New-York tribune., 1920-02-18
ClOthiers Hear
Plea to Check
Price Raising
Manufacturers Convention
Asked TO Guarantee Cost
to Retailer for Definite
Period at Start of Season
Suggestion Is Opposed
Present Trade Wages High
est Paid Except Iron,
Steel and Auto Industries

Much of the discussion at the OPEN
ing of the annual convention of the
National Association of Clothiers
(manufacturers) at the Hotel Astor
yesterday revolved about the guaran-
tced price policy. The suggestion was
made by William Goldman, of Cohen,
Goldman & Co., that the manufacturers
OF mems clothing take steps to stabilize
the market by guaranteeing their prices
quoted to retailers at the beginning of
each season for a definite period In
the event Of u decline in the price of
raw materials Or in labor, enabling
the manufacturer to produce his goods
on lower basis than at the price
specified in the order given him by the
retailer, this saving should be passed
on, according to Mr.. Goldman.
II offer this suggestion" said Mr..
Goldman, "to prevent recurrence Of
the price cutting and Generalization
Immediately following the armistice. A
guaranteed price will give the retailer
more confidence in the market. 1t also
Will prevent the raising of the price
following the taking of an order, a
policy which was initiated in this mar
ket during the last fall season. and
which was disastrous, in the opinion Of
most of the men here"
Guaranteed Ir1Cc opposed
Opposition to Mr.. Goldman's suggcs-
tion was offered, and the debate con-
tlnued for some time, but finally was
dropped without definite action. The
majority of those present appeared to
favor the suggestion.
Upon the suggestion of Ludwig Stein,
vice president of B. Kuppenheimer &
Co., Chicago, and president of the as
NJ I'D ~
fer with the woolen and worsted goods
manufacturers upon the proposal to
show their goods for subsequent sea-
sons earlier that at present in order to
give the clothing manufacturers an op
portunity to begin their seasonal work
earlier than they do now
The plan is to get the cloth pro-
ducers to show winter goods, for in
stance, as early as November or De-
cember of the year preceding that in
which the goods are to be made up
and sold. Az present the winter cloth
openings take place in February. The
clothing manufacturers want to begin
their seasons earlier and run them
twelve months production in their
factories, and so eliminate seasonal
work, one of the bones of contention
with the labor in the trade.
According to Mr.. Stein the earlier
showing of cloth is not opposed by the
mill men. civilian Wood, president
of the American Woolen Company" he
SAID, listened to the proposition. when
broached it to him recently"
Discuss Labor Problems
Labor problems were discussed only
lightly. 1t was agreed that the prices
at which next falls clothing will be
offered the retailer in April depend
largely on any new agreement that can
be made with the labor unions in the
trade. A joint conference between
manufacturers and the union, at which
1t is expected some agreement will be
reached, is scheduled for early next
month. Present wages in the clothing
trade, according to Mr.. Stein, are ex-
ceeded only by those in the iron and
steel and automobile industries.
At the morning session motion was
carried after much discussion to ap-
point a committee to draft plans for
an educational advertising campaign to
acquaint ultimate consumers with the
reasons for the high cost of clothing. A
sum Of 100000 will be expended for
this purpose. The cooperation of the
retailers will be solicited. at is our
duty as manufacturers" said Mr.. Stein,
ITO help the retailers dispose of their
stocks of spring clothing. They bought
freely at prices fully 40 per cent above
those of last year, and we must help
them sell these goods at profit"
There will be another session Of the
convention this morning and the clos
ing meeting will be held tonight.