Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-08-26
WHY THEY RISE-II. SHOE PRICES-By Frederic j. Haskin.

wv ASHINGTON, d. c., Aug. 19.-lf the
w advance in shoe prices announced by
manufacturers and retailers goes into
effect this fall, you will pay anywhere from
fifteen to twenty-five dollars pair for your
winter shoes. If you don't believe it, listen
to what large shoe merchant has to say
about future shoe prices
Prices of shoes are high at the present
time, but they are going even higher. The
announced increases for fall shoes range
from so to 100 per cent. A pair of shoes
which now cost the public $40 or $12 will
sell for anywhere from SIG to $40 this fall.
The same ratio of increase will apply to all
grades of footwear. Today if find it neces-
sary to duplicate any of my summer stock
have to pay approximately so per cent more
than paid last spring. Oxfords which
am now retailing for $40 pair would sell
for SIS if had TO go into the present market
for new stock"
This same merchant predicts that wooden
shoes will lgo gathering along American side
walks in 1920, unless something is done to
cut down the price of leather shoes.
Authorities differ as to the cause of this
situation. The federal trade commission has
reported to congress that there is "profteer-
ing going on in the shoe industry" and some
or the more radical members would COM
mandeer every hide in the country. Others
would put temporary embargo on the ex-
port of footwear and other leather products,
vent profteering in the shoe business Man
utacturers claim that an embargo would not
nelp the situation any. They say that the
world is approaching a sort of leather fam
Inc, and while we in the United States an
parently have plenty of leather we cannot
escape from world conditions. They assert
mat an embargo would place us in still
worse position, for the reason that we import
ABOUT half of the number of hides used an
nually in this country
Senator Capper, of Kansas, who has made
careful study of the shoe leather industry,
believes that an embargo for a reasonable
period would bring about a reduction in the
price of shoes. He is also convinced that
there is considerable profteering going on in
the shoe industry, not so much among the
little fellows as among the big leather deal
ers and shoe manufacturers. He says that
while the cost of production has materially
increased during the last four years. there
is absolutely no justification for the exces-
slve prices that are now being demanded, and
which are going even higher. He contends
mat the increased price of the finished
product is out of all proportion to the aver
age increase in the cost of production
Like many other members of congress.
senator Capper favors President Wilson s
plan OF marking the manufacturers price on
every pair of shoes. He thinks this would
cut out much profteering on the part of the
in!quie1nan' and would also tend TO deter re-
Tall dealers from making excessive profits,
In his investigation of the shoe industry.
senator Capper asked the Shoe and Leather
Reporter of Boston, for information as to
why shoes and leather cost more TODAY. The
answer he received presents the manufacture
er s side OF the question, as follows:
Perhaps the chief obstacle in the way of
return to lower prices for shoes is the
fact that the most extreme prices quoted in
our domestic market looks cheap to European
buyers 1t would be conducive to better
understanding if the American public could
be informed that shoes have been selling for
go and $50 pair for many months in Eu-
rope, in both warning and neutral countries,
The equalizing process following peace and