New-York tribune., 1920-02-21
Retailers Urged
To Stop Buying
To Reduce Prices
Suggestion Meets With APP
pr0val at Convention of
Dry. Goods Men; Fraudu.
lent Advertising Attacked

kctallers yesterday were urged to
hold off buying for an indefinite period
in order to bring down prices, and 50
avert a catastrophe The suggestion,
made at the closing session of the day
convention of the National Retail Dry
Goods Association, met with the ap-
proval of majority of the retailers
present, judging by the enthusiasm
with which it was received. The sug-
gestion was made by Felix Vorenbcrg,
of the Gilchrist Company, Boston.
What are we going to do about con-
ditions in the market ?" he asked.
what arc you going to do about plac-
ing your orders for this coming spring
andl fall seasons? What are you going
to do about the general condition Of
being told by manufacturers and job
bers just when to place your orders,
agreed to by him and not by you? And
what sre you going to do about con-
ditions that are bound to confront you
in the very near future if on adjust
mcnt Of prices should take place?
"Our president said here on the
opening day that he couldn't see but
what prices would have to continue for
the year Of 1920. respectfully but
most cmphatically disagree. per-
sonally can't sec what is going to hap
pen If they do continue. / think there
is enough manhood left in us-I hope.
at least, there is~to most emphatically
protest against conditions which are
un- American, against conditions which
arc bound to be disastrous before very
long
Next to the discussion Of market con-
ditions, which all retailers asserted
were serious, the most important ac-
tivity of the convention was the en-
thusiasm aroused by Richard II. Lee,
special counsel Of the national vigi-
lance committee of the Associated Ad-
vcrtising Clubs of the World and for
mer business manager of The New
York Tribune, who attacked fraudulent
advertising IN a vigorous address.
Specifically Mr.. Lee attacked the use
OF comparative prices in advertising
and the use of deceptive names, such as
silk Isle" "union linen" etc
Complications caused by the excess
profits tax, according to Daniel C.
Roper, Commissioner Of Internal Reve-
nue.. who discussed taxes for the retail
merchants, should be eliminated He
told of the work in his departme
toward the simplihcation OF taxes, but
asserted that real reform depends en-
tirely upon Congress. One of the big
problems, he asserted, was to deter
mine whether the war should he paid
for by this generation or the debt be
passed on to our descendants.
Taxes came in for some consider
alton in the resolutions which were
adopted by the convention IN the after
noon The tax resolution stamped the
luxury, excise and excess profits taxes
as unjust" and recommended the con-
tlnuation of the associations tax COM
mittee, cooperation with similar COM
mittees of other organizations and with
the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States in urging tax reform.
Other resolutions pledged the sup
port of the association to the project
of the Chamber of Commerce to erect
a building in Washington and to the
dissemination of the Constitution of the
United States in fifteen or more for
elgn languages \ throughout the coun-
try. The par collection of checks
movement was approved, and another
resolution pledged the merchants to
take firm stand against the raising
OF prices by wholesalers after orders
were taken, and to report such cases
to the associations Office in New York
IN order that they might be referred
to the Department of Justice.
Mrs. Margaret Hayden Rorke made a
plea for the greater use of the Amer
lcan color card, and Philip j. Mosenthal
discussed insurance problems of the
retailers. II. f. Hart, retailer. of
Long Prairie, Mimi, gave the retailers
a number of "business building ideas"