this morning by reason of hav
V.g declared himself a republican
enator McKellar opened the assault
reading from a speech delivered by
. . XAWVC III XHOIWII OVIIIG L 1
r which economic Issues were 1
nientioned.
The senator read several para
' graphs from the speech and defied his
lleagues to tell what they meant
e attack was clearly intended to be
ensive and. as McKellar read one
agraph after another, he inter-
crsed the criticism here and there
it the speech was meaningless and
.intelligent.
Little Sympathy Aroused.
The attack appeared to arouse little
sympathy, however, except from Sen
ator Brandegee of Connecticut, who
wears a constitutional grouch against
any kind of a league of nations, even
he Hoover kind; and Senator Gronna
ikof North Dakota, who has constantly
played, on the prejudices of the farm-
frfjrft against the former food adminls-
i.ator because of price-fixing on
wheat.
"And it did not require much acting
tvoncluiied on I'aio
Column
proar of N'ays Follows Demand
That Clerk Read Telegrams
Urging Ratification.
JACKSON, Miss., March 31. The
Mississippi legislature late today
finally refused to ratify the federal!
woman suffrage amendment. The
ction came in the form of a motion
disagree with the senate resolu
on of yesterday which favored rati
fication.'
The motion to disagree was carried
to 23.
Speakers who endeavored to ad-
ress the body in support of the
measure were hooted and jeered. An
proar of nays followed a demand
hat the clerk be permitted to read
elegrams from democratic leaders
rom all parts of the country urging
ratification.
W'ASHINGTOiS", March 31. Suffrage
forces will not slacken their efforts
ntil 37 states have ratified the suf
frage amendment, the national wom-
n's party announced today, so that
the coming into force of the amend
ment will not b6 delayed should the
upreme court hold to be valid the
provision of the Ohio state constitu-
on permitting a referendum on the
mendment.
DOVER, Del., March 31. The vote
n the house on ratification of the
uffrage amendment which was ex
pected this afternoon failed to ma-
erialize when Representative Hart,
who had promised to bring the
measure up for final passage, refused
to do so, saying certain things had
happened which would make delay
necessary.
HARTFORD, Conn., March 31.
Governor Holcomb will not call a
pecial session of the general as
sembly to take action on the woman
uffrage amendment to the federal
constitution it was announced today.
ONTARIO ANGEL RETURNS
Promoter of Building Boom and
Civic Improvements In Custody.
ONTARIO, Or., March 31. (Spe-
ial.) Lester I. Heyman, alias L. I.
Hirsch, alias L. Harris, who was ar-
ested at Niagara, N. Y., charged with
obtaining $15,000 from the First Na
tional bank of this city on false pre-
enses, reached Ontario in custody this
morning. He was arraigned before
Justice of the Peace King and a cash
bond of 5000 was given for his ap
pearance at the preliminary hearing
to be held Friday afternoon.
Heyman appeared but little wor
ed over the predicament in which
he finds himself in the scene of his
affluence during the past year. It
was here that he started a building
boom and created a powerful inter
est in civic improvements.
WINE CELLARS UTILIZED
irencli City Finding Shelter for
Half Former Population.
RHEIMS. France, March 31. France's
martyr city," thanks to its miles of
wine cellars, has been able to offer
makeshift shelter to 60,000 of its cit
izens who have returned. The city's
pre-war population was 120,000.
It has been possible to resume the
champagne industry almost at once.
The recovery of the textile industry
will be far less rapid, as plants have
been systematically destroyed. The
latest sign of recovery is the resump
tion of the street car service, but it
s typical of the ruined city that dur-
ng the first trial run a tottering
house fell across the track after the
car had passed, owing to the slight
vibration.
BALLOTS TO BE SEPARATE
Bills and Candidates Must Be Di
vided, Rules Attorney-General.
SALEM, Or., March 31. (Special.)
Measures to be submitted to the
voters of Oregon at the special elec
tion to be held on May 21 are to be
printed on a ballot of their own and
not on the regular primary nominating
ballot, according to a legal opinion
given by Attorney-General Brown
here today.
