The daily Nome industrial worker., 1917-07-25

It has been argued by some of those business houses that that re- dounded to the benefit of the pub lie in that it created a competition winch compelled lower prices. While it is not impossible to ina gire it doing such a thing in some lines, in others there is such un- animity of price, that we have all long since ceased to believe in the reality of any such competition. And when We observe more over the smaller concern setting the same scale of prices as the larger estab- lishment whose over head expenses are ever so much greater. the skep- tical mind of the public seriously bethinks it of such things as gent lemen's agreements.
 In any event local stores have the requisite facilities for handling i goods.
 They are in such position where they can effectively cooperate with | consumers to abbreviate the length ening bills of the higher costs of liv- ing in a most material manner, and they can do this, we verify be- lieve, much more materially and much more effectively than can in- dependent buyers buying and dis tributing on hap hazard co-opera tive plan.
 The better way would be to take the public right into the confidence of the business men. And to face the facts right as they are.
 But the public right now is quite that were shipped in last fall charged at the top notch prices, while the San Francisco Examiner says that on July ', potatoes were rotting in the fields of California The Industrial Worker does not write this with the intent of excit- ing any public condemnation of To- cal businessmen. Nothing of the kind. But for the purpose of show ing that there is right now existing an opportunity for businessmen to get together and consider the emer- gency situation that exists and for meeting it in an emergency manner.
 We know very well that prices outside are wholly abnormal in some lines. We know that in some lines it is difficult even to get in a proper supply. But that the local merchants so far either have not been able to buy most effectively or else are maintaining the highest rate of profit is the only conclusion that is forced when the price ot choice ham and bacon is advertised as cheaper in Ruby than in Nome, when miners in outlying sections find it cheaper to outfit in Council than in Nome, and except in lines which are absolutely short, the buy everything as cheap there as in Nome. One explanation offered, and it is reasonable enough, is that when the merchants of Nome had to place their orders this spring, prices were at their very highest outside, This affected butter, eggs, cream, pot.toes were invoiced to local mer- chants who made shipments at $9o a ton, and at this price the present retail rate was not so unreasonable. Still, it is repeated that prices will be higher and not lower, and if this is the case the situation will be in deed serious.
 Local Merchants assert that they have no protection here in the event of prices suddenly declining; that they will have vast stocks of mer- chandise on their hands as necessary to business in Alaska; that in the event of prices outside suddenly taking a tumble. they will have to sell at the outside prices and take the loss. For that reason they urge that they are justified in placing present time prices upon goods which were bought when prices were less than at present, if only as matter of self protection.
 That appears sound enough. And it would be a good business point of view if the conditions outside and here were indentical. But they are not and can never be. Once