The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-11-26

to home trade. refusing to
even name a price to men willing to
buy at almost any figure. We have,
however, exported too much leather,
and there Is some talk Of a demand
that both shoes and leather shall be
enlarged, in the interest Of the sore
ly taxed home consumer.
That congress will do anything to
check foreign trade expansion does
not, however. seem likely. But for
the fact that so much foreign money
Is at such q large discount, compared
with pre-war exchange values, We
should have shipped out much more
leather and also many more shoes.
A Tremendaus Demand.
Careful investigation leads to the
conclusion that leading shoe retailers
are selling as many. and often more
pairs Of shoes this year than last. re-
CARELESS OF price. That they antict-
pate equally good trade next spring
and summer is indicated by the orders
now being placed by interior boyers.
This buying is being done prudently,
Gus and not wholly satisfied demand
will continue indefinitely, and that
prices can not be expected to recede
year or two However this may be 1t
is insisted that the leather in fall shoes
cost less than that now being made up
for spring and summer wear. The fact
that 80 many Of US kick" at prices
does not seem to prevent US buying
the good and more expensive shoe in
preference to the cheaper article. Of
which there is almost glut in some
lines In the hands Of the makers, as
rumor tells us. because the people
have money to burn.
The Retailers Problems.
With reference to the many prob
lens now confronting shoe dealers, the
editor Of the Shoe Retailer, Of Boston,
says:
1T is we'll known that members of
our industry are facing problems the
like of which have never been known
In the shoe and leather trade. The
raw material situation. the high cost
Of leather and shoes, the reduced pro-
duction Of pairs Of shoes resulting
from higher wages and shorter work.
ing hours. the hostility of the people
against prices retailers are compelled
to ask for shoes. are all questions OF
paramount importance to be consider
ed.
Next spring the people will be con-
fronted with prices which. we believe,
will revive the unwarrantable charges
Of prof1teering Retailers are today
greatly concerned about the delivery
Of shoes they have ordered for next
spring. Their orders were placed for
styles that are radically differen,
from the French square toe, short
vamp "stage" effect. They accepted
the recommendations Of the STYLES
Committees, and bought mostly long
vamps and narrow toe shoes, or at
least vamDs from 31a to not more than
4-irches long"
The above relates to the freakv
style some manufacturers have intro,
duced, ar extreme In fashion whic,'
the shoe periodicals and the trade gen
orally are frowning uron. There IS
No qualification. says the editor, "for
presenting mid-season STYLES in these
troublous times. To purchase them
means a substantial addition to stocks
already bought at extremely high
prices, with resulting investment
which the times do not warrant"
The Real Situation.
Taking the world as whole there
is a real shortage Of both shoes and
loHEnoT. because vi VIC CuIthlllIl vi
manufa cture and the destruction OF
war There has been q decrease ir
the herds of Europe and Asia. Re
CARELESS Of the signing Of the peace
pact of the League of Nations the shoe
and leather trade of the world is once
more !nternationalized and nearly al
are competitors for hides. skins ant
all classes Of raw materials. lr
countries where they are again at
/ tempting manufacture and the need /:
desperate. it Is more a question o
| getting the material and making thu
+; footwear than it is of cost.
, That it will take some time to re
+: duce this pressure and to supply tn,
natural demand for shoes is self evi
dent. World competition for hides
! and leather is just beginning to de
velop, owing to unsettled political ant
financial conditions, which are grad
ually being ironed out The fina
| signing of the peace pact will adj