New-York tribune., 1920-01-13
Predict Great
Rise in Price of
Cotton Stockings
Knit Goods Buyers Are
Told That Old 25.Cent
Quality Will Soon Sell
for $l.5O a Pair

Jobbers of hosiery and underwear
were told yesterday by manufacturers
that the present extremely high prices
IN these knit goods are but begin
n1ng OF the upward trend. A half dozen
manufacturers addressing the conven-
ton of the Jobbers' Association of Knit
Goods Buyers at the Waldorf-Astoria
dwelt at length on mounting costs of
raw materials and labor, increased
hampering of production and general
scarcity of merchandise. The old 25-
cont cotton stocking of pre-war days
soon will sell for $3.50 a pair if pres
ent yarn and labor prices are main
tanned, according to one manufacturer.
disposition to charge the cause of
s, some of the extremely high prices to
the yarn sspinners was apparent among
tne manufacturers of hosiery and un-
derwear who addressed the meeting.
One of them said that raw cotton of
tine grade at $1.25 a pound was bring
ing $6.o5 pound when spun into yarn
and mercerized. He explained that
spinners were able to charge almost
what they pleased because of the great
demands being made upon the yarn spin-
nlng machinery Of the country by the
automobile tire interests. He said
mat one tire concern had purchased
a spinning mill and diverted it's out
put, some 100000 pounds of yarn q
year, TO- its own uses. Still another
mill with similar output has ceased
to sell to any one but the tire manu-
iacturers. I'm these two cases alone"
ne ne said, I'VE have a shortage Of 3,000.-
WV pounds OF yarn year taken from
our former sources"
No Decline in Sight
Jobbers. and manufacturers alike
agreed that prices of hosiery and
underwear would show no decline Cor
g, year at least. The possibility that
me general public may balk at the
mounting prices was discussed, but re-
celved little consideration. Jobbers
seem TO feel that the public will con-
1lnue to buy freely at high prices.
Frank r; Burgher, of Bliss, Fabyan &
20, OF New York, painted a roseate
picture OF present and future pros
perry Perry IN TINS country. Taking the
farmer as typical American, said Mr..
burgher, the general public has had it's
purchasing power increased threefold
since prewar days.
=; r: Quinlan, prominent New Hork
jobber, urged the knit goods BUYERS to
support movement for direct gross
sales tax, rather than an excess profits
tax as means of raising revenue for
the government. The present tax pre-
vents the expansion of industry, he
said, ard in many cases puts a sixfold
tax on merchandise, since each handler
is compelled to increase prices to
cover the tax.
The relabeling Of underwear in con-
formity with actual contents as a re-
suit of complaints lodged against
manufacturers by the Federal Trade
Commission was explained in detail by
Lincoln Cromwell, of William Iselin
Co., of New York. Labels now con-
tain definite statements Of the actual
the old commercial labels which mis-
led the public and gave rise to the
government complaints have been
abandoned.
John H. schoaeld, a Philadelphia
| jobber, urged the arrangement Of early
delivery dates to retailers during the
coming three months in view of the
early deliveries promised the jobbers
by manufacturers.
National Advertising Campaign
A committee of three was appointed
to carry to the National Wholesale Dry
Goods Association, parent body of the
knit goods jobbers organization, pro-
position to expend $4,000 in a ma
the jobber's position as distributor as
distinguished from the method of some
mills in selling direct to the retailer.
In the annual election Of officers
which closed the meeting E. c. Hall,
of the Clawson & Wilson Company,
Buffalo, N. Y, was chosen president to
succeed Sim Beam, of the Smith
McCord- Townsend Dry Goods Company,
of Kansas City, Mo. F. G. Crawford.
of Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co., was re-
elected first vice-president; E. S. Super,
of the Ely & Walker Dry Goods Com
pany, of Kansas City, Mo-. was elected
second vice-president to succeed Mr..
Hall, and W. B. Hiett of Cooper, Coate
e. Casey, Los Angeles, Cal, was re-