davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1920-01-15
.SHOE DEALERS
+. Do BUSINESS ON
CLOSE MARGIN

There has been much talk recently
about the high prices of shoes and other
leather goods. 1t has been inferred
time and again that the shoe dealers
We're undoubtedly proftcering and that
they had no reason for advancing the
price of shoes
H Insofar as Ell Centro Is concerned the
Press has made it it's business to inter
view the various shoe merchants of
this town with the thought in mind to
ascertain just why shoes cost so much.
The information obtained and the evil
dence submitted does not indicate that
Ell Centro merchants could be listed as
profiteers.
We publish herewith an excerpt from
a letter written by Mr.. A. II. Geuting,
president of the National Shoe Retail
erS Association to Isaac Siegel, Sponsor
for the "Siegel Bill' which proposes to
stamp wholesale prices upon the retail
merchandise"
The letter is onlightening and give,
a clear insight into the present "Shoe
Situation"
"The National Retailers Association
has repeatedly run down newspaper
canards. We have investigated wild and
malicious statements made by agiators
to the effect that shoes were bought for
81 and sold for $24, but invariably these
statements have been found to have no
basis of fact. Even when such state
ments were signed in letters to editors
the individual could not be found.
The facts are that the shoe retailers
of the United States are not making 1C
The latest figures compiled by the Har
Vafd bureau of business research OF
Harvard University covering the perioC
of the last twelve months, based upor
reports of upward of 5000 merchants
carrying all classes of shoes and locat
ed in all kinds of cOmmunities( show
that the average net profit has not beer
more than 81 per cent. This is in thu
face of the fact that the market ha
gone steadily higher and that unde
! normal conditions a retailers odds ant
ends have always deprecated whil
! during the war they have really apDre
ciated. The best profit that a retaile
is making today still does not anywhere
near take care of the replacement O
his stockS-Which stocks are dangerous
ly high in cost and will some day reced,
at the expense of the retailers profit
SO that our present profits under tn,
most favorable conditions are still onl,
paper profits. Prior to the war tn.
conditions among retail shoe merchant:
were so bad that rs per cent of then
could not "settle up" at 100 cents OF
the dollars, and only after great dea
of education We're retailers able to bln.
their net profits up to from to pc
cent.
The trouble has been that when shoe
prices have advanced to meet condi
tions which the retailer cannot control
agiators have started a hue and cry
about protiteering. To prove their case
they have no scruples about taking g
particular shoe or line of shoes, holding
it up as a horrible example and as be
ing typical of the merchants entire bus
mess.
GROSS PROFIT OR NET
Imperial Valley press., 1920-01-15
GROSS PROFIT OR NET

Another thought worthy of your con
sideration is that in speaking of profit
the habit is to consider gross profit
With legitimate overhead expense con
sidered, it is easily proven from the
federal tax records that there has been
no profiteerng in the retail shoe bust.
ness. The item of overhead expense in
shoe stores throughout the country will
come pretty close to averaging 80 per
cent, which means that to merchandise
shoe at $40 which costs the retailers
81 would put him into bankruptcy.
The American public demand certain
considerations, and the merchant is
bound to cater to this demand. The
element of service is largely responsible
for the degree of overhead cost. How
ever. there is ample opportunity for the
public to buy food. shoes, clothing and
necessities generally in stores which
handle merchandise in very close,
simple and inexpensive way, it is sig
nificant that rarely do we find such
stores building up a very large business
Such store never becomes competitors
of the Marshall Fields and John Wanna
makers, who give their customers beau
tiful store service, privilege of return
ing merchandise, credit privileges and
wide range of stocks in great abund
ance. The same holds true in virtually
every mercantile business. For exam
pie, the largest business is done by
hotels whose rates are from $6 to $40
per day and not by the 50 per day
hotels.
Profiteering can only be said to exist
where individuals or a set of individ-
ualS control product or market that
is a public need, and, by reason of such
public need and through collusion and
control, demand and obtain eXorbitant
prices No such condition exists in the
retail shoe business, nor can it ever
exist, inasmuch as the market is wide
open to all and it's ramifcations too
numerous and varied to permit any
thing like control or domination. Keen
est kind of competition is present every
where in our trade and therefore pro-
fiteering is doomed to failure from the
start.
CONSUMER WILL PAY COST
Reverting to your bill. every cent or
burden put upon the retailer by reason
of government control necessarily must
be passed on to the consumer eventu-
ally. ! repeat that shoes are retailed
in the United States by efficient people
on the lowest possible basis compatible
with safe business. Every class of GUS
toner is being catered to and with the
keenest kind of competition insuring
to the public the lowest possible prices.
Statistics will prove that shoe re-
tailers do not accumulate millions. The
most shoe retailers feel they are doing
well when they can own a Ford car
They do not maintain country estates,
with retinues of servants, in luxurious
fashion. The income tax returns will
give you the facts on this score.
/ am as vitality interested as any Am
The Washington herald., 1920-12-26
D'ANNUNzIO READY
FOR LONG BATTLE
Civilians Armed and Bread
Cards Restricted
Ip Fiume.

