Arizona republican., 1920-04-28
Shoes

Though the subject of high prices has been under discussion since the signing of the arstice anu has consumed volumes of paper and wind and of economists and theorists, find that the causes are so complex and numerous know them and their relation to the gen. effect than did in the beginning.
 There very plain, outstanding ones concerning dispute. One of them inflation-the lessened value of the dollar which has sunk in popular esteem to extent to encourage extravaganza which is another recognized There is the lack too. of government super vision of supply, that left in the location of the profiteers whose activities third admitted of high prices.
 A conversation yesterday with a gentleman in tmately connected with the shoe trade resulted in throwing light phase of the subject and it may be regarded illuminatve of pretty broad of it He is member of large eastern concern handling only shoes of the highest grade. It may stated beginning he generally absolves dealers and especially retailers of the best shoes for of the charge of profiteering
 The rise in the prices of fine shoes for began before the present of high prices It with the coored shoes.-a style-and styles in shoes two sources-the stage and the French demi- -mondaine. It is surprising, said this gentleman, that respectable American should adopt the shoe style set by foreign of il1- repute but they do On the other hand, he said French women of the better class do not those weird and extravagant styles but generally shoes American lasts.
 The tendency of women in this country has been toward excusiveness in shoes it formerly only in hats and cloaks and clothing generally. average American woman does not shoe of style that she thinks a lower caste will likely be wearing. She wants something cnt' from the shoes of of her own social class. result of this factories turning out shoes of the finest grades called upon make singles" expensive practice which they are doing what they discourage.
 In the first instance the factories-though only of them, encouraged variety shoes increase the number of Now they are trying to get back toward standardization fewer and less fre- quentIy changing styles.
 The manufacturers doing this in their own well in the The latter have been disastrously swamped by styles. For instance last year. the purchases for spring delivery not later than October. Two months later a new style was unexpectedly turned Of course the dealers had to have it to meet popular demand. A result is that much regularly purchased stock was left on their shelves, to be disposed
 In very large cities said gentleman such stocks can frequently be disposed loss but in such places Phoenix the dealer is generally left without recourse
 few years ago, women of fifty fifty-five wore sensible and nationally advertised shoe known as the Martha Washington, far better, more comfort able and serviceable than any style" shoe But these women seized with the craze and the Martha Washington factory passed out of existence.
 "A few days ago." said the shoe man, T was In Carson Pirie & Scott's, Chicago A small weazened white haired woman of probably sixty-five buy pair of shoes. The clerk trying to sell her sensible, serviceable pair insisted buying of stylish shoes a price that of the other, and worth about half much I would have really liked in that case, the of this old to shoes down.
 The dealers discouragns as far as they carI the ultra latest style shoes which theI carry silent protest They offer bonuses to sell from the regular stock. The ultra styles are displayed bait to bring the customer in Then clerk expected by his skill in salesman ship attention other sensible and cheaper shoes. I visited Denver when the proprietor told he had just dis charged a clerk for selling stylish shoes"
 If the foregoing recital of facts is true and we believe it is it difficult to why the prices of vomen's high It is not because leather is high not because increased wages and not be- cause of profit.ering though no doubt somewhere along the line there merchants, manufacturers and rniddlemen pulling down more money than they ourbt to have. At the bottom of it all is an un- healthy demand