The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-17
SEE BETTER DAYS
Tone of Optimism in Attitude of
Topeka Merchants.
VIII Not Be Normal Until Farm
Products Advance.
MUST RESTORE CONFIDENCE
Was Lost During World War,
Says Shoe Dealer.
Business Slump Occurred Here
From May to September.
MUST RESTORE CONFIDENCE

Analysis of the retail buying situa-
ton in Topeka at the present time IS
not an easy matter. The business
condition of today as affecting the ii
rect contact between the purchaser
and the retailer, is complicated. and
the heads Of retail businesses are not
unanimous in their opinion Of things
as they are.
There is a distinct tone OIL optimism
in the attitude of the majority of the
merchants But the optimism is not
based on the making of huge sums OF
money. 1t would seem that II IS real
" based on the determination OF the
retailers to make the best of what
exists. with a strong belief that there
are better days not far ahead
Farm Products Too Low.
Three Of Topeka's retailers asserted
that business will not be normal again
until the price the farmer receives
for his products is commensurate win
the price they are asking him for
goods.
The fact that retailers recognize this
point, augurs well for their good faith.
if the retailers believe that the farm
ers' goods will have to be on an equal
basis with their own, in order to re-
store good times, there is reason to be-
lieve that they are making every eff
fort in their power to bring about
this equality. At least it removes the
probability that the retailers are Out
to gouge the farmers If it were pos
sible to bring their prices down to q
level of the prices for farm produce,
and still exist. it is highly probable
that the retailers would do it. since
they have recognized the ACCESSIBILITY
and even necessity, of equality. 1t Is
unquestionably an argument against
the charge that all retailers are prof.
teers and pirates.
Must Restore Confidence.
"ff you can write anything to re
store the confidence which the public
had in the retailers, and which was
lost during the war, you'll be doing
the biggest possible thing for the trade
situation" w. Z. BrelsfOrd. manager
of the Payne Shoe company's store,
and former president of the Topeka
Merchants association, said. This
confidence was lost during the war,
thru charges made against the re-
tailers by the newsT apers and others.
If all newspaper ,men, all politicians,
even the rest of the public, could be
trained to thoroly understand business
conditions, the difficulties of this
country would be ironed out in no
time"
A digest of the reports Of various
retailers indicates that there was a
slight slump in Topeka. beginning in
May, ana lasting until September.
This is admittedly the dullest season
of the year, but it was unusually dull
this season
Business Revival in September.
Beginning some time in September.
there was 6 revival of buying, which is
making most of the stores handle a
greater volume of goods, at a lower
price, than was handled.
At the present time, more goods
NJ. I1ae aH I1a fie o
last year by some 80 per cent. They
are being sold at third lower price.
Department stores are taking in fewer
dollars. by a slight percentage, than
they took III last year, but their profits
are being applied in a different way.
This point was brought out by A. Z.
McKown, of the Pelletiers Stores COM
pany.
Not Year for Profit.
I'VE have decided that this is at
q year for profits but a year for vol
ume of business" McKown says 1--WE
have kept our store busy by price re-
auctions and special sales, feeling that
volume is more essential than profits.
This is a. year when merchants Will go
on record as to their disposition t }
meet conditions. We are disposed to
share our profits this year with or
clientele. and by meeting our over
head. with our employees"
McKown said that by this means
the volume of trade at Pelletier's has |
been kept up to last years standards !
in dollars and cents, and has exceeded |
the number of units moved for last |
y ear. There was a slight decrease dur |
ing September and October, he said.
Topeka's record for the past year is |
the best, so far as can be ascertained, |
of any city of its size, or larger. in the |
United States Two merchants asked |
that they be not quoted on the actual |,
facts of the way business has stood |
up during the year. Travelling men, |
they say. who compare Topekas trade |
with that of other cities, look askan3e |
when told that there has been no |
diminution in trade here. ~They think |
We are liars said these two mer-
chants.
Few Expensive Diamonds Sold.
Local business ard mail order bust
ness done by the Santa Fe Watch |
company. afforded Alonzo S. Thomas,
manager of the company, an oppor-
tun1ty to compare conditions in To-
peka and elsewhere, much to the cred
1t of Topeka. About the only diff
ference We have noticed in Topeka's
trade is that we have sold practically
no diamonds worth more than $780,
Thomas says. LAS for the rest of the
local trade it has been practically nor
NAL. or better, on medium priced
goods
Sol Gilberg, of the w. E. Culver
hardware company, said it is hard TO
decide. in the hardware business, just
where the slump has been. There was
a decided falling off of buying during
the Santa Fe shop layoff, he says, and
while the small stuff is not moving
as 1t did there are being sold 'mor9
heaVy articles, such as stoves, wash