ROME, Dec. 25.-Fiume today
prepared for an expected clash with
Italian regulars.
Foreigners were given three DAYS
to leave the city. They were or
dered out that they might not con-
sumo food needed by the fighters.
Gabrielle d'AnnunZio has militarized
the personnel of the municipal and
public services, supplied them with
weapons and arranged to throw
them into any fighting that may
develop.
Bread cards were withdrawn from
foreigners today and orders for con-
servation of food issued. A curfew
law was put into operation with
shops ordered to close at 10 y. m.
Residents were told to remain off
the streets after that hour.
Mayor Gigantic in a manifesto as
sumed responsibility for informing
the government in the name of the
citizens that Fiume will not agree
to the Rapallo treaty, even If blood
shed results. He urged citizens to
resist the government to the last.
1t was officially announced that
dAnnunzio has written Gen. Cavfg-
liza, commanding the regulars, that
the islands of veglia and Arbe and
other territory will not be evacu-
ated in accordance with the gov
ernment's demands. He declared the
Islands had been added to the "re-
gency OF Juarnero," on the recog-
nized basis of self-determination
The Washington herald., 1920-12-26
MIGHT SERVICE VIA
AIR SOON TO BEGIN

LONDON. Dec. 25-Night flying
betwesn England and the continent
will be an assured fact in the near
future. according to announcement
by Maj. Gen. Sir F. H Sykes. con-
troiler general of civil aviation.
Experiments already successfully
carried out and rapid progress now
going on In perfecting light land
ing devices forecast the day when
regular night cross-channel passen-
ger service viii be an integral part
Of the aerial transport system.
Experimental lighthouses at Croy-
don, one Of the chief London aerial
termini for the London-Paris serv-
Zee, have been q success and addi-
tional ones are being installed as
rapidly a. possible along the route.
Powerful searchlights will, also be
used to assist pilots in landing. The
innovation presages the time when
London and Paris business men viii
be ciassed as air commuters. being
able to return to their homes in
either city in few hours after their
days work.
1t Is hoped. according to Gen.
Sykes. that the danger from fogs
win be minffnized by the use of
lights. thus eliminating one es the
wsesk AaPGsEs - ayinS.
The Washington herald., 1920-12-26
Special Cable Dispatch to
The washingtou Herald.

ATHENS. Dec. 25.-whiie the
resignation Of Premier Rhallis
twice has been refused by King
Constantine, the aged statesman
still is the active head Of the gov
ernment. He has "only the most
optimistic hopes for the future of
Greece" He Jokes about the idea
Of allied interventioh and is amused
by the stories in the French press
expressing fear that Greece might
become Anglophile.
-Four. years ago." he said. "they
accused us Of being Germanophile.
But we have no anxiety about con-
tinued friendly relations with
America and would like a fair deal
from the American press which is
Independent of European propa-
ganda and which has the greatest
influence on this continent" Pre-
mier Rhallis displayed Paris jour-
nails which appeared the day after
Premier Venizelos' defeat with
pictures OF the Prince and Princess
Of Wied, rulers of Albania, dressed
in -SPrussian uniforms. but de-
scribed as Constantine and his
Queen, He said. 1T is impossible
to break through such continued
INSTRUMENTATION All we ask is to
inform Americans Of the truth
about the enthusiastic populace of
Athens and form their own opinion
of kings and popularity. venizeios
rode to power on foreign bayonets
but as soon as the people could ex-
press their will, Venizelos left the
country like a scalded cat"
To the question of what would
be the Greek policy in Asia Minor
Premier Rhallis said: Greece will
SPEND her last cartridge and last
drachma to keep the 5000, 0,00C
Greeks from the mercies of the
Turks. We entered into engage
ments with the powers regarding
that territory and we mean to carry
IL through" Asked about the kine
going to the front. he said: Moth.
ing could suit His Majesty better
for leading troops is his meter. Blu,
this may not be possible for him or
account of the objection of the pow
ers who refused to allow Kinl
Alexander to go to the Anatoliar
The Washington herald., 1920-12-26

