The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-19

the garment market would only show
on minimum purchases. The cloth
market in New York reported trading
exceptionally quiet.
The slump has not hit the food mar
ket yet. according to statement of gro
GERS today, but they indicated that
they expected a slight decline.
-. st. Louis Follows Lead.
ST Louis, May I9.-Price reductions
( ranging from Is to SO per cent were
made by many of the large stores here
today following the lead OF stores in
| other cities.
The reductions are on mems. wo-
mems and childrens clothing. and. ac-
/ cording to the manager of one large
store, are in the nature of the usual
| spring sales.
People Will Not Buy.
Springfield. Ill, May 19.-Refusal
! of the people to buy anything except
what they absolutely must have event
ually will force down prices, in the
opinion of local merchants today.
The failure to buy at existing prices
has forced some big local dealers to
/ cut the estimates of their departm ent
! heads so per cent. Such reductions.
it is believed, are being felt by the
manufacturers who find themselves
faced with the alternative of accept
| ing a big loss or cutting prices to a
Merchants Face Losses.
Oklahoma City, Okla. May ia
Price reductions of from 20 to 40 per
cent cannot be made by clothing mer-
chants without losing more money
than the average merchant can afford,
according to Charles Knight, owner of
a large clothing store here.
CLOTHES leEitinately marked cannot
| be sold at such a discount. If there
is cut in clothing prices, it will be
made by merchants who have marked
up prices excessively and can still
make long profits by discounting 80
and 40 per cent. There are plenty of
medium priced SUITS
Merchants here do not expect a gen.
eral reduction. They say there are
selling on the closest margin in the
/ history of their business.
Detroit Standing Pat.
Detroit. Mich. May 19-Detroit
of reported price reductions in other
sections.
The manager of one large depart
ment store here said the eastern stores
were cutting prices because they were
overstocked.
Milwaukee Bakers to Cut.
] Milwaukee, May 9.-Milwaukee has
started war on the high cost of living.
One of the city's largest department
stores has cut prices rs per cent. Now
local bakers have banded together to
devise ways of cutting prices.
Dallas Stores Untouched.
Dallas. Tex, May 19.-Dallas mer-
chants were today apparently stand
ing pat" on high prices which have
prevailed since shortly after the war
began. Price reductions. altho ex-
pected. were not forthcoming.
Ohio Prices Downward.
I Cleveland, o., May 1s.-Clothing,
shoe and general stores in four Ohio
cities have Joined the price cutting
procession.
Three stores in Akron. two in Day.
ton, two in Canton and one large and
seven small stores in Warren an
nounced a reduction of 20 per cent in
prices.
So far Cleveland and other of the
larger cities are holding aloof.
Auto Dealers Make Cut.
Omaha, May 1e.-Dealers in auto
material reductions in their prices
while among the larger department,
stores all but one had placed on sale
their entire or greater portion of their
stocks at discounts ranging from 90 to
so per cent. Several shoe dealers also
announced discounts of one-fifth OF
the selling price
One exclusive ready to wear estab-
lishment which is selling its stock al
figures from so to so per cent below
the market price in an advertisement
advises its customers to buy at 1.-THE
absurd discounts being offered in
Omaha and nowhere else on EARTH
Food Stuffs Are Reduced.
Chicago. May 1s.-High prices havs
u (Continued on Page Fourl