The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-08
Mems Clothing Stores in "Price
War" in Topeka.
VOiIand Move Brings Out Com
petitiVe Cuts.
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CONSUMER HELPING IN MOVE
Wearers Refrain From Buying
Whenever Possible.
Retailers Suffer Because OF
Manufacturers Profit.

Clothing price reductions larger
than have been witnessed in many
months in Topeka stores, have created
a gentle flutter of excitement and a
wonder as to whether or not it indi-
Gated a tendency toward a general re-
duction in the price of wearing ap-
parel
number of Topeka merchants as
sert that no general reduction is indi-
Gated. In order to denote the impos-
sibility of such a thing, they quote
prices on goods that have been pur-
chased for the fall and winter season.
all of which are higher than goods
purchased for the present season.
Fred Voiland. who inaugurated the
movement, does not predict that it
presages general reduction in prices.
He classiffes it as the voice of the re-
tailers and consumers in protest
against high prices and believes that
eventually manufacturers will feel the
expression.
People I'm Protest.
Because they have refrained from
buying whenever possible" Voiland
points out, Consumers have indicated
for some time that prices were too
high. Th4 overall and old clothes
movements are to be taken only as
modes of expression of protest against
rising clothing costs. The voice of the
consumer has been heard. The re-
tailers are beginning to feel that costs
are far too high and are lending their
voice to the general expression The
manufacturer will hear it ir time. IT
may take a number of months but il
retailers refrain from buying it will
oring results eventually"
Nolland mentioned that the Ameri-
can WooIen company made a profit
OF $13.0O0,000 last year. Another To-
peka merchant. who refused to be
quoted, said the American Wool
en- company made profit OF
81 100000. He declared it was
the best year in the history of that
company or in the history of any
woolen manufacturing company. They
had earned profits that have never
before been equa1ed in the history of
the industry. This has occurred in
spite of 400 per cent increase in the
| cost of making cloths since the out
break of the world war. Topeka mer-
chants ask why it is that the govern
ment has never investigated these big
powerful manufacturers yet it will
| jump on to some retailer who has
| bought long on some particular com
| modify and expose him as the real
profiteer.
'I don't know that the movement
means anything" said Frank Griggs
Z.
meeting competition and have simply
moved up our regular June sale one
month earlier. I can't see how any
general price reduction can come soon
as suits for this fall cost us from SIS to
SIS more than the price paid for the
same quality of goods bought a veal
ago. While the reductions offered are
big we are not selling at cost price
A merchant would be foolish to at
tempt to do so. We are making a very
small profit on everything sold during
the sale 1t is small but still profit >
John H. Harlin said that the move.
ment started by Voiland had been fol.
lowed by them as a competitive, pro.
tive measure. "A general price re.
duction seems impossible" Harlin de.
clared. ION account of the fact Anat al
buyers for the next season have hat
to pay higher prices for their pur.
chases. This means still higher retail
prices"
The question of figuring cost price.
is one on which the opinions of vari
Gus merchants show some variation
Prices quoted by various Topeka mer
chants for their present special sale
indicate a variation in business polio,
and methods, it is claimed
General reductions on goods in vari
Gus stores vary from l 0 to Is per cent