Hammond Times, Volume 14, Number 165, Hammond, Lake County, 31 December 1920 — Page 1

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TUB WEATHER T OR IM 4N A1 n.ot'tled NreathT tonla-ht and Saturday, probable raloi narmrr tonights colder Saturday afternoon fesh .oofhra.t and outh. shifting to west wind HEALTHFUL STATUS I Ob rta aad aiwittutij, 3, VOL. -XIV. XO. Itw. FRIDAY. DECEMBER 31, 1920. HAMMOND, INDIANA nnr V IV. RE-CREATION liyli fey

iLAJUJlji (UOUlTI TIMES . i

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CAMPBELL SOUP CONGER

LOCATES HERE Interesting Story of How Hammond Landed A Splendid Company I ra.T.nivnd ri.ei;d a :.t:e New Tears '',f' n' this y ar vh-n it was an nwrti : r .-.i grh th. offir, of Oostltn, " i JI.i.tir..;s. Inc.. that the com- ..'!!;. ejosed the ileal for he ale. r llrjrl. Miirdock & Cumpany's : ..ant m this ci-. to the Joseph Carnpup iVmpany, if Camden. N. J. T',:i is i..el:ev-.1 to be the largest real estate transaction ever '"v:ns t-e. n consummated In Hani- . ni. T'p to this tmiei the large-it :i '."-wig tiie mi of the present see " the tanda:I i-'tei car Company, l y fjojfltn. M"yn t Company. Pecuti- ' thi a;- a lvnnf ! vania corporalllOI(L)T ILllSTn. 'fammond lias landed the choicest nJuftry that has been :n t!ic market :or ,i weftern site in the past year. Mefr?. Turner, Meyns and n.i.Mii.c.s were called into conference with TT"?ide!it Armstrong and oth-r M.r.jtivea of the r.ei.j, Jlurdock Com-i-ariy. held at the Chicago office, rfn,:. they were t. M that the Keid, M ird-i. k Company had decided up-n .1 p mh v cf hereafter manufacturing Hill handling, their dift'-rtnt comnu.di- ! 31 t"' riiice? the raw product was ! n. Th.s i ould ca'j.e the closing the Hammond plant and the throw "? fit of eir.jdi.j m- nt, i-f a force ot ..; p.-.-.pie. Com ins at a time " hvii industrial c. n dit ion-t tluoucho'ir the country are anything but promis:ne. was pretty had news t.j bioa - pOj.le of li-tmmond. At tins ct-n-'ren-et Gen Manager Fc.de said t) SI- ysrs Turner and M-;. n: "ti . fei;os got us into Itaani ml N--w. -; "ant you to get ut cut. A c are g. inr to sell the ITamirond plant and it intt ba done before the end of tho yar '' W'ltMn 15 days from that time. he ed? of Gen. Mana-cr Bods ha J f "n carried cj". HOW THE FLAM CAM E. It : iromev.hat :ftrrtmg to know nmr of the d'-a:":. of j,lft how this i-nr was loca" d in Hammond. In' -i-i-wer to an ad'-ertirir.-; campaign i .arrie-i ci by !.!.; brokers, they received two a:iwf: hi'.h indicated th.it .arr-- eastern food -pipany was in ! marxct tor a wi.rn site- One i ..... i r. mo." uniTi ietcii came trom ! -ed T,.l.,. Ti... !.- ... ! '-0?ilin. M.yn Hastm?. : when be;ne tid by n's i . h i r that thi;. pi-int wa to be fold, j 5". ted that tne Campbell Soijp "!ipa:iy : lien, aiiutl r ni a par tt b" mf l est t d in .t. it of information came j w';io had said, that tni1 ampl.cl! Company was Panning on .iircbasirg- a site at Clearing. 111. e-i.'c Trn e -i as held that day ar.d :t i.T- iec(drd t send AVillitim J. Hj..;. :1.5s to th" c'amnbcll ('"irpany at . No one . !o attended this n-.-et ng cn knw where the Campi.'ll ?oup Company was Soca.ted. it R as M-f.'.'-ary to consult the advert f pages of "The ?.i;urday Evenins F'ost 'o find their home addrcs. rErut;n i hasti.vcs cr. n -.vine at his destination and i:hout a letter ot introduction or an '!! .i rtmen t oi" any kind, he sent his . are. ;.o the office of Dr J.. T. Dorranc, i ri sid: 111 of the company. Up t this ij-iie, Hammond had never been .'nsil-ied in any w,iy whatsoever us Continued on Pago six.) slump is T.AFATETTK. ird.. r- . 'Jl. ' Tn forced sale of vr? and live stock at p-ires far below, re. of produc tion bas resulted !n ti,r. ci,1,npr v,r ihousand? of fa.-r-jp, a!i(j in thousands of working veople being !e!t nitho'it implovmeri (.- income bca jse the farmers ha, tne nioney 1... buy the products ,r the factory.Prof. I- Christie. rector of the l-urd.ie experiment stt,on jnij tF, Tippecanoe County i.'ori orowers' Association at the annaal1iC,..jng her?-! I'oJnts to Income,OBB j "One farm near Lafayc,0 on whlr.i 1 we have accurate recotd?.,ad an in- j come of $3,000 last year trn, it3 prodnets and this year on"y foo, even though the crop was large, babar ' nnl ii'.l other expenses erv nig.)lr . This man will exist and his t,nt will i go on. Vit he will not have tH $;.6tn) 1 that he -ad last year to buy c'thin?, ! tractors, automobiles, etc. Tht!,ln,j j 1- true throughout the United atrsj and means a loss of J j .nOO.ovC-. tl ' tj.e American tarnicrs. rrof. Christie urged the enactrint of irghdation by Congrss to rtabilia-? prices of farm products VI oniy t aid the farmer but to help ci.i dweller.

