Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-15
Women Organized
Against Prices
by Frederic J. Hnskin

! Washington, ID. c., Jan. l2.-To organ
ize the women Of the United States in an
| effort 10 reduce prices by teaching them 10
! buy economically, To refuse overpnced
and extravagant goods, and to report
| profitecrs, rs the latest effort of the De-
| partInent OF Justice in its fight on tho
high cost of living. Miss Edith Strauss
has been placed at the head of this new
organization, and she claims already to
have organized more than three million
women.
Probably no one thinks that telling
women what 10 buy and what not to buy
will be a very potent force In reducing the
cost of living. Our ways of buying may be
careless and extravag8nt, but it must be
clear TO all that our ways Of producing and
distributing are far more fundamental to
the cost of living problem. None the-le@s,
this effort TO teach women how to buy, m
long as il IS not offered AZ n curr-nll, Il
n measure which every husband and
father will appreciate.
WONT BUY CnEAr GOODS.
The merchants claim that women will
not buy cheap or reasonable things, but
demand high priced articles Tins charge
rs preferred against men as we'll AS women,
Dut TIC Wtllfll iWtttE Llf hisAtl NitbPtEfH
ARE saddlcd tith the bulk OF the rp-
sponsIhIity,
Women do 90 per cent of the retail
buying. and arc, therefore the element 20
which the producer and vcndcr of goods
must cater Merchants report that where
tests have been made articles reasonably
p,iccd failed TO sell, whereas others of
similar value, marked higher were quick
" disposed of just what advertising
accompanied these sales IL not clearly
brought out Still, cxtraynEancc and
rccklcssncss have characterized buying
ever since the close ot the war To swing
the pendulum back to the side Of economy
il the ann Of the Department of Justice,
Thistle department hcllcves. IS the first
step toward lowered pricra.
ORGANIZATION FOR STATES.
when the Department of Justice came
to lis conclusion about the women oi
,merica, Il sent for Mls4 Edith Strauss,
economic expert. and appointed her to
teach women how they can best usc their
influence over trade and finance so az to
benefit society and themselves
Mise St,auRe has outlined an organiza-
tlon plan for each State 81 that IN tImc
the economy campaign may reach all the
women uf tho country fach city or
other community unit Is 10 have char
man ami committees These officers IN
form shc women 81 tho locality about far
nric,a of nrcsesiiies. and urge them to re-
fuse cxothitantly priced g,>ods The
women arc reached through clubs. parent
teachers associations of the aChools
churches and ~ her organizations
Over 3.OON.0O0 women members ~
some 10000 clubs are already well organ
lycd These women are studying their
local prIcc situation Their attention Is
attracted 10 tho necessity for Consorvn-
tive huvlng. so that production may
catch ny with consumption They arr
reminded that il they win dispense with
Injuries and demand plainer goods, the
manufacturers will produce cheaper ar
Jclcs. aInrr goods usually require iess
labor and time III the making, and there
fore production can spCcd up
The consumer ! wtims are tho produc-
crs barometer Ilc complains that he
must turn out fur trimmed coats, because
coats not trimmed remain on tho retailers
1arks. II is IN 10 Won the club women arc
told to show the retailer what YOU want
n cost CNtravagantly priccf because Of
frcaklsl ~tNlc. nov fabric. and fur
collar. or i conservative garment Of a
n atclIal
Resides studying economy. buyers arc
urged to rcport to the State or local fair
price commissioner, al eases of obvious /
proiltcc.ng - far reports have resulted !.
ii over 300 pratitecrs being arrested. /.
! lght ~ them have bccn brought to trial T
and I'm clghi were convicted The sen +
tcnce Is one wear ~ imprisonment or /
ST O0Q fine
Mss Strauss has obtained the CO
operation of the merchants III her efforts
Ia reduce prices At recent meeting of
retail dealers Of the United States She
urged the merchants 10 try out the econ
Jmy sale plan. The economy sale, as cun-
>civcd by Miss Strauss. IS not an elabor-
ltely staged and advertised bargain sale
HE Department of Justice does not want
@ stimulate buying ST present The idea X
d divert shoppers from the slluring *
lcnslHe "bargaIns 10 really economical
purposes.
The merchant Sets apaTt a section OF hIs
tore. the basement perhaps. for economy
ale goods priced As low IS possible, and
crtainiy lover than his high grade stock
hese goods are to hc PLAIN goods for
very-day use. Of good quality. season.
.ble. and in good condition.
The shopper attention IS brought TO
be sale. or rather department, by the
tore s advertising being centered upon it.
Hiss Strauss suggested to the merchants
hat the cheaper goods might be advertr-
d 10y window display of complete
utft for man and one for woman
ssch priced at 500 Each article IN the
utht was TO BE- tagged with its price, so
hat pAssers-by could get an idea of
ates at the economy sale.
The merchants signifed their willing
ess 10 Try Miss Strauss plan in token Of
heir desire 70 meet tho public half way.
..r,,., I..a a. tr,,.t.tnn thnt -. 49,.