davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12

thought membership within reason
able time ought to be between 10000
and 100000.
DIR. Rastall, acting as an expert in
organizing, brought together the ideas
of various elements of the association
who aspired to bring into being q genu-
inely national mind" in merchandising
through a larger association. The plan
requires, in addition to dues, under
writing amounting to $250,0O0 a year
for the next two years, and in the en-
aration, more than S150,0OO, it was
estimated, was pledged just before the
! close of the afternoon session.
The ideal of the new organization
which is to spring up was revealed by
DR.. Rastall, who said: 'Its one ideal is
service. 1t sees service developing in
three great sections. First, in the field
of public affairs, the proper infuenc-
ing of legislation, the assistance of
! governmental organizations in the
carrying through of all sorts of ma
tional work and cooperation with other
national organizations in programmes
of development; second, great field
of organization service-service and CO.
operation with other organizations and
service in handling mooted questions
with other types of economic and busi-
ness organizations which \great ma
| tional organization of this kind can and
should serve, and, third, the giving in
every possible way to the membership
fective service in publicity, in research
and in methods of merchandising and
carrying on in general the whole field
of retail trade"
Luxury Tax Move Applauded
In making workers moro efficient,
which Mr.. Kilduff emphasized as q
leading desideratum, the Federal gov
ernment is to take part, the drygoods s
men were told. DR.. c. A. Prosser, di-
rector of the Federal Board for Vo-
cational Education, in a comprehensive
address outlined the Importance of the
new Smith Hughes act to retailers.
Lew Hahn, secretary and treasurer
of the association, brought cheer to
the retailers, in reporting on the re-
| suits of the associations recent drive
against the luxury tax, by stating that
Representative Kitchin would introduce
| in the House a resolution to modify
the luxury tax before the bill become
a law
In the evening current trade topics
were informally discussed at smoker,
at which formality was banned and a
freer meeting of minds took place. The
following were appointed to handle the
routine business OF the convention:
Rules committee-Mr Koch, La Sale
& Koch, Toledo, Ohio; Mr.. Paxon, Davi-
SON Paxon- Stokes Company Atlanta
Ga; Mr.. Belden, Omaha, Neb. Reso-
lutions committee-Mr. Herzfeld, Mil
waukee, Wis; Mr.. Bergner Peoria, H.;
Mr.. Hager, Pennsylvania (Lancaster) !;
Mr.. Joseph, Birmingham, Ala; Mr..
Eastman, Eastman Bros. & Bancroft
,1lo
Mr.. Aldred, Providence, R. l.; Mr.
Pogue, II. S. Pogue & Co.; Mr.. Lau-
bach, Reading, Pa; Mr.. Parker, Daven-
port, Iowa; Mr.. Iazard
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12

those offered are absorbed without
difficulty. Temporary tightening Of
money in New York banks due to gov.
ernment financing finds little reflection
in banks of the interior industrial cen.
tres.
There has very recently grown up in
the acceptance market what may be
called an indorsed trade acceptance. A
bank buys trade acceptances, later
finds need for liquid funds. does not
want to take It's paper to the Federal
eserVe Bank for rediscount, and so in
dorses the paper and sells it on the
open market. This paper does not
command quite so low tate rs bank
acceptance, but it moves at q con-
siderably lower rate than the ord nary
trade acceptance, and lhis dlferencein
rate represents the profit 10 the bank
One banker, in answer to the plant Of
some acceptance dealers that the banks
have not displayed helpful attitnls
toward trade acceptances. ramans
that some dealers used 10 have the
idea that anything that vas trade
acceptance ought to be taken. irrespt
tive of the name on it, The grievance
of the trade acceptance dealer, how
ever, has been that banks would take
the trouble to investigate only large
loans, so that brokers could not dis
pose Of paper bearing unfamiliar
names for small transactions.
The range Of rates on commercial
paper remained unchanged from Mon
day and week ago as follows: Two
months, So 512 per cent; three months,
la512 per cent; four months. 5G5a
per cent; five months. 505i2 per cent
six months, 50 81 per cent.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12
Plan to Teach
Merchandising in Schools

