New-York tribune., 1920-01-14
Textile Markets
In Critical State,
Fabric Buyers Say
Trade Leaders Emphasize
Need of Caution i'm View
of Dangerous Conditions;
Spectators Are Attacked

1eCtlNeS Appiieu 10 tuS present cotton
woolen and silk goods markets yester-
day at the annual convention of the
Jobbers' Association of Dress Fabric
Buyers at the Waldorf-Astoria. The
fabric iobbers. coming from all parts
OF the country. were by no means pes-
simistic regarding the business outlook
for 1920, but throughout the meeting
the need Of caution was emphasized and
reiterated. How long high prices will
continue and how far they will go was
question that received at best only
an indefinite answer.
Sees End of Boom
Indications that the boom period of
business during 1919, with its good
profits, may not extend much further
were cited by II. Clay Miller, of the
Daniel Miller Company, president of
the association, in his opening remarks.
While the general public still continues
to buy at high prices, he said, retailers
reported to him that their customers
were choosing goods more carefully
end hesitating longer before finally
paying present prices. Also, according
to Mr.. Miller, mill agents and con-
verters seem to be in an "unwarranted
hurry to sell their products on the at
value basis" by which prices are de-
termined at the time the goods are
cording to Mr.. Miller, also are begin
ming to be factor in the market. He
spoke of large contracts for shirtings
which had been placed by American
firms in England, and said that his
firm now has shipment on the way
from Manchester consisting of two-ply
voiles which were contracted for there
at figures below the American market
price.
q L
said, sis as hazardous as it is high.
Textile prices have risen in greater
proportion than those of other COM
modities. Many classes of fabrics are
now five or six times their pre-war
prices. The retailers who buy from us
are demanding protection against the
possibility of falling market, while
we are bound by contracts, which we
cannot cancel, to take in goods sold US
at high prices by mills and convert
ers."
Mr.. Miller suggested that slowing
up of strenuous efforts to do more
business might have stabilizing ef-
feet upon the entire fabric market.
A schedule of price advances Of
other commodities contrasted with ad-
vances in textile lines was used by w.
G. Patrick, of the Decker Patrick Com
pany, Salt Lake City, Utah, to demon
strate the contention that textile
prices have increased in greater pro-
portion than other goods. Textiles are
now from 100 to 125 per cent above
last April's prices, he said, and from
300 to 500 per cent ahead of pre- war
sale grocers show that -four and wheat
products have advanced 10 to Is per
cent in the last year, corn products
have declined 10 per cent, meats have
declined 80 per cent in the last three
months, canned milk and dairy prod
ucts have remained equal with last
yoar, beet sugar has advanced only
slightly. furniture has advanced 100
per cent and shoes from 1875 to $50
per cent compared with 1913.
Breaking Point Near
This looks as if the breaking point
we're near at hand" said Mr.. Patrick,
land it is time for us to act cautious
b." He expressed himself as strongly
opposed to the cat value" method of
selling goods pursued by mills and con-
yerters.
Spectators in cotton goods received
q mental clubbing by jackson Fair
hurst, of the Love Warren Monroe
Company Tacoma.
Testimony to the effect that silk is
making rapid strides as dress fabric
was given by F. B Patton, Of the Pitts
hurgh Dry Goods Company, of Pitts
burgh, and L. B. Clough, of NJ. E. Smith
g. Co, Omaha. The former predicted
that silk soon will lead wool as the
most popular dress fabric for women.
Dress manufacturers, he said, were US
ing more than one and a half times as
much silk as WOODEN fabrics.
Mr. Clough called attention to the ex
napHipr htIc in goods
the retail counters, indicating that
women were making up more of their
garments and buying less ready made.
Retailers tell me,' he said, "that their
dress goods business has expanded
about 400 per cent"
What the government is doing to help
teach young girls home economics, par
ticularly sewing and the making of gar
ments, was related by Mrs. Henrietta
". Calvin, of the Bureau Of Education,
Department of the Interior. The con-
vention unanimously adopted a resolu
ton favoring better pay for teachers in
the country and the extension Of educa-
ton.
Among the other speakers were " r.
Dalzell, Of the Pittsburgh Dry Goods
Company; Paul c. Barbee, Of the Smith
McCord Townsend Dry Goods Company,
Kansas City, Mo-; Frank x. Walsh, Of
tic RICe-Stih OTy NOOuS company, .ol.
Louis. and Sidney A. Linneken, Of the
Babson statistical organization.
The committee on contracts recon-
mended the jobbers to include in their
. contracts or accepted orders from re-
tailers a clause to the effect that the
contract was made in good faith and
that no cancellation would be accepted.
Progress toward uniform contract be-
tween jobbers and converters was re-
ported. At present, it was said, there
are ffty-geven different kinds of con-
tracts used by converters.
Mr. Barbee reported progress toward
the establishment of cotton color
card similar to that now in use in the
silk trade.
Officers Elected
At the election of officers, which
closed the meeting, Bently p. Ncf, OF
+. 4. Patrick g. Co, Duluth, Mimi, was
chosen president. Frank x. Walsh, Of
the Rice -Stix Dry Goods Company, st
Louis, and George r. Aufderhcde, OF
the Arbuthnot-S Stephenson Company
Pittsburgh, were retained az first vice,
president and treasurer, re-
spectiyely, and Paul c. Barbcc was
elected second vice president to suc-
ceed Mr.. Meg. who was elevated to the
presidency.
Business Items
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