davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-01
The Reputable Merchant
Is Not a PrOfiteer"

Prices are very high, but an analysis of
the conditions will show that the retail mer-
chant, whose reputation depends upon retain
ing the confidence of his customers, is not re-
sponsible for the prevailing high prices.
1t will be seen from the following list of
articles in constant demand how COSTS TO
US have increased in five years. The COMPARE
sons are of the same grades at the different
periods, and as nearly accurate as they can be
made. In most instances, these are popular or
medium grades:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-01
Our Inflated Currency

We read that we have in this country five
and One-half billion dollars in circulation
two billion more than in 1913; and that bank
deposits have increased from thirteen to
twenty-five billion dollars in the same period
Prices are high, but money, as measured by
goods, is cheap.
After all, were II possible TO go back to primitive
Notwithstanding wheat and potatoes for shoes and
dry goods, or labor directly for merchandise-mght
II not be that the real inequties not SO great
appears with our fixed idea of the value of dollar
In mind? MS
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-01
The Lowering of Prices
Is Everybody's Problem

If we are extravagant-perhaps some of us
are-LET US BUY ONLY WHAT WE NEED,
AND BUY CAREFULLY, from houses of
known integrity. GREATER PRODUCTION
is the crying need of the day. Let us WORK,
WORK, WORK, and there will be plenty for us
all But to stop buying altogether would cause
further curtailment of production, and any
temporary drop in prices would be followed by
rush for goods and that in turn by a still
higher price wave.
Merely waiting for prices to fall will not make
them fall because the shortage of goods is real and
the need for them is real. The average family has
been using not more but less in quantity for three
four years. and their need will only become pro-
nOunced the longer they wait. TO BUY WHAT YOU
NEED AND NO MORE is assuredly wise policy
As the president of the National Commerce
Chamber said the other day: "Only work and time
can restore the balance between production and con-
sumption"
OUR GOVERNMENT cannot control nat
ural laws by man-made laws; but it may regu-
late tendencies toward monopoly Over-capital.
ization and restriction of output, pass scientific
tax laws, exercise moderate restraining SUD-
ervisiOn over exports of necessities, and per-
haps make a careful study of economy in
Government itself
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-01
Commerce the Foundation
of Civilization

Food, clothing and shelter are all that
mankind actually needs to sustain life, and the
source of supply of all these is the soil. Primi-
tive man, by his own labor, wrested from the
earth the means of subsistence, but not until
he learned to TRADE the product of his own
toll for the things which his neighbor excelled
him in producing, did he begin to rise out of
his elemental state. The history of progress
is the history of COMMERCE. 1t has been
the chief inspiration in the development of
man and all his marvellous works.
Since the merchant adventures of CEN
turies ago risked their capital, and even their
lives, in strange lands and upon uncharted
seas, the largest contribution to comfort and
enjoyment of life has come through Commerce.
The modern retail store is a necessary
factor in distribution, bringing the goods of
the world from where they are made to where
they are needed. But as it is the retailer who
comes into direct contact with the consumer,
it is somewhat natural habit when prices
are high, to lay the blame at his door.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-01
Labor and Materials

We hold no brief for the manufacturers,
but we believe most of them are as anxious as
the retailers to restore normal conditions, and
in many cases almost equally helpless in con-
trolling cost of production.
In 1914 you were asked to "buy bale of
cotton at 10c pound (when the market price
was 6Kc). Now the price is about 40c-and
some of the growers are talking of holding it
for 60c. Furs for mems hats are ten times as
high as before the war. Raw silk is approxi-
mately four times as high as before the war,
and most other raw materials are proportion
ately higher According to an expert, the cost of
mems clothing fabrics has increased on the average,
275 per cent in five years; buttons and trimmings 22
per cent, and labor Counting advanced wages and
shorter hours) has increased 225 cent over 1914
The president of the Inter-Racial Council says
that IMMIGRATION has fallen off in the past few
present shortage of four million immigrant work
ers; also that five times many foreign laborers left
this country came in, from November 1918. to Oc-
tober 1919. And has estimated that the
production of the necessaries of life is reduced at
least 20 per cent. by shortage of labor.
Thirty -four million working days were lost
through STRIKES in England during 1919.
No total figures are available here, but we'll
known business writer estimates Americas
loss as double that number Think of what
sixty-eight million days work would have
added to production!
Strikes surely add to the price of commodities
and it is sincerely to be hoped that less wastefu
method be found for settling disputes between capital
and labor.
A very serious factor in the H. c. L. situa-
ton is the curtailment in many industries of
PRODUCTION PER MAN PER DAY. 1t is
not the high wages paid, but the lesser amount
of work performed that is the unnatural and
dangerous barrier to regaining normal
balance.
ABIG DAYS WORK FOR A BIG DAYS
PAY should be our slogan just now.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-01
& Clothier Have This to Say
About the Present High Cost of Living
touching Upon the Remedies
in