Or. Prosser, director of Federal
Board for Vocational Education, sum
married. the new outlook on trade as
profession on which all interests
seemed to concur.
at makes no difference" he said
"whethcr it is a machine shop or
textile mill or a department store or
specially shop doing retail bust
ness, we are on our way in this coun-
try toward a generally acceptable sys-
tenn of merchandising education, in
volving these essentials: A scientific
careful selection of people suitable for
positions in the store and factory; a
careful induction of these people on
the initial job; a careful graduation
of them according to their ability and
experience and performance on the
road of training them in The things
they need to have to be efficient; a
system of rewards for good service in
terms of better wage and promotion
| think upon all those things we are
ready to say 'amen,' at least the most
progressive men, and | think there
are none others in the National Retail
Dry Goods Association"
DR.. Prosscr said that the Smith
Hughes Act, which became a law in
1917, provided for Federal aid to be
uScu ny inc state under plans APP
proved by the Federal Board for Vo-
cational education.
"Whcn it comes," he added, "to this
question of retail selling, we were
anxious to stimulate it in this coun-
try, not because we fcl+ that the re-
tail merchants were unable to carry on
the work themselves, at least, in the
larger places, but because of our con-
viction that the source of supply of
really desirable department store en-
ployes is the American high school,
and that some method should be ar
ranged of cooperation, at least, with
the less large stores, between the
stores and the local school authori-
ties, which would direct the atten-
tion Of promising young people in the
public schools to the opportunities
that lay open before them in the field
of retail selling, an absolutely neglect
ed field in the schools, subject which
was looked down upon by the school
people and by the community as be
ing something less dgnihed and less
worthy than the business of going in
and sitting down with a book and
writing out letters in shorthand and
going out and banging them to type
writer"
DR.. Prosser added that the terms
of the Smith Hughes act were being
stretched to include such education,
and that plans were being developed
for the practice of these ideas.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12
Sheet Mills Producing
Steel for Automobiles

The demand for steel from the auto
mobile trade is the outstanding feature
of the domestic market, according to
the weekly review of '"The Iron Age"
This authority states that sheet mills
mostly on material used in making mo-
tor cars and trucks. Some of the alloy
steel makers have orders on their books
for six weeks in advance, although
early in January operations had been
cut down to 25 per cent of capacity.
1t is admitted by producers that
further cutting of prices has been
necessary in order to interest buyers,
and while they are pleased at the
resumption of activity, they are con-
fronted with the problem of inducing
labor to recognize that wage adjust
mentS must soon follow to meet price
reductions.
'Mcanwhile." "Thc Iron Age" says,
"the buying clements need to remem-
Der that the country is proceeding on
the theory that it is no longer an iso-
lated nation. Fixed iron and steel ex-
port prices of England, its chief COM
pctitor for the worlds markets, are
anywhere up to 40 per cent higher than
its own, and only relatively slight
shifts in ocean freight charges will
serve to throw the advantage to these
shores. Foreign trade requires little
concession so long as England's costs
90 net come down."
A sale of 1000 tons of pig iron is
noted for export and Cleveland dealers
report an inquiry of 5000 tons from
China
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12
Larger Orders for
Women's Sprin Footwear

Owing to the unusually mild
weather manufactures and jobbers
of women's shoes have had a poor win
ter season. Women have been wont to
wear oXfords and pumps rather than
footwear Of heavier make, with the
result retailers have been carrying
heavier stocks than usual of high
shoes, the slow movement of which
has reacted on the makers Reports
from Pennsylvania, Massachusetts,
Rhode Island and Connecticut all in
dlcate that business in shoes is below
normal for the winter season.
On the other hand, manufacturers
are expecting to do larger business
in spring and summer styles of foot
wear than ordinarily, as retailers,
being stocked up with heavier grades
of winter shoes, have hesitated to buy
spring goods in quantities much in
excess of their immediate needs. But
they are starting to buy more freely
week provide basis for the expecta-
tion of a large spring business.
In making recommendations for
women's footwear for the fall and win
ter season OF 1919 the Council of
National Service of the Shoe and
Leather Industry takes the position
that trade conditions are such that
conservative business must continue
to be the rule and stocks on the
shelves OF the retailers must be kept
in liquid state in order that the in
dustry and the trade in general may be
adjusted to conditions that may arise
after June 1. 1919. Recommendations
as regards styles for next fall are:
81. Colors-Leathers for women's
shoes be confirmed to three shades of
brown-dark, medium and beaver; two
shades OF gray-medium dark and
medium light; bronze, white. black
and patent leather.
"2. Height-That the standard
height of women's lace boots, carving
all kinds of heels. be S15 to 0 inche es
on size 4B measured from ton at the
side to the breast of heel. The
heighth of womens button boots DO
not moro than eight inches.
at is recommended. however. that
the manufacture and sale of women s
button boots for the entire year OF
1913 be discouraged.
"3. Styles-Styles be confined to
pieced patterns and foxed effects in
so far as possible"
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12
SS
gglSe

