Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1907-11-14
A Breathing Spell for the Consumer.
Charlotte Observer.)


Charlotte Observer.)
There is very little room for
doubt that the present disturbed
financial conditions will shortly
bring Joy to the consumer. For
ten years he has paid steadily ri
sing prices for everything lie
needed until in many quarters
the situation bade fart to become
intolerable. II he could put q net
out and catch his share OF in
creased prices, all we'll and good;
but If, as was the case with
millions, his income remained sta
tionary, or nearly stationary
while the prices scared all around
him, he was hit hard. Now, how
ever, some measure of relief is in
sight. The difficulty OF raising
money is smoking out specula-
tive holdings in all lines, and a
dollar is beginning to look con.
siderably less like fifty cents The
cost of living has as yet shown
little change. but 9 change is
surely atIwork. In most articles
only the retailer is left standing
between the consumer and lower
prices. Wholesale groceries and
provisions have fallen off heavily
in price in Chicago, New York
and other large centers. owing
partly to sacrifice sales. Large
quantities of such goods h O v e
been thrown back on the hands
of packers and manufacturers.
Most hopeful OF all in the long.
suffering consumers ears is the
news that the Cndahy (Omaha)
branch of the beef trust has cut
meat prices ten per cent. 1t is the
general opinion in Chicago that
the cost OF living will very short
ly undergo a decrease OF easily
ten per cent. Not only as regards
goods forming u part OF the av'
erage mans necessary living ex'
penses but in all markets the man
with the money is master. The
seller, who has long had the ad
vantage and pushed it to t h /
limit, now wages a gradually 10
sing struggle. The buyer sect
his day coming at last.
I
But while lower prices seem GER
tain, the strength and persist
ence of tendencies in this direc
tion may be easily overestima
ted. Thus far, at least, lower pri
cos have been due quite as mucl
to a money strain generally con
sidered temporary as to genuine
reaction. They may turn up
ward before very long. The chic
obstacles to downward forces
however 'is undoubtedly fount
in the hold which the trust o.
combination idea has taken up
on the American mind-a holt
which is the wonder of every oh
servant foreigner. Nolonger con
fined to labor and great aggra
cations of capital, combination
now extend into almost ever,
branch OF our industrial and con
mercial life Some are good ant
some are bad, but oil have tn,
same main object in view, name
lily, 70 make the public pay o.
much rs possible for whateve
they have to offer. Obviouly sucl
activities were responsible in
large part for the era of extrem
high prices apd the consequen
pinching of many unfortunate
so situated that they could no
! get in the game either directl.
J or indirectly. Obviously, also
any tendency away from thesee
treme high prices will encounte
: organized and formidable resist
ance. The consumer should no
expect a great deal from theprt
ent prospect Of things. At least
however, he will get o breathin
,, spell before thesqueezing proces
is actively resumed, and for eve
this much relief he will doubles
feel very thankful.