The great war debt must be paid and
HIGH TAXES are another important factor
in high prices. Whatever form taxes may take,
they are ultimately paid by the consumer, and
able arguments are advanced in favor of sub
stituting for the heavy tax on profits (Which
large business must anticipate and which adds
to the risks of busness) small direct tax on
sales.
Former Collector of Internal Revenue Roper
says the profits tax has Outved its usefulness
and is one of the causes of the high cost Of living
which should be eliminated
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-01

various towns in the State, and think can
safely say there is no profteering among the
merchants in Massachusetts,. Occasionally
there may be merchant who will charge
little more for certain article than it should
bring, but as far as general profiteerng is con-
cerned, it does not exist"
We believe the above statement is true, and
that it could be made with equal truth as ap-
piled in the same general way, to Philadelphia.
Governor Coolidge also quotes George
Washington as having said, "It is utterly i'm
practical to try to regulate prices for, or the
distribution of, merchandise by law; and he
adds
"The law of supply and demand Is the only law
that can regulate the price and the distribution of
merchandise
This general truth, holDeUer, does not alter
the fact that the Government can and should
regulate unfair or Dasteful practices, eracting
excessive prices, any attempt to n,OnOpOlize or
hoard necessaries, or the lDilfM or preUentable
destruction or deterioration of articles re-
quired for daily use; and the HANDS or
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SHOULD BE
UPHELD in their efforts to accomplish these
ends.
Nevertheless, if we can find the reasons for the
disparity in amount produced and amount needed, we
have discovered the principal reasons
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-01
The Remedy is Work
Reasonable EcOnOn1u
and Careful Sh0ppinq

is 1t not time to stop the loose
ana lndiscrlminate use of the epithet
:prohteer'? 1t cannot be Justly applied
to any merchant of established char.
dcter and reputation, lUho has no more
poUer to reduce prices than his custom.
ers hdve-ercept in so far as he is lviII-
ing to help relieve the situation bv
SACRIFICING PROFITS to ,vI,ich he is
tegitimately entitied-AND THAT IS
EXACTLY WHAT THIS FIRM HAS
DECIDED TO DO to Uery considerable
extent during the next seUeral veeks, as
it has done in the past lDeek.
STRAWBRIDGE Il CLOTHIER
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-01

1. These figures show the Manufacturers Prices at
the different dates During this period we have sold
aaese goods at fair, legitimate retail profit Just as
nave done for the past ftytwo years While costs
nave been rising we have sold millions of dollars
OF goods at about replacement value, and often
sale. '' e ~ " - '
lhe fact is, our average net percent
age OF profit, after deducting GoUern-
ment taxes, IDds less in 1919 than in
many OF the former years in the history
of this Store.
Hoyernor Coolidge, of Massachusetts, ap-
peinted a committee to investigate the charges
So Iesaii profteering, and few days ago he
stated IN the DRY Goods Economist: 'This
>o''''lttee made thorough investigation of
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-01
Effect of Heavy Exports

This country's exports of manufactured
woolen goods increased nearly 1900 per cent. in
the seven months ending January lst, 1920,
over the seven months ending January lst,
1914.
There has been an enormous increase in
our exports of manufactured silk and cotton
goods since the beginning of the war. Our en-
ports of shoes are about five times as large as
before the war. This tends to make prices
higher on all these goods sold in this country.
On the other hand, LINEN PRICES are very
high because of falling off in IMPORTS from more
than eighty million yards in months of 1913 to
less than nine million yards in 1919
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-30
TWENTY YEARS AGO
Looking Backward in Society
Columns of The State Journal