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BLAMED

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CHI PRICES an effort to meet th clamor oi tfie readjustment ,.f nrir-e t..-.r-t ' i't e-war ba:-;s? Question is h- ard on cvo hand ! j ci.i.d iigiu ;i..w sec,,-: to be the on..- u,- ' I . in uic minus til an. J 11c uns j r can t-. st be gleaned from i io the city's) stores wher- an a V ! 1 1 inspec- : tiou convince the most critical j that a buna Ode eiTort is being made, i -'urthcr thv visitor will be surprised learn that pre-war levels have been jit ached in many in:.tance.. but i ethir the prices can be kept that low is another matter. l-epartmvni st..res and single line st i res alike have been ising- the l.nilV severely during the lull which followed the terrific crush of Christmas trade. It means the loss of thousands of dollars, but they are swallowing their regrets and taljing the action In the firm belief that business inu pi be kept moving, and that the confidence of the buying public must be maintained no matter what the tost. Advertisements cf pre-inven'.ory and clearance sales have already set a stiff pace in several of the stores and others are following as fast h? they can tit their good rc-marked. .Many .-tores which have not had time to t-0 over their Mocks are simply making fiat reductions, the clerks knocking cdf the percentages when the article is selected. "Our rule always has been to clean j up eacn season's g-oods darlner its seaI son. ' ; aid K. C. Minas. proprietor of j the bir.tate street department store, j '"This year our price reductions have pern .-till greater becair..- we know that people have been led to t-xpfct i it. In many instances the cuts we j have made ar not justified by the ! wholesale prices on materia! with '.vhich Tie must replenish our stock, i b':t t'r.e goods ruu?t go. On many aitic!rs the prices will be higher next year than the sa,e prices which we j are making on them now." Kcrsonai inspection in. different department? brought soiiYf- as'.oundin? : bargains to light. In the ladies rrady-to-w-ar a rack of dresses labeled $i".75. was pic tied at random. One of the dresses, a "blaeK satin, lace tnmined. wit;, escalloped bottom and two- i tone lining, bore the old ta? J 43.73. o.er twice the sale price- Another, an j embroidered tri-otine was still marked j t'jo. And tbre were ethers in sergs and othr stur. which a 'salesman cn rcttle off on slight provocation. Coats r h'-ed simliar cuts, generally ne-ha'f off. A rack of attractive l'ok'nj on-s in boh'.ian. broadcloth. suedne. siik inl mole plush, all with fur trlmmlna.- of racoon. seal. Au.t. f railian fpp ossum and wtist not -inrh had r,. rr.ier'.y been n-icod a? high as a-l been Jumped off at i a . ac;. . It went through the store. Ti.,r. r. boys overeats :n $ izes 4 11 labeled i.r: wool finished t Cunt Inued on page two.) REVEALS 300 CASES OF IT VNIONTOW.V. ra.. Dec. 31. Thr-e hundred cases of Gibson whiskey, the Kind wan the Kick or an army mute, 1 are being guarded here today instead i of being on their way to New York. One of the trucks hauling the liquor Mint over an embankment shortly arter midnight on the National Pike. Ncm s of the mishap soon reached Jr'ayette county authorities who seized the liquor. The whiskey was being- taken from the Gibson distillery at Bellej ernon to New York on New York per1 mits. Monte Goldstein, of I'ittsburg.'i j and four other men' ate being detained 1 while an investigation of the regu larity of the permits is being made. ! SEWING UP I THE HILARITY ! CHICAGO. Dec. 31. Bottled hilarity j is to have no part in Chicago's New J Year celebration if determined efforts I or teiierai prohibition agents count j for anything. Frank D. Richardson. I supcrv i.'-lng prohibition agent, announced today that his entire force would be called upon to prevent "hip liquor" being consumed by New Years revelers. Close surveillance will be k pi on all merry makers Meccas. BREADLINE IN BOWERY TONIGHT EW YOHK. Dee. 31. While thousands of w Yorkers were preparlne- to see the old year eat In the elaborate dining; rooms of iVew York hotels at from ." to - a plate, arrangements were completed to oprn a new bread-line In the sBorery promptly at mldnlsht. A real meal is to be served 4nnn and outers. M bile alcoholic drinks are not to lie scried tiy hotels, managers said there would hr no objection to those who carried refreshments "oil the hip." f-sdr.

