The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-04-15

ing Illus
To relieve a condition brought
about by constantly increasing
prices, a condition which in itself
served to make prices still higher,
the Montana Development Associa-
ton has inaugurated a plan whereby
surplus stocks of merchandise in all
parts of the state may be better dis
tributed and these goods brought to
the merchant who is in need of them
and has been unable to secure them
from his jobber or the manufacturer.
An unusual situation in the state
as well as throughout the entire
country, has arisen on account of
production shortage and rising
prices. For the past two Or three
years every merchant has been con-
fronted with the constant temptation
to buy a little more than he needed
because he was certain that prices
were bound to advance. Every ira
yelling salesman talked shortage"
and urged the merchant to order
more than he really needed a only
a part of the order would be shipped
owing to the general condition of
under-production.
These conditions also led to the
quite general practice of ordering
goods from two or three factories to
insure delivery. Sometimes all of
these factories were able to make
shipment, much to the chagrin of the
retailer, who then found himself with
an over-supply.
High prices, then, were kept high
and forced still higher by this prac-
tice of duplicating and duplicating
orders. Manufacturers were swamp
ed with demands for goods whereas
the orders in the hands of these
manufacturers as a matter of fact re-
presented much more goods than
was actually needed. This constant
spur to tagging production served to
raise wages repeatedly.
1t was not only in the result, the
many surplus stocks, in which the
Development Association vas inter
ested; it was apparent that if it
could be found possible to bring
about a more equal division of these
stocks-to effect a merchandise bal
ance-it would take some of the load
from the shoulders of the manufac-
turer by checking the demand and
help to check rising prices.
Another factor which made the eff
fort very much worth while was the
fact that the goods of which many
merchants had a surplus were pur-
chased at a much lower price than
current quotations. Other retailers,
securing these, could sell them be-
low the present market quotations
and still make a profit, thus hitting
in a very effective way at the high
cost of living.
The association, through the coll
of it's Weekly Bulletin, an
nounced to its four thousand merch-
ant members that an effort would be
made to bring about a merchandise
balance within the state and asked
their cooperation. 1t was proposed
that firms in all parts of the state
send in to the general offices at Bill
lists of goods on which they
were over-stocked, the association in
turn to bring this information to all
other members.
The response was immediate and
enthusiastic. Although the first list
sent out was an imposing one, the
second was even larger. Any doubt
that there would be buyers for these
goods was dispelled by the avalanche
Of letters of inquiry which came to
he general offices in response to
both lists.
Through this plan, hundreds of
have secured goods at prices
much lower than present quotations,
ind in some cases they have secured
goods which they are unable to get
rom their jobbers or manufacturer.
Thousands of dollars worth of mer-
has changed hands and on
zach thousand there is a certain per
,ent of price reduction to the on
Iumer.
The Montana Development asso-
which could undertake such an i'm
,ortant work-a work of such broad
cope-without mourning a prohibit
i've expense which would have made
t impossible for the public to real =,
re the benefit of lower prices, as the !
Expense would have had to be added :
o the cost of the goods. :
The association, however, charges !
is members absolutely nothing for !
he service although it has proven :
many thousands of dollars in :
.ctual returns to the business men of
he state and is effecting a very con- !
iderable saving to the consumer. :
AS far as is known, Montana is the l
My state in the union which possess
d an organization equipped to meet
he condition which exists every
where and effectually overcome it. '
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