New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-08
Henry g. Southwick Ac-
cused of disappearing
Value of Goods.
RETAIL MERCHANTS
START PROSECUTION
Engage Former Tribune 1nveSti-
gator to Assist in WASH
ington Campaign.
[From The Tribune Bureau

Washington, Aug. Enlarged with
violating the law TO prevent false ad-
vertising in the District of Columbia,
Henry G.. Southwick, secretary and
treasurer of the Southwick Shops, Inc,
was arrested this afternoon on COM
plant of c. E. La Vigne, formerly chief
of The Tribune's Bureau of lnvestiga-
ton and now field representative OF the
American Fair Trade League. This is
the first case under the false advertis-
ing law, which went into effect last
May.
Mr.. La Vigne visited the Southwick
Shops, purchased several articles which
had been advertised and had the goods
appraised. The appraised values were
below those given in the advertise.
ment. Mr.. La Vigne filed a formal
complaint with John L. Laskey, United
States Attorney, and a warrant was Is
sued for the arrest OF Henry u. South
wick.
Among Mr.. La Vigne's purchases was
a shirt for 81 20, advertised as reduced
from $3.50. 1t bore a 81 tag marked
down." at the time OF the purchase.
A red line was drawn through the 81
mark and in red figures below was IN
scribed S1.29.
Worth Less, Say Appraisers.
This shirt was duplicated at one OF
the most reliable mems stores in the
city at a regular sale for 79 cents.
Appraisers expressed the opinion that
the shirt could never have been sold at
a regular sale, with only a fair degree
of profit, as a 50 or $3.50 garment.
Mr.. Southwick was formerly presl-
dent of the MacDougal & Southwick
Company department store In Seattle.
Withdraw ing from that firm, IN 1905,
he moved to New York, where four
years later the Southwick-B ayer Com
pany was incorporated, with capital
of $3.50, 1000. The Southwick shops Of
this city are subsidiary Of the New
York concern.
The Retail Merchants Association Of
Washington has decided that the period
of moral suasion" has passed and
that in the place of warnings drastic
action must follow any disclosures Or
false advertising. Mr.. La Vigne came
to Washington from New York at the
instance Of the association to assist
in the campaign.
speaking OF MS experience Win
stores advertising falsely, Mr.. La
Vigne said he had found they all
worked along practically the same
lines.
Tricks of the Trade.
"They use," said Mr. La Vigne. "a
standard line Of garters. underwear
and collars, for instance, as leaders
20 create the impression Of great bar
gain offerings on unknown nondescript
goods with the quality and price OF
which the public is unfamiliar.
"Cut prices on these standard lines
attract the public 70 the store. Then.
as in my experience, the store Is not
able TO supply the standard collars,
because they are out of sizing; but
they are able to supply nondescript
article, represented as a cut price
bargain. which is actually sold for
about so per cent more than dupli-
cate Of il could be bought for at a
regular store. They advertise 81
union suits. 43 cents but would not
sell a standard well known 81 union
suit at any such price.
THE public needs protection against
this sort of trickery and deception.
IL is Just such practices as this that
the Stephens-Ashurst honest advertis-
ing price maintenance bill, pending in
Congress, is designed to prevent by
Federal enactment