Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-06
Standard Shoes,
Standard Prices
BY Frederic J. Haskin


last week !" Whereupon, the dearest
friend, firmly believing that she bad re-
ccived valuable "tip, also invested IN n
few pairs Of unneeded and expensive
shoes
Government fixed shoe prices have
! recently become q standard topic of
conversation Unfortunately the persons
| who converse flucntly on the subject
often display u complete misunderstand-
| ing OF shoe facts, as IN the case oi the
sensible looking young lady and her
| dearest friend.
The War Industries Board has brought
| about standard shoe prices 10 avoid
| further rises in the cost Of an already ex-
pensivc commodity Comparatively few
people have been able to purchase shoes
in the past year al prices lower than the
| government figure. while the comfortably
we'll lto-,lo and even the less wealthy have
been paving unbelievable rates Tor the
| privilege Of wearing a favored color or
style of heel
TmuEE To TWELVE DOLLARS
Now standardized shoes if n range of
$50 STYLES can be considered standardiza-
ton will be- sold 1T Your nearest shoe
store nj from, three to twelve dollars. OF
course. the $50 ylcs include high and low
shoes for men. women, misses and chit
dren The problem If selecting a par
of shoes will he simplified almost to the
point where YOU can send the mad around
to the shoe store with directions tn get
Won pair of number SIX blacks, G width,
with extra long shoe string
Tho United states has NOT sirnpllhcd
shoe designs 81 completely as other na-
tons nj war In the leather and hide office
of the War Industries Board arc two pairs
of shoes, mau's pair, heavy, black, no
style or shine and woman par almost
a replica Of the man Z on smaller scale.
These are not the shoes nf somebody 3
great-grandparents rs might be carelessly
inferred They are tho accepted footwear
Of England for the period Of tho war, and
are tho cheapest and most comfortable
standardized leather shoe which can bc
made ONLY n styles of boots and shoes
arc being manufactured ~ England now
for men. women, and children. hls
means that the Fngishman has choice
IL not more than three styles ot high
shoes. all built for service AZ the expense
Of beauty
snoEIEss HUMANITY
More people n the civilized world are
without shoes than ever before There IS
no question that shoes are 4 necessity IN
any climate outside the tropics, but
necessities ~ we'll ~ Injuries are few and
expensive in Europe now Becanso ot the
cessation of industry and snail nporta-
tfons. the Ru.sian and italian people are
hard p,lt to obtain any foot covering
cyen If poor quality In French cities,
good shoes are still seen, for people who
can afford to buy high grade shoes arc
urged 10 do - and Thus leave the French
standardized VAR shoes for the poor.
Shoes made III the ntrd states are
known All over Europe and America for
comfort and vic II Is not the Intention
of the War Industries Board that they
shall forfeit thls reputation. semi
standardized shoes to be worn bv the
American people Will not offend the niccst
taste nor. which Is more important, the
feelings of the wearcr American people
want nice, looking shoes and they are
going 10 have them, declares the board.
shoe manufacturers are agreeing 70 turn
otlt shoes AZ twelve dollars or less, that
will equal shoes sold AZ higher prices, be-
cause they will be shorn Of needless re-
fincments and trimmings characterization,
such As extra straps and buckles, and
perforations forming designs, IS omitted
from the new styles Button shoes, hlgh
heels. and other whims of fashion which
can he dispensed with, are a be conspicu-
Gus by thclr scarcity
LOTS OF HIGH ONES STILL.
For some months vet, possibly until
next June, there will be scattered lots oi
fancy and high-priced shoes on the mar
kct. These represent the manufacturers
last fling 1T novelty and were cut before
the ncw ruling was adopted. The pubhC
Is not urged 10 ignore this old stock, be-
cause 10 leave it on the dealers hands
would involve waste rather than saving
| tll shoes now being built conform 10 thc
new regulations.
Need for a var measure 10 adapt the
shoe industry 10 war conditions has been
felt for some time both BY the government
and bY the industry. No leather shortage
IS imminent. but with our lmportatIons
cut off and with labor steadily going into
the armv, II Was impossible TO supply the
country with shoes on the usual scale
The civilian shoe supply Is depleted
BY the heavy demands Of the army
\ soldier shoes require the best materials
and workmanship TO stand the hard wear
to which they are subjected The
present army shoe, which Is the most sub
stantial piece OF footwear that can be
made. lasts about four months ii kept in
repair. Some idea Of the leather require
ments OF our army can be gained from the
fact that 10000 pairs OF these struc-
lures have been sent to the overseas forces
alone
The announcement United States
ARMY To total 100000 men," WAS the
bomb shell that started definite planning
10 pat the shoe industry on new war
basis IN army Of 4,000000 men means
f,000,000 men taken from our industries
and the shoe industry expects to give It's
full share Of the million.
SITUATION THOROUGHLY sIFrkD.
The War Industry Board did not ar
bltrarily fix retail prices on shoes accord
ing to its own conclusions 1t conferred
long and amicably with shoe industry
representatives. and terms agreed upon
are pronounced fair BY all concerned
When staple designs only are built, the
manufacturers work IS less complex. lor
instance no highly paid designers need
he employed 10 evolve new kinds Of
fashion The proposition Is the same -
that in building standardized submarines
Or automobiles higher efficiency IN man
ufacture and a lower price for the hnls
! product
The retail shoe merchant profits bl The
edict Of fewer st1 les and fixed prices. tie no
| longer needs to worry over shelves Of
shiny patent leather pumps which the
tickle public refuses IN favor OF oxford
| ties His stoce Is reduced about 10 per
cent and there IS small danger Of goods
| ,.r;,,,r .,,,t ,f f..h,np 60 isuer aS war CON