Indiana daily times., 1920-03-04
CLOTHING DROP
LONG WAY OFF
Not Chance This Year, Re-
tailers Here Told.

Clothing prices will not drop materially
during the next year, although dealers
would like to see a decrease, according
to Charles f. Wry of Chicago, secre-
tary of the National Association of Re-
tail Clothiers' association, addressing the
state convention yesterday. He bases his
conclusions on recent nation wide sur
vey conducted by the national associa-
ton.
Officers were chosen as follows; Willis
Johnson, Seymour, president; A. R. See
wald, Terre Haute, first vice president
Carl Steel, Huntington, second vice
president; Albert w. Levi, indianapolis.
secretary treasurer, and the following
directors; l.. V. Meyer, Flora; P NJ.
Polk, Newcastle; l.. r. Bing, Anderson
Eli Schloss, indianapolis. and Max Adler,
indianapolis. Sol-Schloss, indianapolis,
was reelected as national director
And furthermore" Mr.. Wry added,
they never viii be back to where they
were before the war Conditions have
changed. Labor cost to manufacturers
/ has increased more than 200 per cent
since 1913. Materials of every descrip-
I tion are higher. Selling costs and every
/ item that enters into the final cost of
/ clothes to the consumer has been ad-
vaneed, except the dealers profits"
Mr.. Wry said that nobody would
welcome a cut iDrthe cost of wearing ap-
/ parel for men more than the dealers
/ themselves, but that in the face of alb
normal costs he did not see how it Is
possible for a drop TO materialize this
year.
II do believe" Mr. Wry explained,
that eventually we Will get back to a
level of prices lower than the ones
now ruling. | do not mean prewar
prices. but from the chaotic conditions
growing out Of the sudden termination
of the war, will come a better under
standing between laborer, manufactures,
dealer and customer that can only mean
every one realizing the other fellows s
position and working toward a closer
harmony and unity Of purpose. Until we
get peak production, which we have not
now, there can be no decline I'm the cost
of clothes. This is the belief of heads Of
the national association, as much as
regret TO admit, arrived at after ex-
haustive and careful research and study"
The price of collars came up for
consideration before the convention In
open discussion. Manufacturers, II ap-
pears, have raised the price OF collars
TO S2.40 a dozen. or 20 cents each.
Whether to continue to sell collars at
% cents each or to charge so cents was
the question. II was finally agreed by
q large majority of the dealers present
that. irrespective OF the manufacturers
price collars would continue 10 be re-
tailed at Is cents each.
Secretary A. w. Levi called attention
30 the remarkable growth OF the asso
citation. From 4 nucleus Of sixty mem
hers in 1918. the year Of its birth. the
association has expanded until now IL
numbers 2J6 members and n goal Of 400
set by its officers which Mr.. Levi pre-
dicted, would be reached this year. There
has not been a single member with
drawn after once joining the association
The convention closed yesterday after
noon with meeting Of the officers and
directors.
banquet was given Tuesday night by
the Mems Apparel club In honor Of
members Of the Clothiers association.