Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1916-07-06
STANDARD PRICES
AID COMPETITION
The Stephens Bill Encourages
Rivalry In Quality.
REAL BENEFIT TO PUBLIC.

to Destroy Small Tcwns-Dishonesty
Can't Benefit Consumers.
The true competition Is between
rival articles, competition in ex-
eeIlenee, which can never be main
tanned IL, through the Perf5y Of
the retailer who cuts prices for
his own Interior purposes, the
manufacture is forced to compete
in prices with goods Of his own
production, while the retailer re-
eoups his losses on the cut price
by the sale Of other articles at. or
above, their reasonable price. 1T
is A FALLAcY TO ASSUME
THAT THE PRICE CUTTER
POCKETS THE LOSS. THE
PUBLIC MAKES IT UP ON
OTHER PURCHASES. Fixing
the price on all brands Of high
grade flour is a very different thing
from fixing the price en- one brand
OF high grade flour. The one
means destruction Of IN eompsti.
ton and Of all Incentive TO in.
creased excellence. The other means
heightened competition and inten-
sified incentive TO increased ex-
eeilenee.
This language, used by the supreme
court OF the state Of Washington In a
unanimous decision Of the case Of the
Fisher FIGURING Mills Co. versus =. A.
Swanson, clearly sets forth the inter
est the consumer has in maintaining
the highest form Of competltion-that
Of quality. Competition IN price re-
suits in inferior quality and the evil
Of substitution. Dishonest advertisers
use cut prices on standard and widely
known merchandise TO lure customers
into their establishments, where an
effort viii be made TO sell anonymous
goods.
The genuine bargain is used as bait
TO spread the impression that all mer
chandise is sold at the same low mar
gin Of profit. If this impression can be
created the cut rate merchant can sell
unknown goods at as high figure as
his conscience will permit him to
charge-and his conscience is elastic
Nearly every mans is more or less SC
where profits are concerned.
A Bill to Protect the Public.
Representative Dan V. Stephens Of
Nebraska and Senator William +. Ash
urst OF Arizona have introduced II
congress "a bill to protect the public
against dishonest advertising and fals'
pretenses In merchandising" A SINH
lar measure was introduced In the las
congress by Representative Stevens o
New Hampshire.
II ought to be automatic that the pub
lie cannot profit through dishonesty o
through false pretenses. The individ
ual may make a pecuniary gain
thieves, burglars and confidence mel
occasionally escape paying the penalt,
Of their crimes and are pecuniarily BET
ter OF. But the public. the victims o
the successful criminals, loses.
The stephens-Ashurst bill provide
for standard and uniform prices on al
ticles sold under q trademark or spe
cial brand, with the widest posdbl
publicity for buyers and sellers Oppt
nents Of the bill-adherents Of dishcr
est advertising and users Of false prs
lenses in OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES d.
clared that It viii encourage monopol
and prevent competition. They hav
tried to make consumers believe tha
Il win increase the cost Of living, this
II win raise the price Of everythin
sold In any sort Of store.
No Monopoly Possible
The bill does not encourage monoT
oily, because producers who have a m'
nopoly Of any particular line or VIII
make an agreement with competitc
TO maintain prices are barred fror
taking advantage Of the privilege q
preventing discrimination by contrac
ing for the resale Of their goods at un
form prices. A monopoly. no matte
how II Is gained. cannot do bushes
under the terms Of the Stephens bill.
On the other hand, cutthroat comp
tition In price has always beer u
chief weapon Of monopoly.
The bill win not raise prices ana Il
crease the cost Of living. Producer
already have the right to sell the
! Foods NJ wholesale az any price tlk