June so, 1900.
Mr. and Mrs. W. II. Eastman entertained
a few of their friends informally at their
new home, Topeka avenue, Friday eve
ming at a chatting dish supper. Their
guests were: Mr.. and Mrs a. r. Lingafelt,
Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Murphy. Mr.. and Mrs.
Fred Cole, Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Crane.
Miss Mary Thompson, Miss Kate Gunther,
Miss Mabel Quigley, Mr.. Ben Akers. Mr.. J.
E. Weaver and Mr.. John Waters.
Mrs. Deborah X. Longshore entertained
a dozen little people at a o'clock tea
Thursday evening Complimentary to Miss
Helen Faleoner, of Chicago. The guests
were seated at enc long flower decked
playing cards. The affair was enjoyed
by the following guests: Miss Helen Fall
coner, Miss Isabel Hudson, Miss Alma
Snyder, of Kansas City; Miss Josephine
Keller. Miss Eleanor Keller, Miss Rhoda
Knowles. Miss Ella Sim. Mr.. DeWitte
Hagar, Mr.. Tom Martin, Mr.. Horace Wilkie
and Mr.. Ted Mason.
Judge and Mrs. s. A. Kingman have re-
turned from an outing at Merrill Springs
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene F. Ware and family
expect to go to Colorado in about two
weeks to spend the remainder of the
The Pleasant Hour club will celebrate the
Fourth Of July with a picnic in the after
noon and evening at the home of Mr.. and
Mrs. Gebfge Bell in West street.
Miss Edith Davis returned today from
a visit in Atchison.
Miss Lena Mccray Will go to Kansas
City the first of the week TO visit Miss
Bessie Osborn for a few DAYS and the last
Of the week Miss Osborn will come to To-
peka to visit Miss MeGray.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-30

ers who are soon to sail for China
have been taking lessons in this art by
going en- masse to the restaurants and
watching the Chinese eaters. This
same group of young women also are
planning to take along with them as
part of their equipment bed. 1t is
said that there is dearth OF comfort
able beds in China and when one is
to be found an exorbitant price is
asked for it.
Bluebird Troop No. ?, Patrol No. l
of the Girl Scouts have returned from
camping trip near Berryton. The
girls in the party included: Leona
Brintnall, Genevieve Carmain, Beulah
Eldridge. Lillian Kass, Irene Schultz of
Kansas City, Ruth Stations, Agnes
Euwer Mary Vogel, Amy and Ger
trude Macaulay. Miss Minnie Macau-
lay chaperoned the girls.
\ = =
The junior department of the First
Presbyterian Sunday school was en-
tertained at Rose Acres" Tuesday
afternoon at picnic party. The pic
mic was interrupted during the after
noon by the storm, but boys and men
of the party braved the rain and hail
and went in swimming in the lake.
There we've games in the hay barn and
garage. The afternoon was finished
off with the article in the childs eye
for a successful picnic, ice cream.
About sixty-five of the children with
the teachers and officers of the Sunday
school enjoyed the outing.
y - y
The following pupils will be pre-
sented in recital this evening at s
o'clock at the Muller School of Music:
Kathryn Mullin, Berniece Luetzki,
Velma, Cecilia Senne, Grace Brown,
Emma Sage, Sylvia Cohen, Bessie
Long, Margaret Burning. Bonita Bon
nawitz, ThelIna Paynter, Helen Brode--
son and Bethnel Gross.
= X \
The 1910 class of Washburn college
will have reunion and picnic Friday
evening on the college campus. Miss
Ruth Schnacke is in charge of ar
rangements for the picnic.
\ * \
The Unitarian church members will
picnic Friday evening. July 2, at the
home of Mr.. and Mrs. Horace Wilkie
north of the city. Automobiles will be
at the end OF the Shorey car line at
$3.50 o'clock and the picnickers will be
driven to the Wilkie home. A basket
lunch will be served,
Miss Esther Peers of Ann Arbor,
Mich, who is visiting Miss Mabel
Adams, will be the guest of honor at
a number of informal affairs planned
in her honor A picnic will be given
on the Fourth of July for her and a
number of other social affairs will
| follow.
| Miss Peers is librarian at the Uni
versity of Michigan at Ann Arbor and
will spend about three weeks here on
a vacation.
+ y X
Miss Marie Olmstead and Mr., Matt
W. Witt will be married this evening
at the home of the BRIDES grandpar-
ents, Mr.. and Mrs o. F. Olmstead,
1881 Laurel avenue.
Before the service. Mrs. o. A. Doing
will sing, Still as the Night" She
will also play the wedding music.
The bride Will be met at the foot
of the living room stairs by Mr.. Witt
and the service will be read in the back
living room with the Rev. E. ]. Kulp
officiating.
The bride will wear her going away
suit of navy tricotine with a large blue
taffeta and straw hat. Her blouse will
be sand color georgette and she will
wear a corsage of lilies of the valley,
sweet peas and brides roses. The
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-30

