h ; f EVENING PUBLIC LliiDGE'R-PHILADELPHrM, SATURDAY, MAY 1, "1920 ii . . V r . , Strawbridge & Clothier Have This to Say .A About the Present High Cost of Livin x ' I Touching Upon the Causes and Possible Remedies, With Assurances to the Fair Price Committee of Our Hearty Co-operation, in Their Earnest, Practical Efforts to Benefit the Public . i Commerce the Foundaticm various towns in the State, and I think I can j Much AbllSed Word T,1C k,rcat war debt must be paid, and safely say there is no profiteering among the HIGH TAXES are another important factor Of Civilization merchants in Massachusetts. Occasionally The word "profiteer" is applied recklessly in high prices. Whatever form taxes may take, il . : there may be a merchant who will charge u . and indiscriminately to honest and conscien- they are ultimately paid by the consumer, and Food clothing and shelter are all that ,itt,e mrc for a certain article than it should tious merchants, who must bear the odium able arguments arc advanced in favor of sub- i,;nri nrf imllv noofc to simtniti lifo nnd the brin but as-far as general profiteering is con- along with the comparatively few who arc tak- stituting for the heavy tax on profits (which mankind actually needs to sustain lite, and the ccrned u doeg not cxgt unfair advanta f thprcscnt situation. large business must anticipate and which adds ?Hi rPhfsowan labor wreslTfromThe ' We believe the above statement is true, and Jnsoine lines there is undoubtedly a cornering to the risks of business) a small direct tax on tive man, Dy nis own moor, wrested irom ine .fc . an(j manipulation of raw materials which make sales. earth the means of subsistence, but not until Hc(, n the gamc Reneral way to Philadelphia. prices exorbitant. Wages arc high, and should Formcr collector of Internal Revenue Roper he learned to TRADE the product of his own be high; but certain workers arc now in a posi- says the excess profits tax has outlived its usefulness, n!1 for the things which his neighbor excelled , Governor Coolidgc also quotes George t;on lo demand more than their share as com- and is one of the causes of the high cost of living, l IS Hid ho 1 ZZ Z rL out of Washington as having said, "It is utterly im- parcd wlth oihers in ,1C8 whcrc thcrc is no which should be eliminated, him m producing, did he begin to rise out of practical to try to regulate prices tor, or the pronounced scarcity of labor. A few retailers f r . his elemental state. The history of progress distribution of, merchandise by law"; and he may ,)c goug'mg; but rctaii profits cannot, as a The Loweritiq of Prices is the history .of COMMERCE. It has been adds rule, be excessive, because the scarcity of goods 7 . - . the chief inspiration in the development of The ,aw of 8Uppiv and demand is the only law is not so acute as to eliminate COMPETITION IS Jbverybody S Problem man and all his marvelous works. that can regulate the price and the distribution of as a factor. u t If we are extravagant perhaps some of us Since the merchant adventurers of cen- merchandise. T nh smrl Mntnvinlc are LET US BUY ONLY WHAT WE NEED, turies ago risked their capital, and even their This general truth, however, does not alter Lsiiuur ana muiuriaib AND BUY CAREFULLY, from houses of lives, in strange lands and upon uncharted the fact that the Government can and should w h ld . . f .. manufacturcrs known integrity. GREATER PRODUCTION seas the largest contribution to comfort and regulate unfair or n but we beHeve mos of them a! anxS as KSfelT1 f daft -S WORK, cnjoymentoflifehascomethroughCommercc. S7S X rStitt The modern retail store is a necessary destruction or deterioration of articles re- ilnmnJ cnTnf n JSnrfffn P further curtailment of production, and any factor in distribution, bringing the goods of Quired for dailu use; and the HANDS OF "infc cum, in piuuutuun. temporary drop in prices would be followed by ho world from whew thev are made to where GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SHOULD BE In 1914 you were asked to "buy a bale of a rush for goods and that in turn by a still he uorld trom where they are made to where UPHELD in iheir efforts to accomplish these cotton" at 10c a pound (when the market price higher price wave. they arc needed. But, as it is the retailer who "'. ,., alC) Now tho nrice is about 40c and ,, ck,cs int. direct contact with the consumer, C"d8Nevcrtdc8s wc can fld ibe rcasims , lhc f "L sf ct a?c tn.idnf of h Iding H iSSilVSL it is a somewhat natural habit, when prices dhnarilv In amount produced and amount needed, wc for &0c. Furs for men's hats are ten times as the need for them is real. The average family has are high, to lay the blame at his door. have discovered