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Young Marine On Vacation

Kay Mcr. son of tr and Mrs. Joe fvT. !''S Wattliam St.. HimmoH If-avt-s tonipht for Quantico. V., where n- resumes his .nation with the V. S. i t .. iik CTii. i . Hi-nnnn oi ten aays at j the home of his parents. lie and hla ,i . -..j .-.nnri inaoe several nuntinr trips ' inp ana trie younc man .a.- uiLuumiy pnjoyea ms ruriougrh. Hay enlisted jn the marines last BAT KZTXm April for two years. He was assigned to the map department and rieht now is helping make a relief map which will show in minature all of the war sections of France. This will be placed in the museum at Washington. Before entering the sendee he was associated with his father in the drug business and on completing his period of enlistment with the marines he will return to Hammond and take, over the managemnt of the drug factory on Calumet avenue. His present course of training is cxpectexl to be of great Hid to him wcn he takes over the business responsibilities later. Hay Is the old. st of seven sons in the Meyer f am 1 1 y. BUT ONE SMALLPOX Hammeni has only on rase of smalipox vindr quarantine accordin? to the records of Dr. r. A. Buefianan, city helth commissioner. There have been several cases jn the city during the fall but quarantices have been lifted on all except one. Close watch is being kept cn the Hammond situation since the eptdera'c appeared In East Chicago and it :a hoped to present the spread to neighboring citiee. T-i this connection Ur. Bijohannin has notified all physician to comply with the state regulations and immediately notify him of aJl cases of contagious diseases as soon as found. rhysiciar.5 of Hammond have berome ia in tins respect and one. 3s said to have failed to report any con i tagious diseases during the last year. Annual reports must be sent to the state authorities by Dr. Buehannan and he is now striving to get some or these belated reports into his hands! at once. .1 LA VENDOR DOES SPLENDID BUSINESS Kd Simon, the La Vendor cigar man. is all set for the biggest business of his career next year. There has a! ways been a heavy . demand for La Vendors, but while other brands have ben deteriorating during tne last three years La Vendor quality has remained the same and the capacity of the factory has been taxed. Another story has been added to the building on North Hohman street, this year and ell departments have been enlarged, fcvveral expensive and delicate machines have been added to speed up the work. VILSON APPROVES THE SENTENCE WASHINGTON". Dec. 31. President Wilson today approved a sentence of fve years imprisonment imposed by a court martial on Capt. John A. Wlllers. u. S. A., for desertion. Willeis, when arrested in New York several weeks ano, declared he had come to the V. S. In 1314. as one of a large number of -German cadets who were to enter the V. .-5. army and act sllt spies. W'.llers will row tand trial on charsres of embezzlement of company funds. NEW PISTOL THE DEATH OF HIM l INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE 1 ATLANTA. (ia Dec. SI. With a pistol he bad bought for protection after beings held up Wednesday night. Albert Kaufman. 40, president of tbe National Straw Hat plant, shot himself through the right temple accidentally at his office late yesterday, dying almost immediately.

