Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-07-30
Virginia Merchants De-
clare They Stand With
Consuming Public.
GREAT WASTE is SHOWN
IN TRANSPORTING GOODS
During Last Year Clothiers of
Country Had Claims of $780,
100000 Against Railroads.
CoNvE TIoN ADJoURNs
W. IT. SchwarZschild, Head OF tho
State Retailers Association,
Advises Conservatism.

In series of resolutions defend
ing the course of retail clothiers dur
ing the past year, the Retail Clothicrs.
Association, in the closing session
OF their scminnnual convention yes.
teTday. pledged themselves to fight
any further advance in clothing
prices. and TO promulgate n doctrine
among merchants that calls for Just
and honest dealings.
Immediately before tho closing SOC.
sion. Richmond was selected as tho
next meeting place OF tho convention
which convcncs next March The
body holds two sessions year I'm
July and March. the two months lust
before the heavy buying seasons
Among other business handled was
decided Increase in association dues
adopted by the convention Hereto
fore dues have been $40 year. but
from January. 1921. they will become
s2a per annum. y special assessment
of $40 was levied for the remainder
OF the present year.
WY Addresses Delegates.
Secretary Charles L. wry. Of tho
national association. made the prin-
cipal address or the convention yes-
terday morning. Mr. Wry spoke for
half an hour and curing that tima
covered some OF the really imnortant
| problems that face the retail mcr-
chants in the country as Il whols.
y return must he made to tho
confidence in our fellow business man
as 1t existed before the great world
war" declared Secretary Wry. SHOW
the public the costs and tell them tho
truth. ~ truly honest. presentation 7
OF facts never Injured merchantS
and 1t won't do 1t now. False agi-
tat;on in the press In some parts of
the country has been misleading and
must be corrected. 1t is known
among the retailers that tho price OF
clothing has not advanced any moro
than has other necessities" said tho
speaker.
Much Lost In Transit.
Mr. Wry called attention to tho
work OF the national associations
traffic work. Clothing losses In
transportation have become so large
that insurance companies are begin
ming to cancel policies. Clothiers
last year had S2O0.000.OO0 in claims
against the railroads" he declared
During the course OF his speech
hr. Wrv referred TO the Lever ar,
NThe Lever act" he averred, "is
based. not on fact. but on theory.
and figures now being collected by
the national association Will be used
to fight the act when IL comes before
the Supreme Court for its test as To
constitutionality." He indicated that
Jurist of nationwide reputation
would appear for the clothiers BY
giving facts to the national associa-
ton. the speaker asserted, the
clothiers will be better able to COM
bat the act.
w. III. Schwarzschild, president OF
the Virginia Retailers Association,
addressed the convention in the after 5
noon. Mr.. Schwarzschild urged the
c!othiers. in this time. when bank
credit is close and borrowing rules
so stringent. TO buy conservativeIy.
He advocated n purchase that would
meet all the needs Of the consum-
ing public. but deplored any over
stocking among the clothiers.
Prices VIII Not Advance.
The prevailing opinion expressed
among the delegates to the conven-
ton as to the situation was that tho
price of clothing for the coming sea-
son wolld not be higher than IL is
now, To any considerable extent, but
that the prices would certainly be
no lower. The manufacturer has been
able since the close of the war; to
maintain his high price owing To the
pressing demands of the retailer. The
manufactures has not lowered his
price. so IL is II matter OF impoSsi-
bility for the retailer to lower his.
Delegates TO the annual convcn-
tion of the National Association of
Retail Clothiers, which meets in Chi
caeo, September % to October 1. were
elected at the morning session yes
tcrday. They are: Raphael Levy.
W. Wcinfcld. y. Dettlebach. Charles
Grcenbaum, Gilbert Greentrcc. Ralph
Rothschild and w. Fleet Kirk. all OF
Richmond: Edward Eigenbrun. OF
Petersburg: y, IIorwitz and S Mir
melstein. Of Newport News: 4. c. and
+. IL. Smith. of Bristol. and w. c..
Hunt OF South Ros;nn