the consumer, IN many eases ~,
thlhk yleided undue profit, it lnnSt'l' ,sn'
borne in mind that the dvemnl'suss 'ust !, De
to assume heavy risks and in, IN mad
cases sail forth INTO unchantea 'nsny
The difficulties in the way os ssss'
ducing dyestuffs were so,,a.liN pIo-
enormous. The whole business Ing
to be developed from the raw -. ,.so
terlal up. Entirely new kinds 's,
chemical investigation had to be ~ VI
dertaken, and in some cases tbsu. VI,
were entirely foreign to our nst;.s .asss
chemical technique. In fact. We bsS
to build up our enterprise from IS -.
very foundations TO the finished .r.' .aO
Gle, and carry it out under the - ~ ~
treme pressure of a constant demsnd
for the product All this has 70 ,"bs 10
accomplished in a few wears in sS as
endeayor to duplicate an indnsts"
which took the German scientist
forty years to accomplish.
"All of this made the overhead ~
pense of dye manufacturing abnormsl sG
ly high, and very often this acconr,
ed for the fact that the prices charroa
for the dyestutfs seemed unreas son
ably high, as compared TO the cost ~
the raw materials entering into Their
production.
To-day the dyestuifs industry is set,
Ting down TO more normal conditjon.
and in many eases the prices ara
approaching the standard of pre.
war conditions, taking into considers-
ton the difference in costs of rsw
materials, labor and equipment. AN A.
in the case with most other mann.
factured materials, it viii, no doubt
be a number Of years before the pries
of dyestuffs viii fail To the low level
OF the pre-war German products.
"All things considered, I do not he.
ieve the textile manufacturers have
had any cause for complaint as far
as the price Of dyes is concerned
Though the increase in cost Of dyes
has been great. this has been readily
passe along to the ultimate con.
sumer and distributed in such man.
ner that the burden has not been ex.
ceSsivp -
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12
Virile Organization Urged
AS Aid in Transition

DR.. Rastall, in laying before the con-
vention the plan for expansion, de-
clared that the movement for new
members was starting at this time be-
cause the leaders Of the organization
had learned from the war the value of
cooperation.
eve are going ahead now," he said.
because the war has shown us as
never before the tremendous value of
organization, because all over this
country the various economic interests,
the various business groups, are organ
izing and arming themselves for the
future as never before, and because of
that fact any organization any section
OF which remains unorganized is sure
to stay in the background without it's
interests being given the proper
amount of general attention.
But, secondly, it ie an important
and positive time, because this is the
time OF very great questions, questions
such as never before have been put
with regard to the whole system of dis
tribution, with regard to the whole
saler and the retailer and all Of those
factors winch in certain sense are
not directly productive, but which arc
productive only in the economic sense
OF the distribution of goods and in the
giving of services, and because that is
true there never has been time when
it Is so important that the retail mer-
chants Of America should be able to
speak authoritatively. intcllgently. in
educating the public and Influencing
public opinion with regard to the vcrv
great and important service which your
craft is rendering nationally. And
there is still n third reason: This is
tune OF rapid transition; VIC are just
entering into period whcr changes
are going to be rapid, the end Of which
we cannot forcsee, "A time when all
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12
Merchants Advise q
Middle Buying Course

