The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-01-29
WAR UPON THE
CLOTHING TRADE
Ab1c Address Deli-ered by Ludwig Stern
Of the House Of Kuppcnhet1ner, at
the West Virginia Retail
Clothiers' Convention.


retail clothiers convention. held In
Charleston recently. in telling or the
effect of the war uron the business:
In asking me 10 discuss The situation
YOU have given me broad 1l6ld. Ihc
one great business Of this country to-day
is war, and one Of the greatest sources
of strength of the country In this war
is business. Business as near normal as
posSihlc after ample provision has been
made for all the prior and proper de-
mands Of the government, and In such
times MS these all demands OF the gov
crnmcnt arc proper and right. just as we
are right in this war.
Confronted as this country is with the
necessity Of doing creditahly It's part IN
the world struggle. there Is one duty
which should be foremost In the nina OF
every American, that is answering 10y
atty and obedience 10 our chosen leaders.
In this case. the leaders are the officers
at Washington chosen to represent the
peorlc and the civilian advisers they
have called into council. They. work
Ing together, know what should be done
much better than all the rest OF US.
Their word must be law. their plans
must be carried out by the patriotic CO.
operation of everybody, men. women and
Children forms and corporations 10 90
ANYTHING else would be 10 try 10 con-
vidual might happen to think were hest
That would not be efficiency and il We
try It. We are whipped. The ono way In
which German efficiency can be COM
ba;tcd successfully Is with American
efficiency. that is It's equal or It's super
ior. Such efficiency VIC can develop
only by all working together.
Much MISUNDERSTANDING.
Much Of the misunderstanding and
discussion about business. az usual has
been done TO q confusion OF terms or OF
their Specification. economy and saving
arc necessary. but that does not mean
boarding O money or anything else II
means simply the stopaEe Of waste and
shifting of energy from ncticitieS that
are not essential to the winning Of the
war into those that are. People should
60 on supplying their wants as literally
as the general prosperous conditions
warrant They should buy. but buy
wisely Money saved and put away VIII
not do the nation or individual any gooo.
If put In the bank where IT can be kept
working. 1t Will do some good. but us
most beneficial use Is in keeping In mo-
ton the lifc-givinE stream of business
on which we are all dependant for
wages and materials for Industries and
commerce, for~supplying our needs and
for supporting tho government with the
taxes and supplies without which We
cannot win the war.
Shortage Of Goods.
In the natural course of events, there
are three distinct periods ahead Flrst
period is tho ono which VIC arc now In.
To-day the government is not only haf-
ing TO produce war necessities, but also
the tools with which they are produced
The strain of preparation is greater ;han
that of actual production. Every linn
hut absolute essentials is having 10
stand for war business Merchants ana
manufacturers are running on stocks OF
goods which they previously iald IN.
Whatever the local deficiencies due 10
prcvious rules, there is yet no general
shortage OF goods.
The second period will come when the
present stocks Of goods become exhaust
ed. Within few months from now,
merchants will be scrambling 10 set
standard goods which they arc not try
ing 10 unload. The same will be true or
manufacturers who are depending upon
accumulated supplies OF materials 10
keen in operation. The chief problem In
this second period will be III getting
goods rather than SrllirE them. BAR
ring an early pence. - e Is likely 10 DO
the situation during ." latter nall OF
1918.
government gets It's manufacturing faci-
uties coInplctrd and has simply To pro-
ducc war essentials. Except for taxes,
The strain OF private business Will be
relieved. Priority rulings will be mod'-
fled. the first frenzy Of activity Will pc
ended and business conditions Will once
moro he governed by efficient condi-
lions. This third period may not actu-
ally como before 1919. but its approach
- - IN
wear If hostilitieS end soon. this Will
hasten our transition through these
periods
dover,.nent and Railroads.
The sweeping Of our executive war de-
nartment Of our entire railroad system
into the United States treasury Is an
event Of such far reaching social. ccHn"-
mel. industrial and financial Importance
that Is not easily comprchcnded. Speak
ing Of our industry. the manufacturer Is
NOW fully initiated to the new condition.
The retailer will receive his first degree
whcn placing his fall orders. Broadly
sneaking, price for fnll 1918 for clothing
will be- about so per cent over opening
nrirn for fall 1917. and 1t Is Il well
known fact that 1t Is not any more
matter Of prices but question or get
ting merchandise. when we consider lnal
tho textile requirements OF each soloicr
are fifteen times as grcnt IN service
than in civilian life, you can make your
own deductions. t,.
T., my nwn Judgment. it will take five
,-nors nj least after peace terms haro
, h,cn siernd, for prices TO reach "here
.. ihcy wero in 1914. and owing to higher
! conversion cost they are not likely 10
rome hack within IS per cent of former
quotations. ,,
The demand. Of wearing apparel from
the other side will be- SO enormous inc
matter of prices VIII he secondary 10 our
- ability TO furnish their urgent neeus.
iC,onsidcring that hundreds of millions
~ mon women and children must have
clothes, predict merchandise famine
bnncvrr that much desired moment
will be announced.
War Period tho Test,
This war period Is the acid test H.
tz going tn spotlight the big men III
! American business. tho creators, inc man
of Imagination and foresight. ana inc
men who are always bulis IN the |h'ten
! Stntes You cannot walt until after Inc
| v.or IL over tn join this select cot"rlc OF
men. Rctrcnch Of course hui retrench-
mcnt means. stripping for action. amer
ian business must now be stripped toT
,c,ion and conservation means the de-
! ,,Inn1crt of resources instead of their
| waste. Tho truth is that rctrenchment
and conservation are the TWO best things
! ,bal have happened 10 us. IT, VIII 10
worth the huge financial cost oil the war
70 get them permanently In the lahric Oh
! American business. When we are ten
! CATARRH