The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1921-02-10
MONTANA TRADE CONDITIONS

=
civilization which constantly become
more intricate and makes greater de
mands upon the ranks of labor by
multiplication of manufactured line
as a result of progress and invention
Wages and prices gradually rise a,
a result of this. He cited as an ex
ample the heavy draft which the au
tomobile industry has made upol
the ranks of labor, explaining tina
it not only increased wages, but tina
it also took millions of dollars from
producing capital and converted il
into inactive wealth in the form O.
individually owned cars.
"Prices in 1921 would have beer
a considerable per cent higher than
1911 prices if we had had no war;
an inflated value upon all raw ma
terials and merchandise, but when
defIation is completed, it will be
found that prices have not fallen low
er than a level which would repre-
sent the normal increase which would
surely have taken place had those
years been normal years.
1.-THE day of cheap labor is past,
Labor will continue to receive more
and more than it did in 1914, be-
cause of our improved standard of
living and our increased facilities for
comfort and enjoyment which make
1t necessary for labor to demand
more. Some readjustment is taking
place in wages as a result of the
change from a war and reconstruc-
tion basis, to a peace basis, but it
would be a calamity to all of US if
business conditions were to force
wages back to a 1914 level, and this
no one should expect.
consequently, prices offered to
the public by merchants who are
compelled to sacrifice surplus stocks
of goods should not be expected to
rival pre-war prices, although l
have noted a few instances where
they have actually equalled them.
81 believe the merchants them
owe it to the public to explain
the factors which are making
these prices. They have found
themselves overstocked in certain
and in order to move this sur
plus and convert it into money, they
are obliged to make reductions which
will appeal to the buyer. In many
cases, the replacement price is equal
o or higher than the sale price on
goods. !,
"When these goods have all been
moved, we will see higher prices in
ny opinion, and the person who has |.
waiting for pre-war prices will
10 the loser. When the new stocks
~ h1,5nhf on6 n1oond on solo ~ thn
way, Montana people are go :
ng to note a price recovery" :
Mr.. Selvidge predicts that during =
he coming year, merchandise will .
OF be sold as cheaply as at present .
kept In cases of bankruptcy which
e points out, is a community calam-
y and therefore not a real money :
aving to the consumer. =
eff the merchants of Montana can Z
quidate successfully now, pay their !,
bligations to their banks and get =
THEMSELVES in a stronger position fl
ancia1ly, they will be ready to give !.
lie aid expected of them in financing -
lie farmers of the state through =
sowing and harvesting per- =
d. In rendering this service, the =
erchant is as important a factor as -
le banker, for, without his help, =,
ontana could not grow and market ,,
CROP declared Mr.. Selvidge. -
"The merchant must be in a posi- .
On to take care of the farmer on
S purchases of machinery and
.uipment, clothing and groceries, -
Id carry him until the crop is har- e.
sted. The merchants prosperity 20
ID the farmers prosperity are a.
osely linked together, each depend &c
g upon the other"
Mr.. Selvidge said that he did not
vance this as the chief reason ~
at the consumer should help the -
srchant with is liquidation by pat 40 Il
.izing his sales, but declares that -
2 cannot afford to fore ~
the benefit which will accrue to ~
by taking advantage of these "a
es. He explained: -
"A continued buyers strike, in ad- ~
ion to depriving the consumer of ~
benefit of the actual bargains p
ich conditions have forced merch- e.
s to offer to the public through ~
70, SotL ;. ~ en-
t and in our own state, freeze up
dts instead of making them cas-
and, finally, materially detract
. the prosperity of everyone in
state. This is a time for thrift,
never in our history was it SO
essary and expedient that thrift be
ressed in careful buying to supply pic
of our present needs" hel