the coat At noon off comes the
sweater. At 2 o'clock a summer dress
is donned. At o'clock the sweater
is again brought into use and by the
time bed time is reached she has
dragged forth the winter coat once
more AMI is debating whether to start
the fire or go to bed to get warm.
s. = i.
Miss Ruth Irene Brown and Mr.. W.
H. Fuller, of Laramie, Wyo., were
married this afternoon at 3 o'clock at
the home of the brides parents, Mr..
and Mrs. E. T Brown. with the Rev.
S. B. Anderson officiating.
Before the service Miss Lillian
Malmstrom sang AT Dawning'' with
Miss Lucille Laird, of Emporia, at the
piano. Miss Laird also played the
wedding march. The ceremony was
performed in the living room,. the
bridal party standing before a bank of
palms at either side of which stood two
tall wicker baskets filled with pink
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-30

rooms will be decorated with palms
and daisies and in the dining room
there will be bowls of nasturtiums.
Mr.. Witt and his bride will leave for
visit in Oklahoma City and points
in southern Kansas and after two
haitian, Kan. Out of town guests pres
ent will be Mr.. Wits father. Mr.. J. c..
Witt of South Pasadena, Calf, and his
grandfather. Mr.. NJ. W. Witt, of Abb
lene.
Miss Neva Shoemaker and Miss
Dorothy Shoemaker will entertain at
luncheon at their home in College ave-
nue. Thursday for Miss Elsie Saville, a
bride elect. A large bowl of wild
flowers will center the table, at which
there will be places for: Miss Sayille,
Mrs. Arthur Saville Miss Dorothy
Jones, Miss Gertrude Beverly, Miss
Dorothy and Miss Neva Shoemaker.
This evening Miss Verna Bloom and
Miss Gertrude Wheeler will entertain
with an evening party at the Wheeler
home in College ay |. e
A pretty home wedding taking place
this afternoon at $50 o'clock was that
of Miss Flora VOORHEES, Shore, daugh-
ter of Mrs. Nettie Shore of S23 Topeka
avenue, and Mr.. Edgar r. Coon of
Nortonville.
The marriage service was read by
Chaplain Blackman, who was the
bridegroom's chaplain in the 130th
field artillery, Battery A. Before the
wedding Miss Ottiliie Schock sang Il
Love You Truly" accompanied bX
Miss Eula Cramer. Miss Merle Dug
gan played the wedding march from
"Lohengrin." The service was read in
the living room before lattice which
was entwined with roses. There were
palms and roses thru the rooms. Mr..
Alonzo f. Shore, a brother of the
bride, gave her in marriage, and Miss
Mabel Shore and Mr.. Cecil Woolworth
of Nortonville were the attendants.
The bride wore white organdie
with tulle veil held to the hair with
a circle of orange blossoms. She car
ried a shower bouquet of sunburst
roses, gypsophelia and maidenhair
fern Miss Mabel Shore wore pink
crepe de chine and marquisette and
carried a colonial bouquet.
Mr.. and Mrs. Coon have left for
Nortenville, where they will be the
guests of the bridegroom parents,
Mr. and Mrs. D. c. Coon. They will
make their home in Chanute.
y - y
THERE'S A WOMAN IN OUR TOWN
Who has gone to Colorado for the
summer and is living in a cabin up in
the mountains. She tells of the many
changes of clothing which she makes
during the day. In the morning it is
so cold. she lights the fire and wears
a sweater with a winter coat on top of
rnits the fire to die down and takes off
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-30