The new idea of helpful aid to one
another which the retailers have
adopted was applied at the smoker last
night in which representatives of large
merchandising houses frankly discussed
before their competitors their buying
programmes for the coming months.
Although the men who rose infor-
mally to discuss the subject character
lied recklessness in buying in this
equally condemned the opposite ex-
treme. Where buying is comparatively y
light, it will be necessary to purchase
often. it was agreed. Stocks must be
we'll supplied, and future needs must
be safeguarded. In some commodities
the wholesale supply will be plentiful; !;
in others light, it was said.
S. II. Halle, of Halle Brothers, of
Cleveland, advises his colleagues as
follows: keep yourself open to buy
at all times, but observe the conditions
Of the market with unremitting scru-
tiny"
Keep your stocks we'll supplied and
adequately assorted" I. Lee, of the
Kansas City suggested, "and be eau
tious in placing orders for the future .
Alfred B. Koch, of Laselle & Koch
Company, of Toledo, who presided at
the smoker, urged buyers to keep them
selves open at all times for new mer-
chandise.
Go to market oftener than usual
but buy in smaller quantities each
time, dlifusing your purchases to meet
the price changes" was the formula
Alexander Sanger, president of Sanger
brothers, of Texas, recommended.
Assorted Stocks Required
Theodore Kaufman, of Trenton. as
serted the need of having ample mer
chandise on hand, and said, "buy as
you SELL" II. S. Fisher, of w. l.. Mil
ner & Co., of Toledo, asserted retailer.
should keep stock we'll assorted OF
staple goods.
All the speakers expressed belle.
that buying would be large. and EN-
phasized the need of studying with
greater zeal than ever before tn,
changing conditions in specific mar
kets.
Almost unanimously the members O
the National Retail Dry Goods Asso
citation by rising vote voiced their con
yiction that the conservation measure
in merchandising which were intro
duced under the stress of war need
ticable. 1t would be mistake
speakers declared. to revert to the pre-
war system of unlimited deliveries O
goods. unrestricted returning of mcr
chandisc and large discounts to pre-
ferred customers
The composite Of opinion Of tn
meeting was that the cost of runnin,
retail stores in 1919 would not b
smaller than in 1918. A Wcslow. o
Indiana, remarked that instead of cut
ting wages department stores shoul
strive for adequate profits and shar
them with their employees. and hi
suggestion met with burst Of ap
plause.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12
Silks
Business in SILKS Actire
in Vest, Where Good
Cheer ReigE,S: Gloom
IN Eost Only
IN East Only

The women OF the West are steadY
buyers of high grade silks In that
section of the country prosperity bora
of high prices for farm products hs'
increased the volume of money IN CIR
oulation and spread cheerful sent
ment among merchants
Major General f. c. Young, formerly
Of the Illinois National Guard, ara
now associated with Belding Bros.
Co.. well-known manufacturers Of SILKS
who has just returned 20 New foFk
after an extensive tour Of the Wesa
declared yesterday that if Eastern
merchants could survey conditions u
the West they would shake off much q
the gloom that now rests upon }nei]
General Young asserted that as 70 PEI
cent of the productive wealth Ct 's
West is derived from the soil and 81
that section has not experienced 'as
disruption incident to the eancelia'i'n
of war contracts, the buying power "
the people has not been cnrtal &C.
General Young is optimistic aDVs'
the future Tor silk fabrics. which, ~
said, have come into wider use ~
that women have entered business =.
an extensive scale. Ten years Il
women did not commonly wear SIN
stated Gercral Young. bat today Tola ilg
en- of even moderate means wear 80
hosiery al least.
He concluded with the staleE..s.
that he does not expect lower p''.ss
for silk fabrics of the better grace.
nor does he believe there VII be np''
higher prices Ass
Silks Of fine texture and me-
marked by attractive designs are ~ rr
good demand. On the contrary, -
grade fabrics are quiet. ard c2IS,, hSsr,
in New York and that the s'riss l...,i. !.
waist and dress operatives IS cuTsr y.-s
ing demand. but outside Of New mi. rI
jobbcrs' stocks are sand to TO pc s'A''
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12
Many Firms Exhibit
At Milliners' Dinner

The retail Millinery Association of
America held its semi annual dinner
and fashion show last night at the
Hotel Astor, with about 1,40o guests
in attendance.
Francis Burton Harrison, Governor
General of the Philippine Islands, was
the guest of honor. In the course of
d talk on the plan of self-govern-
ment which the United States has in
troduced among the Filipinos he de-
clared that "the altruistic plan which
was csoffeo at in the beginning has
turned out to be wonderful success" ."
Among the firms which exhibited
their goods during the evening we're
Hickson, Joseph, Stein e. Blaine. Bruck
Weiss, Vogue Hat Company ano Gage
Brothers. Style shows were also staged
by J. NJ. Gliding G. Co., Bonwit, Teller
Co.. and Best & Co.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12
American Dyemakers Not
Profiteers, Authority Saws
Charges That Color Manufacturers Took Advan,.n.
of Textile Mills Refuted by DR. J. Merritt Mai.
thews; Conditions Assuming Normal Asna.,