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CASE HAMMOND

NOTICE

Following its usual New Year', custom. THE TIMES will not be issued on the holiday, and hopes its patrons will have the happiest and most prosperous year in 1921 they have ever had. Many New Cases of OX Entire South Side District of East Chicago Put Under Strictest Quarantine Th entire. South Side section of East Chicago wss placed under strict Quarantine late yesterday afternoon as the result of an outbreak of small pox. During the past twenty-four hours SS new cases have been reported, most of them being reported from the Polish settlement in the neighborhood of Magoun, Homer Lee and Korthcote ave. between 14$th ajd 151st stret. Health authorities are using every precaution to check the disease. Many of the Industrie.! plants of the city were compelled to run short handed last night, as the result of the Muarantlne. Shortly after three o'clock yesterday afternoon, the totaj number of cases reported amounted to St. and by 6 o clock the total number had reached 52, with caJls coming from other sections cf the city. Immediately fol lowing the outbreak, the entire South Side section of East Chicago. South of 141th st. to the river, and west of Forsythe ave.. to the Hammond line, vu placed under strict Quarantine.' Street cars have been ordered not to pick up or discharge passengers between the "four cornrs" of East Chicago. and White Oalc avenue; vxrjrmu (nrosir nr . Twenty-four deputies.1 twelve men o serve oir the day shift and twolvc men at night, were sent into the stricken art- for the tnaintalnanee of the quarantine, with strict orders to al.ow no one to leave. Milk men, butchers and al! other delivery men were forbidden to enter or leaie the restricteij dis- ! trlct. Thie me-nina; -serkera . living within the beetlon. were, prevented from deperMg. A large number ef the -a-ork ers after leaving their place f em. ployrrint lat evening and upon finding that they could not lea.v their horaes after 'they hud .once entered, besceched the- hotels for , ale-eping Quarters whila a ged many more appllod to 'the police station. rsTszczAivs nr boirmixei All yesterday afternoon . and during a large part of the evening. T. J. A. Teegarden. secretary of the department of health. nu !n conference with physicians of the city and discussed plans for the cheeking of the disease. Much difficulty has been enc-runter-ed by - the health doctors and r.urseei in making an accurate check, or1ng to the ignorance of conditions by the foreign population. According. to Ir. Toegarden, the e-pt-demlc began with an tseerrect diagnosis by an attending physician of chicken pox. The victim he said was j allowed to run at large and thus became a common carrier' of the disease. According to late statements. the theaters will be closed this evening and every precaution will be taken to prevent the spread cf the disease. j Githerings on the street corners will also be prohibited. IS DISCUSSED BY JACK KOTLE ISTAFF CORRESPONDENT I. N. SERVICE) MARION", O., Dec. SI. Expected tightening of the money markets st America after Jan. 1 with consequent disorganisation of business and employment conditions, was subject - or discussion at Senator Harding's conferences today. Will H. Hays, chairman of the republican national committee, remained In Marion over nlght-to outline further his reports on business conditions throughout the country. While he declared today that tie was firm In the-belief that the period or greatest financial- danger was past, Mr. Hays was frankly expectant tr money stringency throughout January and February. Senator Philander C. Knox, before his departure, .made it evident that important as Its the accomplishment or a new association of nations, proposals for its formation may well wait the settlement of pressing domestic problems affecting the farmers stockgrowers and business men of the country. Passage of the resolution declaring a state of peace, with attendant repeal of war-time legislation, would, remove pressing need for inauguration of such. an. association, . h'e .said . Senator Knox placed greatest stress upon immediate.-, adjustment of ; German - indemnity. The reparations commission of the league of nations, he said, not only could fix the. sum Germany must pay, but could Increase" that' sum. -hJMs

