Evening journal., 1919-08-19
RETAILERS BALK
ON shoe PRICES
Manufacturers Urge Placing.
Spring Orders Now, But
Merchants Hold Back
ADVANCE IN PRICE
IS CONSIDERABLE

BOSTON, Aus. i9-shoe manufactur-
PRS are urging Boston retailers 10 buy
heir spring goods now, at consider
able advance over the price paid for
stock IN hand. but the retailers are
showing much reluctance about placing
heir orders The hesltancy is due to
he price. The woman's shoe selling on
The Boston market for $3.50 is offered
by the same manufacturer for next
springs trade at sl50-factory price,
Indicating an advance. which inspires
DE dealers with a good deal Of business
caution.
Not only are the prices for The new
stock still mounting but II Is clear 10
the trade that some Of the slock ON
hand will go mp to The replacement
value before long and This process Is
taking place IN spite Of the grand jury
Investigations. high cost commission
. Inquiries and Federal Trade Commits
sion report. Boston has been the CEN
Ter Of a grand jury Investigation Of the
shoe business and shoe prices for sew
sral DAYS and many OF the leading deal
Frs aud manufacturers have been on
Me carpet during ihc week
Tho trend that the business has fol-
lowed for a week would indicate a
conviction IN the minds of the manu-
facturcrs and consumers alike That
prices viii rise higher before they go
lower. for the public is stocking up
well and the manufacturers are urging
rcplacemenis.
The stocking up goes on at regular
retail prices and is attracting atten-
lion Many of the large dealers who
feature their business with an annual
IS per cent sale in August omit that
feature This year. claiming that they
are shaving So close TO the margin that
they cannot afford 10 mark down for
the sale. The trade is as heavy as if
they were operating a sale. customers
buying several pairs now just as they
would II there were a sale.
The trade contends that 70 already Is
Influenced for good by the govern
ments release OF sole leather, which
has gone into consumption and raised
the quality Of The shoe now on the
market Whatever there may be Of
army shoes and above the needs Of the
army, has in no way touched the local
market yet. II shoes were released there
would be a very substantial reduction,
because the shoe s5d by The commits
sary department today for si.61 a pair
costs about $40 10 The civilian purchas-
ing on the open market
10 might have been In line with cau-
tious procedure for The government 10
maintain a little longer the war re-
striclions it placed on The shoe husi-
ness, as to maXiniNm price and variety
Of STYLES. because they wrought FOR
economy that both the dealer and The
consumer would welcome today. When
NE bars were let down The designers.
( they be The class 10 blame. ran wild
,n styles again and arc designing more
STYLES than is wholesome for the trade
u was reported here al a hearing the
oihor day That there are GOO styles for
women. calling for a frequency Of in
dividual touch that enhances greatly
The cost OF The shoe. Those numerous
styles. which the manufacturers. too,
sought 10 reduce during the war in the
name Of economy and common sense,
lre beginning TO multiply again and are
being offered 10 attract The eye OF femi-
nine trade
Even the medical profession dcplorcs
the return OF these styles. and is coun-
selling against them through the Massa-
chusctis department Of Health. The
shoe would not lend itself 10 many
variations in form II the rules ofhcallh
were followed that have been laid