Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-11-20
Entered at the Newport News Va.
Postoflce as Second-Ciass matter.
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 20. 1909.
WHERE THE PUBLIC COMES IN
ON A PROSPERITY WAVE.


While capitalists and Republicans
orators are talking about the great
wave OF prosperity that is sweeping
over the country. the people-the
people who have 10 devote personal
attention 10 the price OF clothing,
shoes and something To eat-are not
irg day BY day an increase in the
cost OF living This increase has been
going en- fer years. bus the advances
probably have been more marked
during the past fe~ months than ever
before. and the public seems a; last
shout TO awaken TO the fact that the
kind OF prosperity that appeals 10
Senator Aldrich and those respons-
ib.e fer him. is not the most desirable
thing in the world for every day
folks. ---.>~--
An interesting and timely discus
sion Of the shoe problem by Mr.. Tay-
Tor Robertson was published in the
Richmond News Leader yesterday af-
ternoon. Shoes. like everything else
that the public is compelled TO use
and buy, are costing more this winter
than ever before in the history of
the country. Every grade has ad-
vanced in price. and, as Mr. Robert
son points out. the greatest proper
Tomato increase has been made ON
shoes made for working men and
Women. According to Mr.. Robertson.
the cpuntry's two leather trusts are
solely responsible for this, and the
manufacturers. jobbers and retailers
suffer along With the retailers. Mr.,
Robertson says:
shoes that six or eight months
ago sold for sl95 are now selling
for $3.50, showing an Increase of 90
per cent. Shoes that sold for 81 now
bring s. 25. or an increase of 12 1-2
per cent Shoes that retailed at s2.25
are now selling for $3.50. an increase
Of more than IL per cent. while in
the higher and mere expensive grades
the ratios CT increase are correspond
ingly large. showing that consumers
CT weareis all over the country are
called upon to pay more for their
. shoes than ever before.
Retail merchants declare that their
prof. is net incrsssed by the general
increase IN price, and invite free ex-
animation OF their looks. Jobbers or
Wholesale men insist that their profits
are decreased. II anything. and they
t-o are willing to submit the records
Of their Offices in substantiation.
Manufacturers point out that leather,
in addition TO the several articles en-
f.ring into the manufacture Of the
shoe. has shcwn such a phenomena
increase in price that the profitable
manufacture OF shoes at the old
prices is impossible. aud that high
rates must not only be maintained,
hut eventually Increased by reason OF
the stiil higher rate indicated in the
leather market.
ne cE-t mtuuidCtNItIS DIV tNtte
from the leather trusts which cortrol
nc; only practically all Of the leather
produced In the Jniied states. oui
IN addition exercise such a potent IN.
fuence in foreign markets as 10 keeT
the imported product up 70 the Amer
lean high rate.
Paying from cents 20 6 cents a
pond for heather. or hides. the trust
without any labCr.' in the words oi
one Of the larger shoe manufacturers
sells Il az - cents a pound and up
wards. forcing the manufacturer q
pay tbs arbitrary price or close hi
faciory.-
TIE advance in hides has come II
spite o. the elimination Of hides from
the protected list This might b
used a. an argument against th'
Democratic contention that The trait
as administered by the Republican
party breeds and fosters trusts. How