Smallp

ECONOMIC SITUATION

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Hammond Has New Scout Chief . 1- K. Seoul, who succeeded K. S Davcy as Scout Executive in Harsmond has now been on the Job about to weeks and is already making his influence felt. He Is full of enthusiasm and love for scouting and there should be a wlnderf ul revival of interest among the boys s soon as he gets his plans swinging after tho first of the year. L K. SCOTT. Scott comes from Des-Moines. Mr. Ia.. a city which has furnished five scout executives for important posts In some of the largest cities of the country. "While there he did splendid work in tha organ 1-j.iq-iri. especially as Instructor in the Scoutmaster school. He was formerly employed with mercantile establishments of Des Moines and was the first president of the Men's C?ub -which was organized in one of the city's largest stores. He has already improved his opportunities at getting acquainted in Hammond and "has made many friends who will loyally back him in the big work which he has mapped out. 500 GOBS BATTLE IN PHILLY STREET riKTNATIOMt. KEATS "SERVICE) rm IaHELPHI A. ' rjec. 31 "STlth the sidewalks -lined wltJi cheering pedestrians 500 sailors early today engaged In a free for all battle In . Market st., between Twelfth and Thirteenth, und-r the dome -of City Hill, while police tried vainly for two hours to disperse the gba. 1 lUot calls were lurried lm.but police for a. time. were' powerless -to prevent the continuance of the melee, being swept Into the tide of men. j Th engagement "was" the result of a rued between- sailors from the battle-' ships Columbia ar.d Minnesota, which grew out of an alleged insult hurled by a sailor of the . . former vessel gainst the entire crew of the Minnesota. PREDICT LEAN YEAR FOR BOOZE HOUNDS WASHTN'GTO.V, Dec SI "Happy New Tear," said John Kramar, dry law boss today.".. "Same to you and raany of m, but what - about whiskey?" the chief rum fighter was asked, as he breezed into the treasury- He bore a portfolio of "plans for the booze war of 1921." And' he looked the part of a Chautauqua champion, getting ready for action. 'It's going ' to be a. long lean year for the booae hounds," he predicted. "Less ' whiskey will be removed from bond, unless our plans go wrong. We're after 'em. Enforcement has not been a-great success,-neither 'has It been a great failure. An experiment like this cannot be-worked out all at once. . But we ere moving ahead and making protress. DEATH OF OLD SETTLER ROBERTSDALE, Ind.. Dec. 31. -Matilda Nelson, -9 years of age. died last nlfht at her home. 120" Myrtle avenue. She Is the wife of Martin Nelt-on. one of Ttobertsdale'a oldest settlers. The funeral will be held Monday, 3 o'clock p. m., from - the Swedish' Lutheran church.- Burial at Oak Hill In charge of Stewart. IN AUTOACCIDENT Barney. Jurgens was the central figure in an -automobile smash yesterday evening at State Line and William's street, Hammond, but fortunatety escaped without Injury. lie was driving his icar north, on State Line street, when- the steering rod broke and the machine headed for the curb. It struck the mail, box and street sign and broke them down before' stopping. 5 isJ