the principal rcasons- high as before the war. Raw silk is approxi- been using not more but less in quantity for three or matcly four times as high as before the war, four years, and their need will only become more pro- The Reputable Merchant Why Prices Are High . ZSIf'Z KMM&K TiTlga ' " .. .. . men's clothing fabrics has increased, on the average, As the president of the National Commerce h Not a "Pmfitppr" . We are not among those Who attribute 275 per cent, in five years; buttons and trimmings, 242 Chamber said the other day: "Only work and time wt tccf high prices wholly to widespread extravagance per cent., and labor (counting advanced wages and can restore the balance between production and con- Prices arc very high, but an analysis of since the war. Undue extravagance is prac- shorter hours) has increased 22o per cent, over 1914. sumption." the conditions will show that the retail mer- tieed only in exceptional itoes Many TmVigration ha? Slenffta UiTpastTew UR GOVERNMENT cannot control nat- chant, whose reputation depends upon retain- Jose J y'efrsTsM ural laws by man-made laws; but it may regu- in the confidence of his customers is not ro- man? 5 uA 5? tL7 V.f h Plcscnt a shortage of four million immigrant work- ate tendencies toward monopoly, over-capital- ing ine connaence 01 nis customers, is not re- could not afford before the war. But the aso that fivebtimes as many forcign ,aborcra ,eft ization and restriction of output, pass scientific sponsible tor the prevailing high prices. average citizen and his wife find it none too this country as came in, from November, 1918, to Oc- tax laws, exercise a modefate restraining sun It will be seen from the following list of gj IngrflJ S oi hfmare61;,8'68568' articles m constant demand how COSTS TO lnXaT human desire to'bSStSS !east 20 " c'ni' by sholtage f labor- Government Useff " m Ub nave increased m hve years. The compari- among those who make more money than for- Thirty-four million working days were lost sons are of the same grades at the different merly, may be one of the many causes under- through STRIKES in England during 1919. DiiPrnll Chihc nnrl tUn periods, and as nearly accurate as they can be lying higher prices. No total figures arc available here, but a well- Junruu lUOi ana Itie made. In most instances, these are popular or "profiteering" and the high-price era "t, DreSS Suit Ban medium grades: began th the absolute necessity for speed in Ios as. ?ublc;tM Jw ll lt,f hvJ n t x ar. ' thf enormous and marvelous WORK , OF "Jff Overall Clubs are not likely to have any LOSt at Mill Or Factor U EQUIPPING OUR ARMY AND NAVY. Big added t0 Productlon- appreciable influence on prices except overall " " profits and unheard-of wages had to be granted Strikes surely add to the price of commodities prices, which have already gone higher. Pro Men', Ready-to-wear Suits Asn.i91B W920 get quick action. Afterward Came the utter and it is sincerely to be hoped that a ess jvastefii ducing overalls for those who do not need them MiS&-u:: 'ife! S depletion of surplus goods and CURTAIL- method be found for sctthng disputes between cap.tal . i8 economic waste, diverting productivreffort, eJ?leSlS!TfbS.Sbik:: ?:S JS"S MENT OF PRODUCTION due to the divert- andiaboi. and adding a bit to the cost of the woolen suits Women'H Taffeta silk Dresses !).oo 22.50 ing of most industries to producing war ma- A very serious tactor in the H. C. L. siiua- that all men do need. Such clubs, however, may vZrn'Hab,rerDrcs8 ?Hirt8 r'll J1M terials. tion is the curtailment in many industries of be only a manifestation of the American nrn- wSS-S tclt:??!f.!,,.,.,l.tr.,?r:::: S llfo An ,u u PRODUCTION PER MAN PER DAY. It is pesity for getting a little fun 01 S of our women's white cotton waists..::.: .75 i.6.x After the armistice there was a somewhat not the high wages paid, but the lesser amount troubles. iven.8?.re,,?.de.c'JMyB,H.tl!:;c"' 2'25 r,'7B general tendency toward caution and conserva- ne wnrc norformed that is the unnatural and Sff'Wft.!!!!?::: m 3S:SS tlsm, and a belief that prices would fall. Some SaiuS bSrier to regaining a normal As for the ban on the evening dress suit, it K" ntraw. Hxal8;.- oV, 87,l no folks forgot that inevitable law of SUPPLY balance was estll"ated a few years ago that only about &1 Zt Jffl'S IKIb::::::::: :S 23 AND DEMAND. Some merchants stayed out Triir nA vq work FOR A RIC DAY'S a ? CCnt J thc men in the United States Women's Cotton Union Suits 37': i.25 of the market for awhile, and. here and there A BU HA1 b UK1V Ku, A tslu LFA1 owned one, and the average life of this kind nf WoS crt&n aSffi. n '1i c'drly in 1919 manufacturers began to quote PAY should be our slogan just now. suit is estimated at twenty years. Therefore, the Women's silk stockings... '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.f. '.di '25 prices a little lower. But the great consuming v- , r rjnM, I7 nnnSnemcr ? iJ ,r..even,nff clothes per year for the 20,- Womens Lr shoes 2.23 6.50 Dublic was asking for merchandise RpHilors Effect OT HeaVU LXDOrtS 2?i Vlen in thS C0Untl7 Ls six cents per man! So, Women's Fine Lo,v shoes 4.25 13.50 L j a dbKinK lor mcrcnanaise. KetQllers ?