New-York tribune., 1920-02-12
Consumers Bak
At High Prices,
Merchant Asserts
Leading Manufacturers Say
That Mounting Costs of
Production Make Still
Higher Prices Inevitable

Mems clothing retailers are facing a
decreased consumer demand for their
mercandise on one hand and higher
prices to be asked by manufacturers
for next winters garments on the other
side. This became clear yesterday in
the remarks of various speakers at the
fourth annual convention of the Retail
Clothiers' Association of the State Of
New York at the Hotel McAlpin.
Nathan Lemlein, former president of
the association, in opening the conven-
ton stated that in his belief the con-
sumner of clothing has started to balk
at the high prices. SIN spite of this"
ne said, manufacturers tell US that
prices are going higher
This latter statement was borne out
by William Goldman, of Cohen. Gold
man Co., manufacturers of clothing
who discussed the manufacturing situa-
ton and prices in an informal address.
According to Mr.. Goldman the manu-
featuring c!othiers have about COM
pleted their purchases of cloth, Innings
and trimmings for next falps clothing
at prices from SO to 40 per cent in ad-
vance of last years prices for woolens
and worsteds, and from 100 to $50 per
cent for cotton and silk Innings. Upon
this basis the manufacturers will have
TO charge higher prices for fall cloth
ING, when offered to the retail trade
within the next few months, he as
serted.
II do not look for reduction in
clothing prices during the current
year." he said. Business. of course
must be predicated upon the general
prosperity of the country. Much has
been made of the curtailment of credit.
adverse exchange, ETC., as having a
sslowing-up effect on business. If this
happens production will decrease.
goods will be scarce and prices will 90
higher" 81
The big orders coming in for rail-
large building projects, in the opinion
OF Mr. Goldman, will bring about great
prosperity in this country during 1920.
hlslng prices Of textiles, he said.
nave been checked and the corner of
ihlgh prices in these commodities has
been turned, but the retailers will not
1eel the effect of it until late in the
year, when they come to the market to
1921 'p' 'i's VI
He advised the retailers to nurchase
their normal quantity of merchandiss
ana TO avoid speculation upon the
chances OF the market moving either
upward OR downward.
1orden l.: Stephens, of BROOKLYN.
president of the organization. in is
opening address stated that the retail
ers to-day were Offering the public
clothing at cheap prices. "People earn
more money with lass effort than ever
peaore, tsa ne said. "and consequently
ehe amount OF labor necessary to pur-
chase suit of clothes has been re-
duced compared to pre-war davs."
:, Engllsh-made overcoats. according TO
samuel Knopf jr of Weber e. He'll.
Droner, are coming into this market
az az prices cheaper than American manu-
lac'urers can offer them. He advo-
Gated the adoption of English over
coat styles by American makers He
also advocated the adoption of fewer
models and simpler styles of all cloth
ing oy manufacturers as a method Of
feduclng production costs.
francls NJ: Hugo, Secretary of State
% o.. New .S York, made a stirring appeal
terest in public affairs by all citizans ,s
"Cltizenship has obligations as we'll az
privileges he said. Cooperation he.
tween capital and labor. he stated will
solve the problem of high prices and
low production now Confronting The
country. ITO work and save" he CON
GUIDED, lis an individual resp ponsibilitv
resting on each one of u.s." In his
OPINION the country is suffering from
700 much government control.
=, other addresses were made bv
Mauslce Brill, of Brill Brothers; Lud,
WIG Wlg stem president of the National
wholesale Clothiers' Association: Marx
Elsner, former Collector Of Interna1
Revenue, and Francis j. Best, advertis-
ing director for Franklin Simon & q