Delta fraternity and was graduated
from the Washburn law school and
practiced law at Anthony before en-
tering the army. Mrs. Boyle is q sis
ter of Mrs. Arthur J. Carruth. Jr..
1917 Mulvane street.
Miss Margaret c. Gordon and Miss
Ava E. Green of 1895 Taylor street.
and Miss Ruby Woodbury. of Cawker
City. Kan, will leave the first of July
for Moscow, Ida, to visit Mr.. and Mrs.
]. w. Schumacher and Miss Rather
inc Green.
Mrs. Hugh Allen Smith has as a
guest this week Mrs. James Cox and
little son Teddy of St. Louis. Mo.
Mr.. and Mrs. Elmer Parsons, who
have been making their home in Kan
sas City, are new residents at SIS Fill
more street. Mrs. Parsons is a niece
of Mr.. e. H. Anderson of this city.
iConti1ued on next pageD
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-30

and Miss Peers.
y * y
In the Chinese restaurants in New
York City one often finds tourists eat
ing chop suey, not because they like it,
but perhaps they have heard so much
OF the dish they wish to sample It,
Then at the same place there are real,
goodness Cinnamon eating
with real honest-to-goodness chop
sticks and to observe these artists in
this line come groups of people who
are going to the Orient to live and
wish to KNOW how to manipulate a
pair of the sticks before they sail. A
group of twenty-five Y. w. c. A. work.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-30
FOR ITCHING TORTURE
Use Antiseptic Liquid Zemo

There is one remedy that seldom
fails to stop itching torture and relieve
skin irritation and that makes the skin
soft, clear and healthy.
ANY druggist can supply you with
Zemo, which generally overcomes skin
diseases Eczema, itch. pimples, rashes,
blackheads, in most cases give way
to Zeno Frequently, minor blernishes
disappear overnight Itching usually
stops instantly Zemo is a safe, anti
septic liquid, clean, easy to use and
dependable 1t costs only 35c, an extra
large bottle. S100 It will not stain. is
not greasy or sticky and is positively
safe for tender. sensitive skins.
Fhe E. " Rose Co.. Cleveland, o.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-30
BY FRANCES JONES

Miss Mabel Adams and Miss Janet
McMurtrie will entertain with
luncheon Thursday noon at Pelletier's
tea room planned as a courtesy to Miss
Ethel Grant whose marriage to Mr..
Harold Loucke will take place next
month. and for Miss Esther Peers.
who is visiting here from Ann Arbor.
Mich The guests will be limited to a
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-30

and white hollyhocks. There were
Ophelia roses, lavender and pink sweet
peas thru the rooms.
The bride was attended by Miss
Florence Dschuden and the best man
was Mr.. Raymond H. Gilkeson. Her
dress was of white baronet satin and
white georgette and she carried a
shower bouquet of brides roses and
sweet peas. Miss Dschuden wore
yellow organdie with a corsage of
Ophelia roses
Mr.. and Mrs. Fuller will spend sew
eral days in Kansas City and in Den
yer, and from there will go to Laramie,
Wyo.,,to make their home. Mr.. Fuller
is in the oil business there
Out of-town guests at the wedding
We're Mr. Fuller's mother, Mrs Rose
Fuller, of Denver, Colo; Mr. and Mrs
Roy Bassett, of Emporia; Miss Lucille
and Miss Hazel Laird of Emporia Mr..
and Mrs j. f. Silver and family, of
Burlingame, and Miss Velma and Miss
Mary Baird, of Kansas City.
y = y
A pupils recital will be given Thurs
day morning at 10 o'clock at the home
of Mrs. Harry T. Morrison 500 Lane
ST. eet. The following pupils of Mrs.
Morrison will play: Dorothy Clark,
man, Ruth Clary, Doris Cole, Phyllis
Newman, Dorothy Snow. Edna Ciarv,
Dollie, Mary and Opal Fultz, Winifred
Eaton, Fern Martin and Charlotte
| Bailey.
y = X
| Notes and Personal Mention.
Lieut.. and Mrs. John T. Boyle of
Jeffersonville, Ind. are the parents
of a girl. born Tuesday. to whom they
| have given the name Norma Jean.
! Mrs. Boyle, formerly Miss Maud Haw-
ley of Herington, was a Kappa Alpha
| Theta at Washburn and Lieutenant
Boyle was a member of the Alpha