The accusation made by some tex
ated American dyestuffs industry has
been guilty of profiteering at their
expense was vehemently denied in a
statement made yesterday by DR.. J.
Merritt Matthews, leading authority
on dyestuffs. DR.. Matthews not only
denied the charge, but called atten-
ton to the fact that the dyemakers
OF the United States had gone to great
expense, without hope of adequate re-
turn in some cases, to produce dyes
that were necessary for the continued
operation of certain textile mills
He does not deny that prices for
dyes have been high, but points to
the fact that the costs of production
and of raw materials in every other
industry have risen since the outbreak
of the war, and that American dive
makers could not have been expected
to produce and sell dyes at the same
price the German product was sold for
DSAoio eiic ouiiHleI ol 15l4. Dc. Mat
thews said:
"The charge Chat the dyestuffs
manufacturer has profiteercd during
the period of the war at the expense
Of the textile manufacturer, in my
opinion, is absolutely untrue. In
many cases the dyemaker has taken III,
lines of work which were compare
lively Improbable in order to he.p
out the textile manufacturer, so that
the latter could keep his mills run
ming. The dyestuffs manufacturer
might have adopted an arbitrary stand
and made only those products where
immediate returns were more readily
obtainable.
while it is true that the manu-
facturer of dyestufs, in common with
most other business men during the
war, has charged high prices. which
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12
Palm Beach for STYLES

The French millinery and riding
habit and sport goods buyers of
Franklin Simon & Co. have left for
Palm Beach, where they will watch
tor new styles. Manufactures and dis
tributing agencies are paying more
attention to Palm Beach and less to
Paris in observing style tendencies
each wear
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12
Japanese Raw Silk Eirrner
American Buying i'll loAolia'''
Market Is Reported

Prices for raw silk in the oS0s.s, IN
market have advanced TO l.&Vo ays s
tho rise during the past zen s~
having been 100 yen, the eqaiva's,.r,;,
30 cents pound. Buying by 'An's'''Ss Il
manufacturers. who are SAID w AS.
short of raw material, and rumoIs In
Japanese reelers have agreed 70 Ing r,g
work for one month. prooaply uu -
the month of March, seem 10 10
stimulating features.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12
Standard Shoe Packing Cases

Wooden packing cases for shoes
have been standardized after con-
terence between the Director General
OF Railroads and tbs transportation
committee of tho National Shoe
Wholesalers Of the United States.
Specifications regarding thickness Of
wood, packing and mailing will be
mandatory on March I.
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12
London Fur Sale Successful

London cables state that furs are
going we'll at the sale of c. NJ. Lamp
son 4 Co, the greatest advances being
in Musquash. Spring, winter and late
similar pelts at the sale last April
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12
Cooperation Keynote
Of Future in Retailing

After explaining that he was no
speaker Mr.. Kilduf in his opening ad-
dress told the delegates that he be-
Lcved new vistas for the future Of the
merchandising business would be
opened by greater cooperation within
the trade. BY their applause the mem
bers Of the association indicated their
approval Of virtually all his opinions,
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12
Dry Goods Men Meet to
Lay Plans for Big Year
In Retail Merchandising

Optimism Prevailing Among
National ConvntonDrive for Membership 100000
Closer Cooperation
Teaching Retailing
New-York tribune., 1919-02-12
Basic Commodities
METALS

rcnorted ,bc
rariuon
The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1919-06-06
SEE, GREAT WAR FILM

Among the pictures wI:ish
viii aid in floating the Victory
Liberty Loan is the remarkable
finn, ''Tae Price Of Peace" in
the taking Of which one of the
photographers was killed. The
film tells the animated story Of
the great attack ut Chateau
Thierry; shows a German air.
plane being destroyed in the
air; shows a field gun and its.
crew icing destroyed by a high
explosive shell, and concludes
with scenes Of the American
Army in Germany. The film is,
5000 feet long. This picture will
be shown without admissions
charge ia as many theatres as
can be reached during the Loan
campaign.
The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1919-06-06
HERE COME THE TANKS

Tanks played an important
part in the big battles of the
war. Twenty Of these arnlprcd
vessels will visit this District,
manned by boys who actually
handled the tanks in France.
They called these boys the
Treat EN- Rough" boys, be-
cause that's what they did to
the hoche. The tanks are fully
equipped with guns and anRlu-
milton just as they went onto
the battiefields, and you viii
get a4real taste of war when
these guns are fired. Eloquent
speakers win accompany the
tanks to tell you all about them,
and what it cost; your Govern
nlent to Treat 'enn Rough. !"
Your Victory Liberty Loan
County Chairman will have
charge Of the routing of these
tanks in your county Don't
fail to see them.