Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-07-16
NO PROSPECTS FOR
 LOWER PRICES AT
 THE PRESENT TIME
Existing Conditions Do Not Forecast Change, Say
 Speakers

1, tions nor prospects for the immediate future to justify anticipation of de- crease in prices of clothing, dress
 goods, shoes and furniture. fhIs was the consensus of opinion expressed by
 members of the Ad club discussing subjects assigned them at the weekly
 meeting at the Hotel Pines yesterday.
 The views of the local men were sup
 ported by L. Simpson of the General Electric company, present as the guest
 of B. c. Fowles, who said he did not see chance for decrease in prices, especially of wooden goods. He point ed out that many mills are closed;
 that labor is high; and material
 scarce.
 H. c. Couch, president of the Ark ansas Light and Power company, who
 returned this week from the east, discussing conditions in Arkansas as compared with other sections, declar- ed that in chart prepared by an au- thority conditions in the territory
 comprising Arkansas, Louisiana and
 Mississippi were pictured as the most prosperous and promising in the United States. Mir. Couch said he found money rather tight, but there is no real trouble nor cause for ap prehension. You can get the money tiff you have the collateral and will pay the interest rate" MT. Couch said the tendency was to discourage
 extravaganza, and to encourage the practice of thrift, and expressed the
 conviction that the success of this policy will be helpful to everyone.
 One of the most potent factors, he
 said, in the money situation is the tendency of people to "keep money in
 their pockets instead of depositing it in banks, where it could be used to promote industry. He pointed out in
 support of this contention that the per capita of cash in circulation is
 only about $28, whereas the wealth of the country is far greater, indl-
 eating that people are keeping huge
 sum from being placed at work to the
 benefit of all. It is common, he said, to find men carrying large sums in their pockets, courting the danger of loss of the money, and retarding industry, because in the aggregate the amount withheld from circulation lis very great. He believes that cam- paign of advertising to induce more people to bank their money would be
 beneficial to all.
 Referring briefly to costs and reve- nues of his business, MT. Couch point ed out that while increase in cost of production in the electric light and
 power business has been as great as in the clothing, furniture or any oth- CT business, the increase in the prices to the public has been less than that
 of the price of any commodity. That the companies manufacturers and merchants who have been com pelled to advance prices, because Of increased cost of material and labor must have additional revenue was intimated by MT. Couch, if the service to the public is to be maintained. | Discussing the situation as to prices iJ. B. Simon spoke on clothing; T. $. I Grove of the Leverenz Shoe company
 on shoes, Charles Gurdin on ladies'
 ready-to- and o. F. Tedstrom on furniture and house furnishings. The speakers pointed out that there had
 not been reduction in price of labor
 nor raw material, and that there is nothing in the situation to justify anticipation of an early decrease in prices. The reduction sales, which have encouraged the belief that an
 era of low prices is near, the speakers
 said, were due to the "tightness of
 money," referred to by MT. Couch,
 and to the merchants requirements.
 Money is necessary to carry on bus mess, they held, and many merchants adopted the reduction sale method as the quickest way, whereby they
 might pay for new goods.
 Skirts will be shorter and sleeves
 of ladies' clothing longer and tighter,
 said c. A. Rogers of the Froug store, speaking on Styles" MT. Rogers ex- plained that some other member prob ably knew more about advance styles
 than he, but that he looked for no great change.
 A. l.. Edmondson, district manager of the Southwestern Bell Telephone company, and Harry Miller of the Standard Lumber company were elect ed to membership at the meeting, which was in charge of K. w. Etter, president of the club.