The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1919-08-07
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
And OTHER THINGS
Clio Harper Sees National Amend
ment Ratified Within Year-The
Endless Chain of Increasing Pric-
es-Shoes and Clothing.
(By Clio Harper }

10y OliO lidi pti.j
Special to The Star
Little Rock, July 29.--Arkansas is
about the fourteenth state to ratify
the National suffrage amendment. The
practical unanimity with which it was
done is in radical opposition to the at
titude assumed by several of the
Southern states, notably Georgia, that
has refused to ratify.
But the reversal of sentiment in
Arkansas in the last few years has
been almost complete. The few evil
dences of opposition were of minor in
lluence upon the great majority that
have taken a stand in the last few
years for the emancipation Of women.
"Why do they fight the inevitable ?"
is the question frequently asked, even
by some who are not themselves con-
firmed disciples of suffrage, altho sup
porting it.
The ratification of the Susan b. An
thony amendment, which was the pur-
pose for which Governor Brough had
called the extraordinary session, will
not prevent the submission of the pro-
posed amendment to the state consti-
tuition in November, 1920 Suffragist
leaders are confident, however, that
another twelve months will see the
national amendment fully ratified by
the requisite number of states.
War prices were cheap compared
with prices that are looming big in
the early future.
Labor of all kinds, skilled and I'M
skilled, is advancing. And the pro-
duets of their labor are advanced to
meet the increased cost Of production.
It is a sort Of endless chain affair, a
new kind Of perpetual motion. The
laborer gets more for his labor, the
manufacturer advances his prices to
pay the increased cost of production,
the laborer must demand more wages
to meet the increased cost of the
goods, the manufacturer advances,
which forces the laborer to advance,
which forces the manufacturer to adj
vance, which forces the laborer--.
But it is an Understandable process,
and the ultimate consumer is the UNI
tween the upper and neither mill
stones.
Now, take the question of wearing
apparel. Clothing authorities agree
that the price of clothing will advance
about 100 per cent above present
prices. Suits that now cost $40, that
could have been bought for $40 few
years ago, will go to $75 and $50. And
women's clothing, always more expen-
sive than mans, will be worth prin-
eess's dowry, or kings ransom, OF
any other of the expensive things we
read about in romances.
And shoesl Ordinary folks will
have to go barefoot or wear wooden
shoes, but the price of lumber, Of
course, is going OUT of sight with ev.
erything else.
+. F. Edwards of Conway. veteran
shoe salesman, says that the Milwau-
kee house he represents has within
the last two months advanced prices
from S1.50 to $500 a pair. He pre-
diets that by next Spring an ordinary
shoe, that sold for SIS four years ago
and now sells for $40. cannot BE-
bought for less than SIS, and the bet
ter qualities of standard shoes will &C
TO S22 and $25. As for women's shoes
$50 and S35 pair are the prices tha
may be expected. while novelties viii
go even higher.
The Increased cost of labor, ths
scarcity of leather at home and the
TACT that there are no imports, in ad
oition to an excessive foreign demand
are among the causes assigned fol-
TINS condition. The labor question
alone Is very serious one in tn.
East, where many mills are three Il
nve months behind on deliveries. ans
where many mills have closed down OF
account of the scarcity of labor ans
raw material.