Maj. George B. Hunter. u s. A.
'office OF the chief of cavalry, has
recovered 'sufnciently from an at
tack of tonsilitis to resume his
duties at the ONCE.
The Washington herald., 1920-12-26
ENING JAPANESE DIET MAY FRAMING TREATY
Rhallis, Amused at "Anglophile'
Label Ridicules Continent Reports
OF Allied Intervention in Greece

front. The reason 10 that we have
agreed with the Allies that this ter
ritory shall be given autonomy and
the royal presence there might be
interpreted as an effort by Greece
to overthrow the agreement"
Today there Is a procession going
through the streets Of Athens, one
of the. last of the groups reluctant'
to quit the celebration for the re-.
turned king. Tkoy are carrying
candles. palm leaves and eggs which
are religious symbols sacred to Eas-
ter and now for the first time are
being taken through the streets to
indicate the resurrection of the
Greek nation the same as they SYM
bolize the resurrection of Christ in
church. Greeks of all classes. rich
and poor, pass by. singing Son Of
the Eagle" which Is a Constantine
hymn and which was forbidden
under Venizelos.
Bulgaria's desire I'd obtain an out
let at the Thracian port Of Dede-
agatch Is one of the most threaten
ing clouds now looming on King
Constantine's horizon. 1t is the
card in the hand of the allies which
may prove to be the winning trump.
Fear that the Intervention of the
entente against King Constantine
might cause the Greeks, who are
fighting the war for the allies
against Mustafa Kemal. to with
draw. has been one ofthe reasons
for allied forbearance toward
Greece. But the Bulgars, who have
suffered comparatively little from
the war and who have a strong
army, are as Capable as the Greeks
to smash the Kemalists. 1t is
known in allied diplomatic circles
here tina. the Bulgars alreaty have
made overtures to the Entente, Of
ftring to act as the allied cham
pion in Turkey IL given financial
support and IL rewarded by terri
toria concessions in Macedonia and
Thrace. especially the coveted post
of Pedeagatch now held by the
Greeks. If the Allies choose to ac-
cept that offer they may be able to
blockade Greece with impuhity.
Copyright, 1890. Public Ledger Coz
The Washington herald., 1920-12-26
City Men to Fight Farm,
Bill for Grain EXCHANGES

Bills proposing regulation of
grain exchanges will be opposed by
exchange representatives from most
cities of the West. at a hearing be-
fore the House Agricultural Com
mittee, January 4, it was said here
yesterday.
Representatives of farmers or
ganizations will appear in support
of this legislation, the committee
has been informed. 1t is contended
by grain exchange representatives
that the Regulation" proposed will
have the effect of closing the ex-
changes altogether.
The Washington herald., 1920-12-26
Asks u. S. Relief
For Job, Food or
American Hubby
Special osbls Dispstch ts
Tho waxhinrton Hsrnk.

HAMBURG. Dec. 25.@Please help
me TO obtain food or q suitable po<
sition. or better still. a nice kind
young American husband
Thus writes q widow OF a Ger
man ofiicer killed in the war 70 the
headquarters of the Hoover Relief
Administration here. Appeals for
food or assistance in finding en-
ployment. many OF them from
Americans living in Germany since
before the war are received daily.
but this Is the FIRST instance Of the
relief agency being called on 10
function as a matrimonial bureau
The number of food packages dis
tributed In Germany has doubled
during the past month. The sgency
is now sending out 1000 to 5000
packages weekly by mail and
through the bureaus ip Hamburg,
Berlin. Frankfort. Dresden and Au-
mich.
A total of more than 5000 food
packages, large and small, have
been distributed in Germany since
the beginning of the work last year.
A number of American firms with
branches and agencies In Germany
have taken advantage Of this or
ganization to buy drafts and have
food delivered TO employees here a.
Christmas presents.
Coepyrisht, 1870. Public Ledger ce)
The Washington herald., 1920-12-26
GiUe Christmas Dinner
To $4,000 Riddles
Special Gable Dispatch to
The washington Herald.