This is necessary, according to the
attorney-general, for the reason that
only, the republican and democrat!
parties are represented at the prl
maries and persons of other political
affiliation would be deprived of their
right to vote on the measures.
The opinion was given following re
ceipt of inquiries from many district
attorneys of the state.
BOY'S 'HEROISM' DOUBTED
Youth Said to Have Shot Himself
to Impress Girl Friends.
SAN JOSE. Cal.. March 31. An in
vestigation of the circumstances sur
rounding the shooting last night of
Harold Chope. a 16-year-old high
school student, resulted in a state
ment today by Chief of Police Black
that the youth had deliberately shot
himself in the left arm in order to
"make himself a hero in the eyes of
his girl friends."
Chope had reported he was shot In
a tussle with a burglar.
LINEMEN GET WAGE LIFT
Strike Threat Brings Increase
From $8 to $8 Day.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 31. An in
crease of wages from $6 to $8 a day
was granted linemen of the Great
Western Power company today.
The men had threatened to strike
tomorrow.
Proposal to End Wut
UptoCooS.
-' . o
REPUBLICS LEADERS MOVE
Resolution Drawn . Formally
Declares War Ended.
VETO COUNTED CERTAINTY
Democrats Outspoken in Opposition
to Jamming the Measure
Through Lower House.
WASHINGTON, March 31. Peace
with Germany through adoption of a
joint resolution declaring the war at
an end was put squarely before con
gress today by republicans in con
trol of the house.
Framed by republican members of
the foreign affairs committee and
backed by party leaders, the measure
was thrown into the hopper with as
little ceremony as if it had been a
bridge bill, but instantly there de
veloped a demand for speedy action.
move to jam it through the house
Friday took shape, but democrats,
outspoken In their opposition, finally
obtained an agreement to postpone
consideration until Monday.
While trying to work out a reso-
ution calculated to suit all factions
of their party, republican committee
men had arranged to call it up Fri
day, remembering that it was on
Good Friday three years ago that
war was declared-
Trade Resumption Soufih t.
The resolution provides tor "termi
nation of a state of war" as soon as it
becomes effective. It provides also
for reciprocal trading with Germany
under certain restrictions and for re
peal of the president's war powers.
Germany woujd be allowed 45 days
'to notify the president that it has
declared a termination of war" and
waived all claims against the United
States "that it would not have had
the right to assert had the United
States ratified the treaty of Ver
sailles." Upon Germany's failure to send such
notification, trading or the making
of loans' or credits would be pro
hibited except with the license of the
president.
Republican members of the foreign
affairs committee, to which 'the res
olution was referred without com
ment, conferred for more than five
hours before they mapped out a meas
ure designed to overcome all party
objections. The committee will meet
tomorrow and Is expected to report it
to the house.
Veto Counted Certainty.
Leaders declared tne republicans
would vote solidly for the resolution.
which they held should meet the ap
proval of the Btate department, since
it did not declare peace, but simply
i end to an existing state of war.
Democrat., on the other hand, con
tended that termination or the war
rested solely with the executive
branch of the government. The cer
tainty or a presidential veto was
(Concluded on Page 2, Column 3.)
.... ................................. .,....... .................................
"APRIL FOOL! J
; x .iitiiT t
Budget Passed by Council Adds
$1,000,000 to City's Bill, but
Men Will Walk Out.
CHICAGO, March 31. Five hundred
Chicago firemen today voted unani
mously to resign in a body on April "
in protest against the $192 a year
wage increase carried in the revised
city budget passed by the city council.
Firemen who were on duty today
will meet tomorrow to decide their
course of action. The firemen de
manded a $300 a year increase.
The resignations signed today were
dated April 2, giving a five-day no
tice as required by law. The mini
mum wage in the fire department is
$1800 a year now.
The 1920 budget, passed today by
the council after days and nights of
wrangling, added $4,000,000 to the
original appropriation bill, and ex
ceeded the city's estimated revenue by
the same amount.
