Evening journal., 1914-09-21
DOUGLAS SHOES
At THE Old Prices
No Advances of Consequence
for Coming Season Com
pany Officials Say
LARGE QUANTITY
OF LEATHER STORED

II was learned in shoe trade cir
cles today that the w L. Douglas
Shoe Co.. through having a large sup
ply of leather on hand by reason OF
advance contracts and heavy pur-
chases in the open market recently,
will supply all grades OF its shoes to
the retail trade Of the country at
practically the old prices. These
grades are for the market of the
coming season. which in shoe trade
parlance is the spring and early
summer OF 1915.
The company's factories are oper-
ating on good capacity at present and
there are indications of a continuing
good volume of employment for some
time TO come. The statesmen are on
their way into their territories and
the trade. il is understood. has been
given advance information that there
will be no advance Of consequence in
prices so far as the Douglas COM
pany is concerned The Douglas
company 1t is understood. has
tremendous quantity of leather Of
the best grades for it's various lines
on hand and is agents secured the
leather markets some weeks ago to
secure the ample supply the Douglas
company will rely upon in producing
its grades in regular styles and re-
gular quality and in some cases with
some improvement over the qualities
of the past season.
There has been a great deal of in
terest in shoe trade circles and on
the part OF the consuming public. as
to the course Of the Douglas COM
pany in the matter of shoe prices.
The Douglas company, II is under
stood. gave no indication of its
course as to prices until certain that
IL would be able to supply It's full
volume Of trade and an expected in
crease for the coming season. The
announcement of the company's in
tention to stand by its old line Of
grades. quality and prices and with
present good trading in the retail
market and prospects of good busi-
hess for the spring trade. is accepted
as the strongest and most optimistic
indication Of business confidence that
has come out of shoe trade circles
Tor several weeks. EX-GOv. William
l.. Douglas, head Of the Douglas COM
pany, and the creator OF Douglas
shoe fame, has been conservative in
the matter of decision as to the
company's policy for the coming sea-
son, and is proceeding on the usual
plan that the country IS going ahead
end that the consuming strength of
Tho nnnnIn rF "a
as great, and is likely to be greater
in the months 10 come.
1t is well known that the Douglas
factories have maintained a steady
volume of output for the past few
months, and the announcement. com
ing through authentic channels o
the Douglas cOmpany's confidence In
the future and Of good prospects foI
heavy volume of business. is one
OF the most encouraging things that
has come from Brocktcn manufac-
turing circles since early summer
The Douglas Cos. output sometime
past has been in the vicinity of 10000
pairs a day and il is expected that
this volume will be sustained most
Of the time we'll into the spring.
There has been practically an unin-
terrupted earning opportunity for the
hundreds of shoe workers employed
Ia the Douglas factories and this has
been reflected in BrOckton retail
stores. The Douglas Company indi-
Gates from what is gained in inside
trade circles, that il sees no reason
TO expect a change in the situation as
regards its volume of business.
The foundation of the Douglas Co.'S
bright prospects for the future lies
in the fact that il has always been
the Douglas Co.'s plan to insure its
supply of feathers on advanced con-
tracts and for this reason the COM
pany is well protected against the
possible shortage that has been pre-
cicted i'm the leather markets. An
extra large supply was laid in when
the great war in Europe began TO
develop. and this will enable the
Douglas patrons throughout the
country to realize the benefit that
will accrue from the maintenance of
the Douglas grades at the usual
standard Of quality and at the old
prices.
Treasurer Herbert L. Tinkham to-
day said to THE EVENING JOUR-
NAL:
"Our statesmen have Just left for
their territories. and we anticipate
about the usual volume of orders
from them. In our own stores in
the principal cities OF the United
States the business has shown a little
ever 10 per cent increase since the
fail trade opened
Il believe we should all take an
optimistic view of the future. This
country is going right on with its
business. It's population is consum-
ing as much as it ever did. The
United States is certainly confronted
with a large and profitable European
trade and there is every reason why
we should assume control Of the
South American trade.
AT home we have a year OF bum
per crops. We are the one great ma
tion Of the world not involved in the
great war. / think there is every
reason why the year of 1915 should