Our limited observations are that the only real interest business ever took in politics was making a contribution to some campaign fund. Now that government regulations are becoming somewhat annoying, business men will be forced to give more time and thought to government.
Congressman Bruce Barton in a published interview in BUSINESS WEEK expounded some good food for thought. He said in part— “My plea is that business men apply to the business of the United States more of the same sort of sales thinking which they apply with such success to their own sales campaigns. What do the customers—the voters—want? How can business persuade them that a business administration can give it to them best?”
At this writing the stock market is on the upgrade. Increased activity in the industrial field is evident. Our contacts with dealers in used machinery and equipment have found a decided improvement in inquiries and sales. Prices for machine tools at auction are about the highest we have seen in many a moon. To top it off, the sun is shining in Chicago this week, so maybe there will be an influx of orders before fall. We are just full of optimism—and why not?
A large distributor in household appliances wrote a letter to all of his dealers advising them to bring pressure to bear upon newspapers to keep their pessimistic news flashes off the front page. If the newspapers expect continued advertising the advertiser must get orders. This distributor asks how can they be expected to sell goods if the newspapers throw a wet blanket on their chances for sales by featuring news items about some manufacturing plant shutting down for two weeks or laying off thousand men. These things were a regular occurrence in the past. At least one newspaper gave this distributor’s letter a column on the financial page.
Here’s an opportunity for some user of heavy machine tools. One of our advertisers is offering a practically new machine for $25,000. The original cost of this outfit was $42,000. A $17,000 saving is nothing to be sneezed at!