The additions included $2,210,000 for
ten per cent salary Increases to all
city employes. Salary increases asked
by all city employes totaled $5,500,000.
Nearly 1500 city employes were on
strike today for higher wages, and
several hundred others were forced
out of work through the tying up of
municipal activities.
Oscar F. Nelson and Carl Sprangler,
department of labor mediators, ar
rived today from Washington, D. C,
to attempt a settlement of the strike
of 900 members of the livestock
handlers' union, which has thrown
nearly 10,000 men out of work and
caused cessation of butchering at the
stock yards.
Speakers at a mass meeting of the
strikers today urged the men to re
main out until their demands for
wage increases of $30 to $45 a month
were granted. The men now receive
from $90 to $130 a month, union lead
ers said.
Shortage of fresh meat in the Chi
cago area brought about a sharp ad
vance in prices.
At Armour & Co.'s plant, several
thousand employes were laid off to
day. Nearly 1000 men in the killing
department of Swift & Co. were
forced out of employment, and the
killing forces of other packers were
depleted.
ST. LOUIS, March 31. The 826
members of the city fire department
have voted unanimously to strike
May 1, unless their wages are in
creased.
ir,m w r-,r- I
ALltlMb IVIA.T Dt UtrUK I tU
2 1 Held at Fort Douglas Refuse
to Sign Parole Papers.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, March 31.
Twenty-one of the 76 alien prison
ers still held at Fort Douglas intern
ment barracks here refuse to sign
parole papers and probably will "be
deported, according to announcement
today by Dave Gershon, head of the
local department of justice bureau.
Mr. Gershon declares all prisoners
yet held were arrested on Immigra
tion warrants and predicts they all,
with the exception of the 21 refusing
paroles, will be given freedom within
a week. Names of the prisoners re
fusing parole were not made public
Six aliens left Salt Lake City today
for their homes on the Pacific coast.
They are John Eder, Rail Spoza,
Hugh M. Funkier, Martin Krauledis,
W. J. Bumbala and Curtis Friedlander.
Thirteen more will leave tomorrow
for Portland and Seattle. They are
George Handeifer, Frank Felt, Al
mond Kadjin. Joseph Koehler, liver
son Verner, Peter Munday, J. J. Carr,
Matt Hann, John Hashagen, Kritz
Kronze, Ernest Reiser, Henry Wohl
berg and Frank Zukom.
Craft Loses Rudder in Gale, but
Is Kept Off Shore; Vessels
, Rush to Aid.
ASTORIA, Or., March 31. (Special.)
The crippled steam schooner Mult
nomah, with her rudder missing, was
off the mouth of the river when heard
from late this afternoon In tow of
the tug Oneonta and will be brought
inside or tomorrow. A heavy sea is
running and as the craft is laden with
cement a:-.d has passengers on board,
shipping men do not believe the tug
will attempt to cross in with her be
fore morning.
The Multnomah was en route from
San Fancisco for Portland with
freight and passengers. During the
blow last night and when ,40 miles
from the mouth of the river ehe lost
her rudder. A wireless call for as
sistance was sent to the agent for the
McCormick line in Portland at 2
o'clock this morning, but the call was
not relayed here until about 9 o'clock
today, when the tug Oneonta hastened
to the rescue.
In the meantime the Multnomah
drifted about, but those in charge
managed to keep her off shore de
spite the he.-.vy gale.
A wireless report received at 2:30
o'clock this afternoon said the Mult
nomah was 16 miles southwest of the
mouth of the river with the tug One
onta. and two steam schooners, sup
posedly the Johan Poulsen and Halco,
standing by. Later she was towed up
to the mouth of the river. Meager
reports received say the Multnomah
is in no danger and all on board are
well.
NEW PLANET DISCOVERED
Honor of Making Observation Goes
to Sola of Barcelona.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 31. The
discovery of a planet by the astrono
mer Sola of Barcelona Was announced
at the Harvard college observatory
today in a cablegram from Professor
Lecointe of Uccle, Belgium.
