The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-07-08


ness to ourselves and to the people"
Mr.. Wanamaker writes most interest
ingly as to his reasons, and among
other things he said In explanation:
"Now conditions are changed and
we change with them Whether due
to the war, or to the evolution OF
economic conditions, it Is a fact that
today tho question Of keeping furni-
ture factories going Is not one of or
ders, but Of material and labor, and
in stores the question is not SO much
of selling furniture, as Of getting It.
In plain words we are face to race
with a furniture shortage, with its
necessary complement Of prices the
highest in furniture history"
In this same advertisement 1t is
stated that the store docs not expect
to receive more than half the furni-
ture purchases we have made during
the past six months" And because
Of that fact they had almost decided
against holding an August sale at all,
and this after a record of such sales
dating from 1890.
Conditions May Change.
We are quoting Mr.. Wanamaker so
unanimously because he strikes at
the root of the matter. He decided in
favor Of the August sale in June"
because, as he puts It: "On the other
hand no man can say what the next
six months will bring forth. Condi-
lions may turn around the other way.
Supplies of wood may be increased.
Factories may speed up their opera
lions; and prices may tend to lower"
1t is to be sincerely hoped they may,
and in this retail furniture dealers
will heartily concur. Their invest
ments would go farther and their
sales materially increase at a lower
level of costs.
We all remember the enforced war
time economy and may be sure, too,
that many homes have been let to run
down, from purely patriotic motives in
many instances. We wanted all pos
sible force manifested in war work,
and every available man engaged at 1t,
so that the end might the sooner be
reached. 1t was sacrifice and econ
omy on every hand, but the need for
this has passed. Our duty is now tc
help speed up the whole Industrial
machine, and to both spend and save
judiciously, for the common good
This, we take it, is In line with the
best thought Of all the people.
New Homes to Furnish.
In addition to the natural demand
for new suites and pieces for old es
tablished homes. think OF the new
homes that are being fitted up, and
Of the vast number of these new
homes which will be draining the fur
niture stores within the next twelve
months, as the country settles dowr
and the boys. are at home once more
But for the extremely high prices OF
everything which makes life livable
not to say comfortable, there should
be more marrying and giving in mar
riage" during the next twelve months
than in any year in our history; be
cause the tide of travel to marriage
license desks has been largely reduced
by war separations and activities TO
so long. But regardless Of expense
q few hundred thousands Of new
homes are being planned for, an
every last one of them will make In
| sistent demand that their need TO
| furniture be supplied.
Whatever the future of prices. eel
tain it is that the furniture manufac
turers are now in control of the sit
uation and that We must pay thei
| just or unjust demands, or go without
| We should indeed be happy to tel
you Of one single thing used in tn
home that isn't in the same catalos
but If there be an exception it Wi
| take a search warrant and due pro
cess of law to uncover 1t.