The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1922-06-15

public as to the probable effect the
proposed rates are likely to have on
clothing prices. With that in mind,
we will send too you in another bulle-
tin Within he next few days copy for
editorials and copy for ads which
can be used in your local paper, if
you so desire. These editorials and
advertisements will set forth the
facts as they are, and their use can
mean nothing more than that you
are informing the public what to
expect and at the same time protect
ing yourself against later unjust cri-
ticism. In the following, we give
certain additional information which
may interest you. If after reading
it, you feel that the rates proposed
are too high, you should wire a
protest to your United States Sena-
tor and Congressman. We quote
below from letter which Mr.. Julius
c. Morse, of Leopold Morse & Com
pany, Boston, one of the Vice-Presi-
dents of the National Association,
recently wrote to Senator Walsh Of
Massachusetts. protesting against
the rates in the Fordney Bill, and
which letter was read in the United
States Senate Chamber on May 26th:
lowing to the agitation relative
to the high tariff on wool and the
embargo caused by the emergency
tariff, cloths have risen by leaps and
bounds within the last thirty days,
and although the mills made very
attractive prices when showing their
goods the first of March, yet today
we are obliged to pay all the way
from 25 cents to so cents per yard
more on the prices made by the mills
when they opened their fall lines in
March. arg
an consideration of the fact that
it takes about three and half yards
of cloth to make suit Of clothes, you
can readily see that there is an adj
vance of from 81 to 81 per suit on
the cost Of the cloth alone, caused by
this advance, and / really feel that
unless careful attention is paid to
the tariff on wool, that the retail con-
sumar, instead of being able to get
clothing for less in the fall of 1922
than he did in 1921, will perhaps be
obliged to pay the same price, if not
more, because the reduction in labor
has hardly overcome the advance in
the price of cloth.
II am not an advocate of low tariffs
for the Importation of foreign cloths
and clothing, but feel that the situa-
ton as it confornts us today is very
serious on account of the fact of the
steadily rising prices on one side, and
the consumers demand for lower
prices on the other"
Mr. Morse, in his letter, also referr-
ed to the various Investigations into
retail prices and the unfair news
paper attacks,and said that the fin
ancial statements Of retail firms for
1921 would disprove charges of pro-
fiteering, but that the retailer was
doing his utmost to meet the de
mands of the consumer for lower
prices.
We refer to Mr.. Morse's letter be-
cause it, in a way, reflects the view
generally held by well informed man
ufacturers and retailers. We also
enclose, on separate sheet. as a
part of this bulletin statement re-
Gently prepared by the Fair Tariff |
League, which sets Forth their es-
innate as to what would be the |
actual effect of the 33c duty on wool
as affecting the price OF clothing. We
use this because it sets down in ac
tual dollars and cents the estimate
of what the increased cost tc the ccn-
sumner is likely to be.
We place this information before
you for your consideration and for
such action as you, Individually, may
see fit to take in the matter.
Very truly, yours,
National Association Of Retail
Clothiers,
Anselm Frankel, President,
Charles E. Wry, Executive
Director