An observation taken at 11:05 Green
wich time, March 21, gave its position
as right ascension 78 hours 25 min
utes 12 seconds declination plus 15
degrees. Its dally motion was: Right
ascension minus 1 minute; declination
plus 1 minute.
FIRST BODY IS EXHUMED
Officials Prepare American Dead
for Shipment Home.
BREST, March 31. (By the Asso
ciated Press.) The first body of an
American soldier who died in France
was exhumed from French soil here
yesterday at the Pontansen camp cem
etery.
The graves' officials will have 100
bodies ready for snipment to America
by April 5, the date on which
transport has been arranged for from
the navy department.
CATTLE STRUCK BY TRAIN
81 Animals Killed and 68 Crippled
With Loss or $10,000.
OGDEN. Utah, March 31. What
declared to be a record for accidents
of its class was reported here today
by the Union Pacific claim agent, who
said a passenger train ran into a herd
of cattle near Evanston, Wyo., killing
81 animals and crippling 68.
The loss lie estimated at $10,000
Eight dead animals were found on the
pilot of the locomotive when the train
was stopped.
Premier Handles America
Without Gloves.
SENATE'S ACTION DEPLORED
Resolution Declared to Have
Fostered Secession.
CIVIL WAR IS RECALLED
DeValcra's Claims Likened to
Those of JcTferson Davis Sir
Edward Carson Bit Caustic.
LONDON, March 31. The United
States was handled without gloves by
Premier Lloyd George and Sir Ed
ward Carson, the Ulster unionist
leader, in the house of commons de
bate today on the second reading of
the Irish bill. The premier said it
was action such as that taken by the
United States senate In adopting the
Irish resolution that had fostered
secession.
"I want to say this to our American
friends," said the premier. - "Mr. De
Valera is putting forth the same
claim in exactly the same language
as Mr. Jefferson Davis; and the an
cestors of some of the men who voted
for that motion in the senate the
other day fought to the death against
conceding to the southern states of
America the very demand their de
scendants are supporting for Ireland
The acceptance of that demand we
will never concede. It is a demand
which, if persisted In, will lead to ex
actly the same measures of repression
as in the southern states of America.
We claim nothing more than the
United States claimed for themselves
and we will stand no less indepen
dently."
This passage was loudly cheered.
Carson Raps Americans.
Sir Edward Carson, in opening the
debate. said he believed that the
Irish murders were committed, "not
by my countrymen, but by ill-conditioned
Americans," misled by Sinn
Fein propaganda, which, he ex
claimed, pointing to the government,
"you are doing nothing to counter'
act."
Sir Edward Carson, the Ulster
unionist leader, was one of the first
speakers when the commons resumed
consideration of the bill. He declared
he wished to reiterate his opposition
to the whole policy of home rule for
Ireland.
Sir Edward said he believed It
would be disastrous to both Ireland
and England.
The Ulster leader declared ho de
plored the fact that Ireland would
give up her representations in the
commons because every injustrce com
mitted toward Ireland was inflicted
before the union and not since, and
none of them would have been pos
sible with the present representation
of Ireland in the imperial parliament
Empire Held Threatened.
Sir Edward argued thit there was
no alternative to the union except
separation, and under tms bill he be
lieved a lever was being given to
(Concluded on Psse 2, Column l.
Cargo Exported Two Years Ag
Back Home Again With Price
ol
J
Raised $1,000,000.
SEATTLE, Wash., March 31. More
than 250,000 pairs of men's shoes,
shipped from the United States to
Vladivostok and then back, are being
unloaded from the steamer Eastern
Dawn here toe shipment to New York,
where they will be put on American
markets, according to officials of the
Inter-Ocean Trading company, agents
for the vessel.
The shoes were sent to Siberia two
years ago and were held there. They
were sent back when Russian agents
found they could not pay for the ship
ment. Since they were exported, it
was said today, their value has in
creased so greatly that they are be
ing reshipped from Vladivostok to
New York at a profit.
No valuation is placed on the shoes
in the manifest, but the papers are
marked "extra valuable." It is es
timated, however, that the shoes now
have a retail value in America of at
least $3,000,000, or more than $1,000.