- discarding your dress suit will not reduce nrice In Men's oxrords, tnn or black 1.50 ls.oo had to order goods. Soon notifications began ,. . , , :B f .tnfnnt,nA any great extent. nuuce pnees to eT8cnc8a,!erGioVe?,d G'vcfl 1"S? ffi dome that orders would be ddlayed or only ,Th,s country's exports of manufactured S(aC8rndS1r;,deeryrd::::: j S partially filled. Demand exceeded supply 0len gdS "V nwS TU Z J . T,r J.!Sa:::::::::::::::: T TPTS 'Hinstea,d Af-f,a,linff' rf ,t0 ovcVcTen" The Remedy is Work si.niird Drc. Ginnimm is', xiv, Labor demanded higher pay, and got it got it over bcicn raonuis urani jjiiiim) im, 'aif3ftf--a-;ao:: 8 llllf"'; An "lcrS's no imm!dialc m Reasonable Economu nieached Cotton Sheets .61 2.35 Sign that priCCS are going to drop. ,, , , . w XVUl7HUf Standard Grade Sheeting, 9-4 width.. . .201 .82 There lias bcCU ail CllOriUOUS increase 111 TTt r " 5iSSs,r..,r.t!!,:!:: ::::::: 2SW The Smmre Doni our exports of manufactured siik and cotton andCareful Shopvina scarlet Flannel, wooi.i .............. Mtt tins ' i fit: oquare LJQai goods since the beginning of the war. Our ex- y'HH"-H iLllnTMenClolh8," ' ' 1-2? H r i t- i. .... ports of shoes are about five times as large as Is it not time tn vfnn f, j fefiffiS;; 7: it S Wc are protecting our customers-to the ut- Kcforc the war. This tends to make prices and ;7I; " ;L;, T stoJhe lse Rubs of a standard Stk&Y.::::Y::.: 22.50 85.50 most of our ability. A prominent American higher on all these goods sold in this country. lJmisc1 "nutate use of the epithet the JieSC W7" 8h0W thc Manufacturet.' Prices at . 2 JH.S On the other hand, LINEN PRICES are very Profited? It cannot be justly applied hfJ""1 ?utciS Durinff thIs Peri?d weJaXe 0,d 25 i'h7h2 ?JiBVt ? y hjsh berase of a falling off in imports from more to any merchant of established ohnr IS.TnR05ds ntr a fair' IeKimate retail profit, just aa P?sle J be honest m business, but it is thc thn elghty million yards in seven months of 1913, to actpr ntlfI Ttmt.HMt ""Snea Cliar- ve have done for the past fifty-two years. White costs height of unwisdom to be other than honest." less than nine million yards in 1919. atCei a,l(l rPUtatl01lt Who has 110 more nave been rising we have Bold millions of dollars' DOICCV to redlicp nrint: t ., ,. m. Worth of goods at about replacement value, and often The same merchant (in London), a few days ago, - .. "" ,' lU ' eailce PriCCS tfiail his Clistom- al less than wc could have bought them for at date of - "The P"b ic J1" been made to feel, through oc- (Jltf Inflated LUrreWCU Ci'S have except ill SO far as IlP in iJ7- sale. b casional ill-advised Government action, and by un- . . ... ' wf llK wiu mw fortunate newspaper articles, that nearly everyone in we rcaA that wc have in this country ttvo ff P rellev the Situation bll anenf '"'if' T "TT T"' SS?"M SEfWxU ) hM mfr H,'" "S Am,C!NG TS to which he Is flre or profit, after deducting Govern- capital required, the greater risks, the two billion more than in 1913; and that bank legitimately entitled AND THAT IS f thisS "re Vear" '" '" K k 2tfSX& J? XS" bUt mnCy' " mCaSUrC1 by eS!tZatT'" "7"? w Olore average gross pront per cent, as before the war or up goods, is cheap. extent UW llig the next several Weeks, (IS , Governor Coolidgc, of Massachusetts, ap- to 1? '"fl of, being guilty of that easily spoken After all, were it possible to go back to primitive it has done in the past week. Pointed a committee to investigate the chaWis word' i";onicerln.S they 'are paying their greatly In- methods-trading wheat and potutocH for shoes and Of wf.,iiX T lnvcsuguic inc cnurfccb creased taxes with a smile, and assuming the r obi dry goods, or labor dlrertlv for merchandisemiirht JtaPJS5tnrillgAa,!Fd a,feW d? ih:C 'i008 " 'hC WBB7Vn?fB f ,thC fW Wlth J"8t W-iofb fte th? the real tnSuluSaw not w t ' TR AWRRTHrP AV Pf ATUIPD cnmmn!" the Goods Economist: "This that earnestness and feeling of patriotic responsi- as tlppeare, with our fixed Idea of thc value of a dollar O 1 liW KKlUVab 6C LLOTHIER committee mde i thorough jnvestigiitipn of hiiity which the most severe criUc would yish." - n mind? a i fj ,! t V u U-1 J1 , .n ' ; i . a " V'r ..r , '?,.. i
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers