davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1919-09-20
FURS-Rcf0iI
Merchants Buying Skins

Retail furriers who maintain their
own workshops are becoming more
active in the new raw skin market In
addition to purchasing supplies to
make w new garments on order, these
furricrs also arc buying skins to be
used in the remodeing of old gar
mcnts. Their purchases. individually
arc small, but collectively amount to Il
good sized sum, and are welcomed by
the skin dealers now because Of the
relative inactivity of wholesale manu-
facturers as buyers.
Fur garment jobbcrs and large
manufacturers say there has been no
break in the buying activity OF re-
tailers. Recorders on Hudson seal and
other fur wraps continue to come in
and in addition 10 this the buying OF
neckpieccs has begun. Quantities of
ncckpieces ordered by the retailers
now, say inc manufacturers, show that
those who predicted light demand for
scarfs and ordered snaringly early in
the season, are Fastening to cover
their requirements now. In addition
to foxes of all kinds, skunk in four
and six animal scarfs are among the
popular neckpieccs.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-20
Large Fur Collection
At Lannpson Sale
Schedule Shows Larger Stocks
of Mole, Muskrat and
Other Skins

Offerings of furs at the October
auction sale of c. NJ. Lampson g. Co.
in London, England, are larger in most
cases than the amounts put on the
block during last springs sale, despite
the world wide shortage of furs The
Offering of 100000 moleskins is 25O,O 900
greater than last spring. Muskrats in
the October sale are 10000, against
10000 last spring. Opossum and rae
coon, strictly American furs, remain
the same at 250,000 and 10000 skins,
respectively. The skunk offering this
fall amounts to 100000 skins, 10000
more than in the spring.
The schedule of Lampson's offerings.
announced yesterday by Alfred Fraser,
American agent for the company. is
as follows: Raccoon, 10000; muskrat,
10000; skunk. 100000 civet cat. so 600;
opossum 100000; mink, 10000; mar
ten. 300; Russian sable, 1000; red fox,
$4,000; cross fox, 800; silver fox, 900;
gray fox, 5000; kilt fox, 5000; white
fox, 1900; blue fox, 800; otter. 5000;
wildcat, 1900; house cat, 10000; lynx.
500; badger, 1000; beaver, 1000;
bear, $500; wolf, $4,000; wolverine.
500 baum marten. 100; stone marten.
700; fisher, 500; erminc, 10000:
Southern muskrat. 10000: squirrel
backs, 5000; mole, 100000: white
bare. 10000; nutria. 10000: chinchilla.
900; hair seal tdly), 200: wallaby.
70 900: Australian opossum, $4,000.
snd Australian red fox, 30oc
New-York tribune., 1919-09-20
CHEMlCALS-B"ying OF
Heary Products Small

Purchases of heavy chemicals were
comparatively moderate yesterday, al
though sales of refined products were
of good volume. Menthol, ouinine,
camphor, formaldehyde and potassium
permanganate were subject to steady
inquiry. with sales somewhat restricted d
because of the scarcity of materials on
the spot market. Prices were unusually
firm, but no noticeable advances were
made. Several manufacturers have re-
fused to quote prices for the future on
these chemicals because of the uncer-
tainty of the market. The explanation
for pronounced buying in these prod
ucts is that with the approach of win
ter a marked increase is expected in
the number Of cases of influenza, pneu-
monla and throat trouble.
Through the inactivity of the market
for caustic soda the entire situation. so
far IS stocks are concerned, is some
what easier. Dealers. however, are not
disposed to shade prices in order to
stimulate new business. Good buying
is expected shortly, as soap manufact-
urers will soon be in position to or
der large quantities.
Supplies of bichromate Of potash are
limited to small offerings, with prices
firm at 26 and 81 cents pound. A
large quantity Of material, sufficient to
New-York tribune., 1919-09-20
JEWELRY-Sfrike Threat
Causes Rush of Buyers

/ Retail jewellers from out of town.
| finding it necessary to rcplcnish their
stocks, are visiting the local market in
unusually large numbers. 1t was said
yesterday that the influx of buyers
anxious to place orders is greater than
ever before at this time of the year.
Some manufacturers attribute the rush
to the threat of strike. In their
ried over their Christmas holiday busi-
ness, and for this reason are trying to
buy out the entire stock now on the
hands of the manufacturers.
The greater part of these buyers are
receiving little encouragement from
the manufacturers, however, because of
the low stocks Of goods now on hand.
At present all the larger companis are
working on a plan of supplying their
old and reliable customers first on even
terms, and the goods left distributed
among the newer customers.
Clock companies give as an indica-
tion of the scope Of their business that
their warehouses are cleaned out. Or
dinarily, they say, orders on certain
lines could be filled from warehouse
stock, but this year it is almost i'm
possible even to promise date of deliv-
cry on any clocks.
Alarm clocks and day clocks are
exceptionally scarce, with manufacture
ers frankly admitting that they are
many months behind on delivery of or
ders in hand, and see no immediate
relief in sight.
Delay in the delivery Of merchandise
from Providence factories caused by
the express strike there compelled sew
eral concerns to establish special mes.
sengcr services between the Rhode
Island city and New York, jewelry be-
ing brought here in trunks.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-20
Charges Germans
With Attempt to
Stop Dye Imports
Chemical Foundation Saws
Future of American In.
dustry Is Assured, Despite
Work Of Propagandis,s

The Chemical Foundation. in s...
ment issued yesterday. declares .b..
when Germ'n interests in this cop,..
found that President Wilson was co.,
ousy considering the request made l..
the Alien Property Custodian tina.
special representative be sent to En-.
ropt 10 secure from the Reparatjon.
Commission a six months supplv .,
German vat dyes. they did everytb;,n
possible to have the request ignored
When this failed and DR.. Herty wss
appointed by the government tn ac.
as its representative, the Foundatien
asserts, the propagandists cited tha
fact that we were seeking the German
product as evidence OF the failure ~
the American dye industry
"Thcse int. rests" continues ~.
statement>of the Chemical Foundation
would have the public forget that tho
removal of the restrictions by the War
Trade Board was agreed to al the 1r.
gent request of the National Associa.
tion Of Shirt Manufacturers, who asked
for a specific type OF dyes. the vat
dyes used in cotton fabrics. The snir-
manufacturers are strong supporters
of the American dye industry, and their
request was for limited supply to
tide them over until American manu-.
facturers produce vat colors.
'All this propaganda is doomed 10
failure. for according to reports on the
present dye situation presented al the
meeting of the American Chemical So
ciety, in Philadelphia recently, such
rapid progress has been made that the
industry is assured
as there any good reason why ar
American dye industry cannot succeed >
1t goes without saying that coal tar
can be had in large quantities. while
all tie important crudes and in,erme-
dates are now manufactured here. Tie
supply of anthracene. from which all
zarin and its derivatives and many
other important vat dyes are made. IS
limited. However, encouraging prog
ress is being made in its production
and we may hope that American in
genuitv may soon be able TO solve all
the problems connected with its recoy-
cry and publication. AS regards the
other necessary chemicals required IN
the making of dyes, .hs country IS as
we'll suppl cd as any other"
New-York tribune., 1919-09-20
SlLkS--Phoenir Mills
announce Higher Prices

i.gher prices for silk goods, which
nave been generally predicted throagh-
out the market during the last, month.
we're announced Yesterday by the Php-
NIX SIX Mills, one OF the largest manu-
iacturcrs III the industry The new,
scale, Which becomes effective Monday,
SHOWS an advance on all staple broad
goods ranging from ~ to l7la cents d
yard. 1t Is believed that majority of
o'her mll!s Will shortly meet these new
figures, and later the increases will be
reflected in added costs of fancy and
novelty fabrics.
Increased production costs. due pri-
marlly TO higher wages for mill opcra-
tlVes, were given as the reason for the
increased prlces. ,liil representatives
stated. however, that the new figures
wIll be generally beneficial to the trade
as tney forecast 4 more stable marlet
condltlon. 1t was pointed cut that the
advances are sufficient to preclude any
!-lctuatlons toward higher levels that
might follow this winter in the face of
the strong demand for all grades of
silk goods.
The strike in the thrown silk indus
TRY Is resulting in an increased short
age OF crepe de chine and georgette. and
All quarters agree that prices on them
"lil be materially advanced In the nea,
future. The manufacture of those two
fabrics is absolutely dependent on
twisted silk for the warps, and the cur
tailment of the product bids fair to
make them the scarcest OF all silk
goods next spring. Buyers, especially
the large jobbers, have bcen very in
slstent tor crepe and georgctte, anc
have superseded all others, and mills ir
yard Tor spring deliveries.
All factions were clearly worried
over the strike situation in the Penn.
sylvania mills Production problem
have superseded all others and mills in
their efforts to maintain outputs :Ae
giving secondary considerable to the
sales Of their merchandise.
A number of raw silk dealers report
ed yesterday the possibility of manu-
tacturcrs coming into the buying mar
ket soon IN anticipation of the settle
ment early next month Of the strike in
the dyeing mills of Paterson. Ii was
believed that following the return OF
the dyers to the plants purchasing OF
raw silk will become brisk and prices
will accordingly advance. Looking to
that possibility, it was thought that
some mills will resume buying before
the settlement of the strike and thus
obtain their raw material at present
prices.
Sales continued to be on small
basis, with lots for immediate needs
constituting virtually all transactions
In the absence of communications
from Japan no change in prices were
reported.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-20
Orgy of Spending Nears
Az, End, E.. ". Hurley Says
Former Head of Emergency Fleet Corporation Be-
lieves Return of Sane and Stable Conditions
Will Be Witnessed Within Four Months

While business in the United States
Is generally upset and disturbed by
labor difficulties, high living costs,
economic unrest and other similar
factors, the good sense Of the Ameri-
can people, combined with efforts being
made by the administration to restore
normal conditions, will ultimately re-
place the present situation with one
of sanity and stability, in the opinion
of Edward N. Hurley, former chairman
Of the Emergency Fleet Corporation.
as the head Of the great Federal en-
terprise, declared that he was thor
oughly optimistic in his survey of the
future. An orgy of spending has
seized the people of the United States,
he said, and restoration Of normal
conditions will follow only when peo-
pie realize that they are exceeding the
speed limit" He was positive that
this would be brought home to them,
and made the general prediction that
the efforts now being exerted by Fed
eral, state and municipal authorities to
reduce living cost would begin to be
felt very soon.
Going Too Fast
"Thc return of stability to this coun-
try may not come as quickly as we
would like to see it," he said, "but 1
believe that within Sthree or four
months we will have emerged from this
state Of living, wherein all of us are
going too fast. | am quite sure that the
people of this country will assert their
common sense and remove the pres
ent undesirable state of affairs. Labor
| think, will have become more settled
within a few months, and ! do not an
ticipate any serious difficulties in the
future from that source"
Mr. Hurley briefly discussed the re-
vival of foreign commerce, and ex-
pressed himself as being deeply inter
ested in the development of Anne ercan
trade with other countries. The proper
disposal Of the perplexing credit ques-
ton was one of vital Importance, he
asserted, in the growth Of exports
New-York tribune., 1919-09-20

When questioned as to his views on a
plan set forth to combine the data and
information on foreign credits col
lected bv the large mercantile and
manufacturing interests Of the coun-
try under one organization which
would act as n clearing house for those
credits, Mr.. Hurley gave it his emphatic
Endorsement.
II am thoroughly in sympathy with
such move, and believe it will be a
boon to our foreign trade" he said.
! "The play adopted by Mark o. Prentiss
in the organization Of foreign credit
clearing house is an admirable one, and
J am greatly impressed by its posi-
blities."
The foreign credit clearing house re-
ferred to by Mr.. Hurley has just been
organized, under the direction of Mr..
Prentiss, vice-president of the National
Surety Company. Under it's operation
all members will turn over to the COM
pany information collected bearing on
the credits Of European merchants,
and thus it is hoped to coordinate the
vast amount of data on the subject, es-
pecially as it applies to European COM
mercial credits.
Would Reduce Losses
"Such an organization, it would
seem, will reduce to q minimum the
losses to American exporters through
the non-payment of bills by foreign
me3hants," Mr.. Hurley continued.
with all foreign credits centralized
under one head the fault in our present
system, whereby a foreign merchant
can obtain several times the amount of
! credit to which he is justly entitled,
should be eliminated"
1t has been said in this connection
that merchants in other countries, be-
cause they establish credit with in
divldual firms in the United States are
enabled to buy merchandise greatly in
excess Of the amount their rating justi-
ties. This is because American ex-
porters cannot, under present systems
De advised of purchases made by their
foreign customers from other sources
New-York tribune., 1919-09-20
The News of BUSH hess

THE commercial market A
substantial proportion Of the
rate and in the opinion of Dealers the would break
cent the government through its issuance of certificates
of Indebtedness at 44
per cent taxable paper not effect the
There is large demand for a demand
for Commercial borrowings
sd production through the which
industrial nelclency Moreover Sellers
have brought business
periods of credit
Ih shortage of bankers
vailed that market yesterday Call
poses was slightly me and the nducment banks
ances not great earlier
at
Rates on bankers acceptances unchanged follows
Ninety
devery
igip,e member banks AS-l6MA Az
gpns emocr Dahks a 3-l6a4 45-16C4iA
lhehglbie bank bills 514
For delivery within thirty bills are
quoted at ZIG eligible AZ and
ineligible bank at 6 per cent
New-York tribune., 1919-09-20
Skunk Pells Up
Twenty Per Cent
At Fur Auction
Buyers From Three CONT
nenis Compete for 275.-
900 Pelss, which BRING
a Total Of $;98O.OOO

on the International Fur Exchange
topped the million dollar mark, with
prices OF guanacos, hair seal, barun-
duki and caracal holding steady to last
April quotations. While bidding was
lively for those pelts. they are among
she few placed on sale at this auction
that have not shown AN advance in
price
Skunk occupied nearly the entire days
selling. and the total for the 275,00G
skuna pelt' reached $9s0,0OO. Prices
paid to-day for skun:. topped the last
April quotations by 90 per cent
The total sales for the nine days
reached $l4,125, 900
Two thousand one hundred guanacos
brought & total Of around $4,000 Four
teen hundred hair senls. a true seal
but having only hair and hide, no fur,
snd retailed mostly as silver seal, went
falrly well for around 1900.
A small lot of caracal went to New
York dealers for $4,000, and fifty
seven thousand barunduhi. chip
munk from the Southern Iiimaluyas,
went for Sl.750: whi,e eighteen hun
cred astrakhan totallcd $500.
Skunk proved OF widely distributed d
interest. Paris, London, South America
Canada and every state in the Unior
bought we'll. The opening lot of l7f
prime black and short extra large
brought $500, and similar 10,
brought $500. Black and short nrsts
sold mostly between Sc and $s, while
similar seconds brought from So to ST
Rlack and long tirsts sold from S5 t.
s.. and similar seconds from So to S5
The highest price wns $1,000 fol blacl
and lrsts. these being exceptionall,
heavily furred.
The official market statement quotes
Guanacos, hair seal barunduki an,
cacacal unchanged. Skunk advanced q
per cent.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-20
IEATILES--C0nuerters
Bay s'Seconds" Freely

The scarcity of certain classes Of cot
ton goods Immediately available yester-
day led to 8 brisk selling of what is
known among the trade as Seconds :"
Goods of that character, especially in
the gray. were quickly taken by con-
verters at prices averaging about three
eighths OF q cent below the quotations
of first quality merchandise, and thew
virtually were the only stocks that
could be delivered at once. Transac-
tons of that class were regarded as an
indication Of 4 healthy market condi
ton.
The demand for low-gradc print
cloths continued to feature the DAVIS
business. Prices were generally held to
thursdays level, although one or two
mill agents asked 1874 cents yard for
the standard fabric, an advance of Il
cent over the preceding day. A num-
Der of agents stated that in the event
OF 64-60s (thc basic gray cloth reach
ing l6 cents within the next few days.
predictions OF which are freely made,
they Will accept orders for delivery
after January /. Heretofore mills have
persistently refused TO consider any
year, arguing that unsettled labor con-
ditions, fluctuations in raw cotton
prices, etc, did not warrant the accept
ance of such sales. They believe, how
ever, that l6 cents for their mcrchan
disc Will Justify contracts beyond Jan
uary.
Out-of town buyers were represented
largely by jobbers who bought gener-
ousiy of various spring lines, princi-
pally draperies. New prices Just made
on those fabrics have proven attractive
to the wholesale firms, and Judging
from the sales made mill productions
viii quickly be consumed
There was a steady demand for long
cloths but business was curtailcd hy
the refusal of mill agents and commits
SION firms to reduce the.. prices. which
ranged from % 10 81 cents a ward
buyers confined their purchases to i'm
media c needs.
Aus..nobile and furniture manufac-
'urers quickly consumed limited
amount of moleskin and wide sateen.
which was offered for immediate deliv-
cry by one mill representative Most
goods OF that character available for
Shipment this year have been sold, and
those stocks offered yesterday went for
an average Of so cents !; pound for the
s9teens and rs to 80 cents for mole
skin. They arc used principally as imi-
taticn leather.
A record high price was obtained for
3A-lnch tussah when converters paid so
cents yard for it, There was linn
tied quantity in the market and brokers
reported that sales have virtually cx-
hausted all stocks for the remainder of
the year. 1t WAS said to have been
purchased for ultimate consumption bv
skirt manufacturers.
New-York tribune., 1919-09-20
Merchants Vote
Against Fixing
Resale Prices
Referendum of Retail Dry
goods Men Shows 3I7
Are Opposed, While 90
Favor Price Maintenance