000 higher than their value when
they were shipped to Siberia.
The shoes formed part of a number
of shipments of supplies sent to Vlad
ivostok by the United States that
became tied up in the-Siberian porU
SCHOOL STAFF CHANGES
Superintendent Granted Increase
or $500 in Salary.
CHEHAL1S, Wash.. March 31.
(Special.) City Superintendent R. E.
Cook, who for some years has been
in charge bf the Chehalis schools, has
been re-elected for a two-year term
by the locaj board. Mr. Cook has
been given ar. increase of $500 per
annum in salary, making it $3000 per
annum.
W. C Nolin has been chosen to
fill the unexpired term of Professor
H. J. JVugner in charge of the ma
thematics department at the high
school. Professor Wagner has been
made west side principal to succeed
A. N. Baxter, resigned, who went to
California.
The school board at its meetihg
reorganized for tho year by selecting
Mrs. A. C. St. John president, with
W. J. Ford secretary.
FREAK SPELLING DROPPED
Simplified Method No Longer to Be
Used by Language Association.
COLUMBUS, O.. March 31. Simpli
fied spelling no longer has the sanc
tion, either official or tacit, of the
Modern Language association of
America as an organization.
Its use in the association's publica
tions was abandoned today by a vote
of the association at its annual meet
ing, because of lack of public en
thusiasm for the new method, be
cause it was declared to be makinj?
no progress and because It offended
some of the members.
Simplified spelling has been used
by the association for 11 years. The
association never had given its offi
cial approval of the simplified form
of spelling, the sanction extending
only to its use in its own publications.
INDEX OF TODAY'S NEWS
The Weather.
VKSTKUDA V'S Maximum temperature,
4:1 deicrees: minimum. :t.1 degrees.
TODAY'S Rain; southerly winds.
orrlrn.
Ruhr valley is Isolated: allies may send
troops to open district. rase 2.
Britons rap I. S. for senate pro-Irish res
olution. Page 1.
National.
Admiral Fiske pays Secretary Daniels con
cerned himself too much with details
rather than broad policies of depart
ment. Page 3.
Peace with Germany through resolution is
put up to congress. Paso 1.
Era of extravagance nears end, say bank
officials. Page 1.
Miners and operators sisrn wage airree
'tnent providing for 1200,000,000 increase,
Paae 2.
Accuracy of poll of three states shown
by primary elections. Page 5.
Plumb plan forces join with Germans in
Wisconsin to boom LaFollette for pres
ident. Page 22.
Hoover's lineup with republicans jolts
friends and foes alike. Page 1.
Iomestic.
Chicago firemen spurn 10 "per cent in
crease and vote to reeign in a body.
Pag. 1.
Mississippi legislature rejects suffrage.
Page 1.
Plckford-Moore divorce decree may bo set
aside by Nevada court. Page 4.
Pacific Northwest.
Shoes' value soars on trip to Siberia.
Page 1.
Schooner Multnomah, crippled in gale, safe
off Columbia bar. Page 1.
Solution of street car relief is put up to
city. Page 8.
Country leaders needed in farm schools,
say teachers. Page 7.
Sports.
Gambling by players and owners in Na
tional league ts charged. Page 15.
Beavers to end training schedule with four
hard games. Page 14.
Portland Baseball association looking for
18 or umpires for season. Page 14.
Alex Trambltas has a chance to meet j
Benny Leonard. Page 14.
Commercial and Marine.
Wheat market firmer with demand from
cast mills. Page 22.
Stock prices firmer but less active. Page
23.
Short covering lifts corn market at Chi
cago. Page 23.
Phosphate rock bookings total 5500 tons.
Page 22.
Portland and Vicinity.
Iefcne agent admits "sounding" jurors
before trial of Laundy case. Page 15.
Hoover boom held to be crafty politics
and not spontaneous. Page 12.
LaRoche stands by decision on purchase
of street trackage. Page 8.
Selection of playground site In St. Johns
delayed by controversy. Page 13.
