The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-11-15
WHY SHOE PRICES
WILL NOT DECLINE

S.ocs were about the cheapest arti-
Gle OF wearing apparel. The cattle
supply OF the United States was al
most equal to the population and
cak and hemlock bark were cheap
and plentiful. Coincidentally all
he great inventions to save machin-
cry to save time and labor were of
American origin. A few years ago
It was possible to purchase good.
strong work shoes for dollar a
rair at retail. But the herds of calf
have decreased, the domestic bark
supply has almost exhausted, and the
rises of wage of the shoe factory
employees have absorbed the saving
IN production made by the engenious
machinery. 1t is singular common
tary upon the popular antipathy to
large corporations that the United
Shoe Machinery Corporation, which
is the strongest factor in shoe ma
chinery, has not increased its royal
ty charges single fraction during
the great up prices the world is now
protesting against.
The vigorous campaign against the
growing cost of living has had SEN
timental or psychological influence
upon hides, leather and shoes. There
has been little if any permanent de-
cline in prices, but the frenzied ad-
vances have checked. Tanners, shoe
manufacturers and shoe retailers
are all gratifed at this stabihzing In
fiuence. They realize, however, that
the effect is likely to be transitory
for reason that natural causes are
operating still further to initiate val
ues. The best authorities are not op-
timistic about future opportunities
of reducing shoe prices The basic
facts are all against anthing like
a general decline. There may be
temporary dips or slips retrograde
movements of prices but the trend
will continue to be upward.
1t is inherently improbable that
the agitation against the high cost
of living will have any permanent
effect upon shoes, e. ony other ar
ticles made of leather. Prices have
been steadily advancing during the
past decade or more under the con-
pulsion or causes beyond the reach
of any industrial organization, or in
deed of any government regulation.
The tanning industry rests upon a
by product the supply of which cam
not be increased by demand or price.
The number of hides and skins which
result incidentally from the slaugh-
ter of animals for food arbitrarily
determines the quantity of raw ma
terial for making leather. The grad
ual irresistible upward curve of prices
of leather merchandise has its cause
in the diminishing per capita con-
sumption CT beef In the civilized
countries shoes have become less an
article of utility than of ornament,
and coincidentally the semi-civilized
countries are demanding and develop
ing demand for leather shoes. The
export of shoes from the United
States in the year 1898 amounted to
493,027 pairs, but during the fiscal
year ended June 1919, the exports
were 1851 ASA pairs. The other
countries whose shoe manufacturing
facilities have similarly kept pace
with the procession of events have
increased their foreign shipments in
about equal ratio.
As a natural corollary of this wild
er consumption of shoes throughout
the world the quest for raw material
has become intense. The remotest
corners of the globe are being search
ed for hides and skins of which to
make leather. There is thus a very
wide flung price problem wholly sep
crate and distinct from the war in
fuences of imitation and profteer-
ing"