By referendum vote Of 3l7 to
so. the members of the National Retail
Drygoods Association have committed
the organization to a policy of active
opposition to price maintenance legis-
lation now pending in Congress. When
the bills permitting the manufacturer
to establish and maintain minimum
retail price on his products comes up
for dehberation again the association,
representative of drygoods and depart
ment stores all over the country. will
throw its weight and influence into the
fight.
Coming at this juncture. when gov
ernmental agencies and large bodies of
consumers are endeavoring TO bring
about reductions in the cost of neces-
sarics," said Lew Hahn. executive sec
retary of the association yesterday.
this overwhelming vote of the retail
drygoods merchants to oppose the tiX-
ing of minimum prices on any article
Of merchandise is symptomatic on the
part of all widc-awake, progressive
merchants to keep their trade highly
competitive, and in this way to serve
the public honestly. giving the con-
sumcr advantage of such efficiency and
economy as the individual stores may
be able to effect.
The advocates Of price maintenance
desire to set up q plan under which
they shall have the power to name &
minimum price below which retailers
will not be permitted to sell their mer-
chandise, while the governments con-
Germ has been to establish temporarily
maximum price below which any
dealer may sell his merchandise if cir
cumstances permit him to do so. The
i 1..l
however, even when adopted by the
government only temporarily and in a
period of unusual stress, is obnoxious
to the American business man, and is
contrary to the soundest economic
practice.
"In this connection it is interesting
to note from the statement recently
made by the Attorney General of the
United States how clearly on an emer-
ecncy basis. and not one of economic
policy, thee present campaign for lower
prices is being waged. In his message
Attorney General Palmer announced
countcnance the setting Of higher
prices, even if investigation should
seem to Indicate that such higher
prices are fair prices. The Attorney
General pointed out that what the De
partmcnt of Justice in this juncture
wants is lower prices.
Under our present system. which
permits the fullest play of competition
IN the distribution of merchandise
prices will always find their lowest
level commensurate with the cost o!
distribution and fair fee for the
distributors service. If it needed any
thing to confirm the stand OF the Ma
tlonal Retail Drygoods Association
against the passage Of laws whose pur-
pose is to abolish the freedom of the
market the present movement on tho
part of the government for lowe.
prices would thoroughly establish Tho
fact chat only by preserving price free.
dom can the consumer be protected'
New-York tribune., 1919-09-20
Dress Trade " orried
lsy Slack Demand
Small Manufacturers Quietly
Liquidatins Stocks Pending
improvement

Small manufacturers of women's
dresses are worried over the contin-
ued apathy in the market and are
quietly selling jobs Of made an stocks
in order 70 obtain money for their
current expenses. The larger and higher
class manufacturers noted 4 furry OF
business late last week and early this
week, but even this business has
dropped down, according to many OF
the trade leaders.
The larger manufacturers, who arc
we'll financed, can afford to hold prices
firm until a revival of buying occurs.
The small man. however, is less able
TO do this. Some OF the wiser manu-
iacturers stopped cutting up material
when the buying dropped off in carly
August and have litt!e madc-up stock
on hand. The JOBS ROW in the narkc !.
arc offered mostly By the mailer man
ufaclurors.
That fewer garments are being made
up st present than at any time this
year is attestcd by the number of
workers out Of employment Sixty or
more finishers and diapers responded
to the advertisement OF one firm for
help few days ago. Similar advertise.
ments month ago failed to bring a
single response. A few manufacturers
say they still. have unfinished orders on
their books, but the vast majority are
waiting for more business, according
to trade leaders.
The present situation is not pleasing
to those buyers who needed the call to
come to the market early this season.
Those who bought in July or earlier
say that their competitors can pick up
good Jobs in the market now and un-
dersel them.
The more conservative manufacture
ers maintain that more business is
coming later. They argue that the
conNlnued warm weather has permitted
women 20 wear their summer clothing
longer this year than usual As soon
as cold weather calls for winter gar
rnents, they say, the retailers will be
forced into the market for more mer-
chandise to keep up with the demand.