Witness in divorce case gives testimony
before Judge Gatens in tongues of fire.
Page S.
Countv commissioners grant salary In
creases totaling JIT.OOO. Page 16.
Growth of University of Oregon medical
school Is new dean's plan. Page 11.
Ministers comment of marriage of Mary
. Pickford- l ose i
Prices Pass Crest, Report
of Reserve Board.
GRADUAL RELIEF EXPECTED
Financial and Industrial Out
look "Excellent."
OLD CLOTHES IN FAVOR
V nder-l'roduclion and Taxation
Continue Big Problems,. Is
statement.
WASHINGTON. March 31. Nation
wide reports from federal reserve
bank officials, made public tonight,
disclose their opinion that the post
war era of "extravagance and reck
less buying" by the public is nearing
its end.
A "hesitation, if not an actual re
cession," of prices is noted and the
federal reserve board's statement
summarizes its advices as indicating
j a generally more hopeful view of the
country's business condition than for
several months.
While the price changes were shown
by the board not to be universal, they
were nevertheless regarded as posi
tive and of importance as a basis for
reckoning what the immediate future
holds.
Relief from the hich. prices for the
consumer will not be completely ob
tained until present stocks are ab
sorbed in practically all lines, accord
ing to the board's view. Manufac
turers everywhere, however, were
shown to hold the view that the peak
of high prices has been reached and
to expect a gradual recession.
Old Clothes Unin Favor.
In the clothing trade particularly,
the board said there was a marked
tendency of the public to make old
supplies last longer and to refuse to
pay exorbitant prices. This phase can
mean only that n awakening has
come, the statement taid, and that
many people have a: rived at the con
clusion that they are themselves re
sponsible for a continuing high range
of prices.
Wholesalers in the drygoods trade,
to some extent, have taken a "com
mendatory attitude" and are discour
aging their customers from placing
heavy fall orders. This, It Is ex
pected, will serve to slacken demand
and create a feeling that lower prices
will follow.
The reports do not give encourage
ment concerning a price reduction in
shoes. There was, however, a wide
divergence of opinion as to what shoe
and leather prices will do.
Eastern seaboard cities reported a
"piling up of commodities" on this
side of the Atlantic. The exchange
situation was beginning to reflect It
self on the export market as well as
through a general reduction by Eu
ropeans in their foreign buying, i'.
was noted.
Outlook Is I-:rellen.".
Business and financial develop
ments during Marcji also were marked
by confusion and lack of uniformity
of opinion, reports from the several
reserve districts showed. But through
out the detailed observations of these
officials there was a distinctly op
timistic tone. Summed up, it was:
"The outlook for the spring season,
both industrially and agriculturally,
is excellent. But modifying factors
in the situation are an inadequacy of
labor supply and a shortage of va
rious kinds of building materials, as
well as borrowing facilities of banks."
Officials said that the full mean
ing of the changed attitude of the
public would probably show definite
results so slowly as to be almost im
perceptible. They explained that It
was "a step in the right direction,"
and that its value was increased be
cause there had been no appreciable
letting down in the volume of legiti
mate business.
Housing; Situation Acnte.
The housing situation continued
acute throughout the country, partly
as a result of labor conditions, but
more largely because thousands of
families are deserting the farms for
"what they believe are greater op
portunities" in the cities. There was,
however, another reason advanced,
capital is slow to engage Jn new
building ventures because of the "un
favorable condtions of taxation."
This, of course, applies to general
construction work as well as to hous
ing in the limited sense, the state
ment said.
"Production conditions the country
over," the statement continued, "give
every reason for encouragement with
reference to actual industrial and ag
ricultural potentialities. The crop
outlook, so far as can be judged at
this season, is hopeful. There is a
substantial degree of harmony be
tween capital and labor as indicated
by small unemployment.
I ndrrprod uction Is Problem.
"The difficulties In sight are duo
to conditions of relative underproduc
tion or decrease of production result
ing from lessened activity of both
capital and labor, problems arising
out of heavy taxation and measures
resulting from the one-siaea working
of the tax
laws, while, financially
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