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BANKERS CHEERFUL C9TTiKht, xno, hr -v. SePTtc0 KW YORK, D. St Tkl. 1. ae la-ji basin... ,BtIowk mflt.m y ra-laat Xew Yerk baakersi -Tfce tara f the tide la deeUttl"M prices aad lleuidatioa . vtry mrmr. The rreunt rrdjtm-tta are e-tteaded tkrtD.at tke world. Wt skould face tke yreaeat with narmcc ad tke (at are with eaafldemre." Charles H. !akla, pre-aldeat Gnaraatr Trust "Kmployrrs, wage-e-araers and errhanta ahenld ee-eerate te redoce the srlce of other a-oed. ta "rresposid with tke fall la farm prodacts. If all prleea aad wases '" lew toartker aobody will be worse oT. Thla la tke secret of setting Indoatry started agala." George E. Roberta, Srat Vlee-Presl-deat atlooal City Bank. Betz Plant To Re -open On Monday One of Hammond's Biggest industries Has Good News of Industrial Situation BtrxxdETSr MTgaN'TIOWL NEWS SERVICE wsMHU. w. ta., oe. 31 A ""a tae ladatrtriel daprosalom sitntio cam today witi the aaaonaes. rsrsjTs of the twesty-foor oiw sao nuiis t Tortrriile would re--nuae atoaoay. a co-atlnuous ra pro bo Ma. ICUJs 34 laeltudro. rooiiaiiag are 13 Hammond's best bit of news for the month was made public this morning when it was announced that the F. S xeis piant, me world s largest surgical instrument manufacturing industry will open up in full force on Monday Lmorninr oner being closed down for nearly two months, owlna; to over production and dearth of sales. All the old employes will be back at work and many new ones. It had boen reported that the plant would be closed indecnltely and would not roopen until February, hut officials report that De cember has., been -an exceptionally good month and the company has many new contracts-e-contracts enough to keep it .o!ng at full capacity for 6lx months ajid by' that time the wave of depres sion is expected to be past. .The company haa also the finest 'kind of prospects for landing - business for several new hospitals .about to be. opened and Its officials are very c-ptlmiatic over the, outlook. SmNEWS FLASHES BtriX-STZK INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE! CHICAGO, Dec. SI Charles Stener. engineer, and C. Dilly. fireman were killed . and six' hundred passcngcra were badly shaken up today in . a wrecks. of the St. Iuis fpecial on the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Ry. at Yard Center, III., SO miles from Chicago . today. suxuTXzr f INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE KASimLLB. TEN-N., Dec. SI In an attempt to. rob the People's bank at Springfield, near this place today, an unidentified bandit waa shot . and killed by ' Sheriff A. L. Jett,- in a running nght which was participated in by a number of citizens. Unobserved the bandit entered the bank about 1:30 a. m. while the officials were busy in another section of the building and escaped ith J50.000. strx.iUTXN' I INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE MARION". O.. Dec. 31 The country, will have an opportunity after March to learn whether it really approves prohibition, it was announced today on unquestioned authority. Senator Hardlngi plans to enforce the Volstead act v. tth utmost rlgirity, croso friends of the president-elect declared. So far, these friends asserted, the country has never had real prohibition. BTfT.T.arTIT INTERNATIONAL NES SER'CEl FORT WORTH. TEXA6.'Dec. 31 One man Is dead and another dying from burns received in a fire which destroyed the Maniion Hotel here today at a loss of f,100,OCO. Scores of guests were carried out of the building by firemen. atrxxBTZir INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVJCE WASHINGTON". Dec. 31 Senator Watson, republican., of Indiana, who is sick in a hospital here, was "resting well" today, his office re- . ported. '

Business Crises Caused iTiy Retrenchments Are Believed to be Past ; '

