The Kemmerer Republican

IS DISCIPLE OF OPTIMISM

Z. L. Squier Visitor Here—Travels Extensively and Tells of Conditions

Ziba L. Squier, who has been visiting at the home of his brother-in-law, N. W. Reynolds, for the past two weeks, departed for southern California Tuesday night. Mr. Squier, whose home is in Jamestown, N. Y., is now on a trip which has taken him over practically all of the United States, and being of a studious and observant bent, his study of present day conditions and his conclusions are logical and interesting.

Full of Optimism

In discussing post-war depression, which has brought about the general business stagnation which is the cause of so much distress at this time, Mr. Squier speaks with abounding optimism. He said on this subject:

"Fundamental conditions are cheering. The country has produced more basic wealth this year than ever before.

"It raised the greatest crop of corn on record, a greater crop of wheat than ever was raised prior to 1914, a crop of oats exceeded only three times in the past, the largest crop of potatoes ever harvested with one exception, the greatest hay crop with a single exception, and the heaviest rice and tobacco crops ever produced.

"If crops had been a partial failure, instead of exceeding anything in the past, there might be a poor outlook for 1921. People must eat.

"Right now we should be preparing for the greatest business which this country has ever done, which will be the case during the next five or ten years. The world's markets demand our goods, and we have the goods to sell.

"For years and years prior to the great war, we looked to Europe for our market. The war turned our attention to other outlets for the products of our farms and factories, and we are now paying belated attention to South America, Japan, China, and India. The western part of this country is much nearer the future great markets than is New England, and in a correspondingly advantageous position. During the next few years the Pacific coast will build cities faster than they will be built on the Atlantic seaboard."

Time to Awaken

Referring to the present "crisis," so-called, Mr. Squier said that while reports of the closing down, altogether or partially, of factories in the East were no doubt true, there had been too much made of this fact, which was brought about by conditions other than financial depression. He accused the newspapers, some of them, of keeping up a campaign of pessimism, and insisted that now is the time to wake up and begin to get ready for the greatest business in this country's history.

"As a matter of fact," continued the speaker, "some of the shut-downs, so feelingly referred to by the pessimistic press, were made with the deliberate intention of weeding out inefficient, incompetent and indifferent help, which had fastened onto the payroll during war-time, when labor of all kinds was so scarce, and which made no effort to maintain production or to do an honest day's work and earn an honest dollar.

"For instance, there is the town of Rochester, N. Y., where many of the factories were for a time closed down. Word comes from there that within a few days shoe factories have re-opened with 20,000 workers, and, needless to say, with the drones omitted."