Evening journal., 1919-08-16
SPEkDERS ARE
ON THE INCREASE
Steady Demand for EwpenC
sive Clothing is Re-
ported Here
CHEAPER PRODUCTS
ARE SCORNED

A steady demand for the most expen<
siye lines Of clothing and articles Of
general merchandise and the refusal I'd
purchase the cheaper products sincs
the beginning Of the war is reported
by local merchants Moreover. many
articles which formerly were oonsid4
cred luXuries are now in such demand
that they are almost staples.
According to the head Of a larss
house, the demand for silk shirts for
men has increased at least five times.
although they are no longer fashions
able. Before the war only five men in
100 bought them; now it is p. And
this increase is composed Of laborins
men, who think nothing Of paying sia,
si2 and SIS each for them. The aver.
age man before the war would pay 4
retail house SIS to $40 for a suit. Now
the same man is paying S35 to $50. and
although of course. the former SIS IN
$50 suit has risen in wholesale price il
Us not $50 now or anywhere near that
The demand for the cheaper grades in
practically all lines but especially in
wearing apparel began 10 wane six.
months after the commencement Of the
war.
The same situation exists among ths
women. The average woman now de-
mands silk hOsiety at 81 TO 50, hoping
to get something that will wear, whers
before the war this same womsns
thought she was eXtravagant II She
paid $50, but the Si.5O brand then
was better than the SO brand now. Now,
the demand is two to three times what
it was before the war and the percentI
age OF buyers has increased in about,
the same proportion as that Of snh
shirt customers among the men. This
per cent. Of increase holds good NOT
only for the purchase Of silk shirt
waists for women but for the maiority
of the lines Of merchandise.
The official giving these figures be4s
lieves that the increase in the cost Of
living is due practically entirely to the
higher cost Of labor, and as one evi4s
dence Of this he says that the percent4
age increase Of the cost Of living has
been the same as the percentage in
crease Of the wages TO labor.
The same state Of affairs with regard
to the demand for the better grades Of
was reported by a represen4.
-atlye Of a prominent retail clothing
and merchandise house. The best Ia
demanded in all lines, he said. Soma
IF the inexpensive grades have been dis .
continued entirely. And it is no longer
he charge accounts" only who buy
he best; 1t is now also the class Of =.
abOring people. This is true not only
If merchandise like blankets and bed
but most especially Of
wearing apparel.
The old saying Heaven will protect
he poor working girl" no longer has
my meaning because there no longer :
re poor working girls at least NOT
many Of them, according to a retail
merchant. Nearly all the increased de4
nand for the finer grades Of wearing
pparel for women is made by works
ng girls who think nothing Of paving
10 and SIG for pair Of shoes. This is 4,
true Of girls working I'M
flee buildings, a class which has been
increased greatly since the beginning
( the war Practically all Of the in
rease in wages received by these
oung women is spent on flnery, ac4
ording to the officials Of this store. all >
lough he did not explain how he
ould distinguish a working girl from
n0n-wOrker.