BY FLOYD MAC GRIFF tSTAFF CORRESPONDENT I. N. 5--RVlCr '' fCopyright. 1920. by I. N. StrrlcV NEW YORK. Dec. SI. Leading New York bankers, whose business extends into all parts of the country, declares in exclusive statements to the 1. N. .- today that a sound basis was beirfff created -for more stable and healthfuf business during the year 1921. "The concensus of opinion was: That deflation In losing the speculative grlp on many basic commodities. nad brought a sounder and more normal condition into the nations business life. . . W1XI. BE FLEXIBLE TE4H. ' - That business will be more nexioie in 1921. - That employers, wage-earners a.M merchants must share alike in "cuts for their commodities and services. - That the business crisis. precipitted by retrenchments has been passed "Those who were most closely studying the business situation declare that the turning of the tide m declining prices and llquldatlou - -ta very near." said Charles H. Sabtn. president of the Guaranty Trust Co.. a. concern with resources of lluo.ooo.fltitj, HETIHS TO FORMAL Although there" are many readjus-'-' ments from the effects of war yet -tj be made In the months and years to come, they believe there Is reasonable assurance of a return to normal business conditions, stabilized j'Tlee', easier money and larger business' 'wiat portunltles. Fortunately for this country, it underlying conditions, for the most jfart,are sound. Our large gold reserve our sound financial situation, our tremendous crops, our national wealtfr and accumulated surplus, our improved transportation and industrial con. ditlorjs, -our foreign markets and our great natural resources, all underir the business situation and give promise of a prosperity and progress greater than any enjoyed in the past. OS A SOIAD BASIS. "The present re-adjustments hav extended throughout the world and have affected business conditions generally, m facing this period of liquidation .deflation and reconstruction, however. It should be a source of particular congratulation to the people that American financial institutions, on the whole, are on a sound ' basla and amply prepared to meet both tho problems th situation raises and tha opportunities that are certain to fol. ' low. "The manner in which our banking system has responded to the needs or American business In the trylrj jw-. tCcnilnued cu page arx, ' - tv Look for Constructive Campaign in Virtually Every. Line of Industry INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICEJ CHICAGO. Dec. 31 The he3 of ChicagVs greatest banking Institutions In statements to the International Nvs Service today predicted the - stabilization of prices and' twejve months 0very steady improvement " in general conditions for the year-1921. Cessation of the unusual' expansion T credits- and currency ar.d a probable construction campaign in virtuslly every line of industry were "the major notes in a statement made by Oeorga M. Reynolds, president of the Continental and Commercial : National bank. Mr. Reynolds' statemont follows: "Well posted trade authorities .express the opinion, with obvious good reasons, that retail prices will on reach a level that will be fairly stable, and that . the .public, once con vinced that no more marked recessSora are likely to occur Immediately, will buy again In a mort liberal way that will help furnish the general liquidation to restore bank reserves. "The expansion of credits and currency has about run Its course.. The Cnited States is still rich in- natural resources and Its business men have lost none of their- initiative or genius for business. When we. get squared away there wll be enough work for all. for there exists a scarcity of homes and ss credit becomes: available and bulldjr.g costs recede wih' oth'r commodities, there should . be a construction campaign that will take up the. slack in the labor market In virtually all lines." "Liquidation of credit for the - new year so that it may be made available for the expansion of product! at home and abraod also wss urged in a statement by James 13. Forgan. chairman of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Chicago. '' "There is no reason to despair at the present time," Mr. Forgan eaid;The world has received a severe shock; hut not one from which there' can be ne -recovery. - Fundamentally,- surface appearance to the contrary notwithstanding, conditions all over the country have 'shqwn progress -and are likely to , continue - to do so. : " '""Banks will best servw the interest of the country and the world lfAtty continue to watch closely and wherever possible -urge their -customer a to liquidate so that' credit" may again become available to' serve ths' necessary expansion of ' production here and abroad. '. "Nlneteen-twenty-one" promises to bo sf year of steady though verey slow improvement."

BANKERS ARr OPTIMISTIC