LONDON, Dec. 25.-Walter Ly-
man Brown. European director OF
the American relief administration,
today telegraphed a Christmas pres
ent to $4,000 half-starved Budapest
children. In telegraphipg Carlton
Bowden, Budapest representative In
charge of the children's fund, Mr.
R-u- instructed him to begin feed
ing Immediately $4,000 children in
that city.
The American relief administra-
ton some weeks ago was compelled
to cease feeding Hungarian children
because of lack of funds from
America, but as result of cable
grams from Herbert Hoover, Mr..
Brown was able today to wire
Budapest to again feed the Hun
garian youngsters.
Copyright, 1890. Public Ledger co.,
The Washington herald., 1920-12-26
GiDes 700, 900 Francs
Grant to Paris Opera

PARIS, Dec. 25.-The chamber of
deputies has Just granted an addi-
tional subsidy of 100000 francs to
the National Grand Opera budget.
raising the annual total to 1900. .o0n
francs. The recent strike at the
opera was partly due to the fact
that the annual appropriation of
100000 francs had not been in
creased for fifty years.
The directors claim the increase
Is not exorbitant as under the re-
storation the French Kings spent
more than 100000 francs ON opera
annually.
tcepyrisht, lsao, Public Ledger Co.,
The Washington herald., 1920-12-26

LONDON, Dec. 25.-The Duchess Of
Marlborough. formerly Consuelo
Vanderbilt, who this week has been
negotiating for the purchase of a
villa at Lake Geneva in PREPARATION
for a permanent residence on the
continent, has decided that she will
not abandon the London charities to
which she has long been a bountiful
giver.
She has arranged that henceforth
an annual fund of s25.000 will be
disposed of through trustees to
London's deserving poor. The sum
represents about one-third of the
amount she has been in the habit of
distributing. 1t has been notorious
The Washington herald., 1920-12-26
Champagne Tax
Wreaks Havoc on
Paris Festivities
Special Cable Dispatch 10
The washington Herald.

Special Cable Dispateh 10
The Washington Herald.
PARIS, Dec. 25.-To prevent a
repetition of last years Christmas
Eve orgy is the reason Paris au-
thorities placed a 50 per cent tax on
all suppers and each bottle OF
champagne consumed at this years
"reveillon."
In Paris the celebration Of Christ
mas and New Year are just the re-
verse from those in America Here
the home feast and gift-giving oc-
cur on New Year. while Christmas.
and particularly Christmas Eve. are
given over to merry-making such
as Americans remember in the days
before the great drought
This years extra tax rule hits
directly the night establishments in
The Washington herald., 1920-12-26

that she has given Unfortunately
as well as lavishly to scores of men
and women who have received
grants of money without any justI-
fication other than their ability to
tell plausible story.
When the Duchess became a mem
Der of the London County Council
she was cautioned by her election
agent against being imposed upon
by a gang of men and women who
had no interest in her candidature
except to have a good time at her
expense. This is one reason why
she has now abandoned her munich
pal duties and decided that her trus-
tees will henceforth be best fitted
to dispense her charities.
The Washington herald., 1920-12-26

Montmarte. Where selr-respectiRg
Frenchmen are seldom seen True
on Christmas Eve every cafe keeps
open all night, but in most Of them
the gayety Is a natural thing not
necessarily superinduced by cham
payne. Many of the Montemarte es-
Adjustments placed a cover charge
as high as 500 francs for last
nights feasting, so were dismayed
at the tactics suddenly taken by
police, who went the rounds In
forming them that the SO per cent
tax is on the square
The municipal authorities are
sick of the city's reputation as A
place OF debauchery. A recent
faxed article appearing in an
American newspaper. purporting 10
be signed by an American CLERGY
man, who had never seen the article
in question nor said any OF the
trings attributed to him. was the
last straw.
Copyright, lsso. Pubic Ledger Co.
The Washington herald., 1920-12-26
Tax Profits "a Per Cent.

LONDON, Dec. 25.-American busi-
ness men who complained of high
taxes in the United, States have q
surprise in store for them IL they
have :-fitish branches. The direc-
tor Of a large American corpora
ton having nearly a hundred
branches in the British Isles, de-
clares his company's taxes this year
amounted to "a per cent of the
profits.
Ecssyzish. lsss. RusHs. Isdesr csa
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1920-01-24

iect why destroy the glory Of God"
in the morning and in the evening,
Mutual Sympathy" The collection
was $27.15. Sunday school with Broth.
er r. Burns, Superintendent, has tax
en- up modern methods. The b. Y.
p. U. was very interesting. Mrs. Lii.
liam Mills with her section of boys
went over the top with Educational eff
fort. We had as visitors, Mrs. Julia
Martin of Kansas City. Mr.. Victor Gray
and Mr.. Lavant Taylor Of Sedalia. ...
Mrs. A. C. Harper has been i'll few
days but is able to be out. Mr.. R.
p. Hemlsley was i'll but is improving
-. Mrs. Julia Martin is visiting Mrs
Carrie Taylor. We were sorry tC
learn of the death of Sister Dora
Woods. She has our sympathy. Mr.
j. w. II. Phillips visited Mr.. T. H
Cohroh last week. =. Mrs W. II
Snead entertained Mrs. Julia Martin
at dinner Saturday. Mrs. VIM. Tay
lcr gave dinner in honor of their
son. Mr.. Lavant Taylor and Mrs Mar
tin.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1920-01-24
RosEoALE, KANSAS.

Mr.. Jasper Cochran of Oklahoma
is the guest of his brother-in-law. MIR,
Brazzie Strickland and Mrs. Strick-
land. 4052 Adams e.. Mr.. George
Scott has returned from Brunswick,
Mo-. where he accompanied the body
Of his wife. Mrs. Villa Scott, who
passed away In Des Moines. Ia. Mrs.
Scott was formerly of this City and
was ute an intelligent Christian
woman and has made many friends.
Besides her husband she is survived
by niece, Mrs. Ruth Jackson OF
Des Moines, who lies critically i'll in
hospital in St Joseph. having re
ceived a broken back in train wreck
while she was accompanying heI
aunts body to Brunswick. Miss
Hortesne Ford of Butler, Mo, has re
turned home after very pleasant
visit with her aunt and uncle Mr.
and Mrs. John Garlich. Mrs. Betitia
Jones, the mother of Mr.. William
Jones Of this city died at her home
in Independence, Mo, Monday. Be
sides her son she is survived by fout
daughters and other relatives ....
There will be Quarterly Meeting a,
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1920-01-24

benefits OF this department are too
well known and enjoyed to need more
than this mention.
Giving an opportunity to employees
to buy its stock is of comparative re-
cent date, But Swift and Co., is in
the forefront.
We found the liberty bonds profit
able but the Swift Cos. stock is more
so. The plan is easy, so much each
week and dividend twice that of the
liberty bond. The beauty of this is
that your money is working side by
side with you. 1t does not get sick,
it takes no day off, and is not laid off.
| 1t works all the time, night and day
and when you are played out, If you
have carefully purchased enough stock
it will supply your needs and keep you
! from want.
l need not dwell upon the habit cul
tivated of saving bit each week
which otherwise would get away from
us and would not be missed.
But besides these advantages the
crowning effect is that the employe
by his vote becomes a shaper in the
destinies of the company and the com
pany becomes a sharer of his more
sympathetic interest.
Now, If one has already laid by a
few hundred or thousand dollars, he
could not use it to better advantage
than by investing with Swift and Com
pany.
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1920-01-24

The French Preparation Is Just What Say HIs
Does Just What Say Will Do Try and See For Yourself
Write today
Price of inc
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1920-01-24
BENEFIT AND STOCK OF SWIFT
& COMPANY.

By Thos Richards, Stakeholder. 33S
Greedy Avenue, Kansas City. Kas.
In our last talk we stressed our ben.
Gifts to the company This time we,
If you please, shall consider, two fea-
lures. extraordinary benefits of the
company to us. But may / digress a
moment to remind you Of statement
in a recent issue of the Star announc-
ing that our company has large plant
in Argentina, South America and min
or branches in other South American
states. What significance has this for
us? In these countries ability rather
than color figures. We can get closer
to the average South American than
the white man of the United States.
Language is our only handicap. The
language of the South American coun-
tries save Brazil. which speaks Portu-
gese, is Spanish. Our advancement
there would cause less friction than at
home and Swift & Co.. could make
more money by using us there.
But that is aside. Your attention
is mainly drawn (D 10 the buying of
stock in Swift & Co., and (2) the En-
ployes' Benefit Association.
In conversation not long since with
an employe of a sister plant, learn
ed that the company deducts without
consent certain amount for the acci-
dent and sick department. Our COM
pany does not do that. Therein lies
its charm. 1t calls you in, lays before
you several options, states their ad-
vantages, and allows you to make your
selection without compulsion. The
The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1920-01-24
A MIowlNrER FUNCTION

Little Margery L. Woods was a
happy child January II, 1920 through
an auto-birthday party given in her
honor by her mother. The children
were called for between 100 and 900
o'clock. They all looked like bunch
of bouquets. They had a three course
luncheon and a happy time A good
pastor, Rev. S. c. Doyle a true lover
of children was there to greet them.
She received many beautiful tokens