Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-07
FALL SALES PEAK
NOW APPROACHING
Labor Men Want Merchants
to Use Added Initiative in
Boosting Business.
BY J. C. ROYLE.

Labor, which received encouraging
words Monday from President Hoover,
does not need encouragement so much
as industrialists and merchants need it,
according to some of the labor leaders.
President Green of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor indicates that labor
can buy commodities at present prices.
1t is a question, however, in some
industries whether producers can turn
out these commodities to sell at present
prices and still make a profit
Labor leaders say business oppor-
tunity is opening up, that fundamental
adjustments have been made and
wholesale prices are more stable, while
the outlook for employment is bright
ening. Overcaution, the labor execu-
tiveS say, has left merchants UMPIRE
pared for the business they have been
waiting for. They have been unwilling
to stock heavily and as a result some
purchasers have found bad selections,
missing sizes and incomplete lines on
the shelves. This trend extends back
to the manufacturers, who have held
down production to consumptive de-
mands and have small stocks Of goods
on hand.
New Industrial Attitude.
In general this whole situation is a
healthy one, but it is one which none
the less requires judicious handling. If
production and wholesale distribution
are put off too long, retail sales are
sure to be lost-and some buyers have
just found out how much they really
can do without If they have to. More
over, all along the line sellers must
accommodate themselves to the present
lowest scale of retail commodity prices.
Cost of living is nearly per cent lower
today than 1t was year ago.
To put prices up now would, 1t is
feared, have the immediate effect
of curtailing purchases. 1t appar-
emily Is up to the producers and mer-
chants, therefore, to cut costs so that
prices will yield profit. That is what
labor is clamoring for. They call 1t
efficiency" but the meaning Is the
same. Labor leaders have at last dis
covered that producers cannot hire
workers unless the producers are max
ing a profit. Labor insists that eff
cient management will assure this profit.
This Is a somewhat new attitude in
the industrial world. Heretofore the
loudest clamor has been raised by en-
ployers urging that workers improve
their efficiency.
Sales Peak Approaching.
The high point of Fall retail sales is
now approaching. Labor Is urging that
merchants take advantage of this pc
Rod, use initiative and salesmanShtp
and so aid in ending the depression In
retail business. Special stress is laid by
labor leaders on the necessity for news
paper advertising and for special sales
effort. It Is asserted that any reduction
in wages would merely cut buying power
and reduce, rather than raise, profits.
Employment gains have been unnis-
taxable, even If small. This Is not evil
dent, however, in the building trades
The improvement in building, which
usually comes with the Fall months, has
been of smaller proportions than nor
NAL, according to building trade arti-
sans. What gain there has been seems
to have conferred in home building, and
this Is regarded as most encouraging
sign.
Reports from across the border tc
labor leaders gathered in Boston tnd1-
cate that Canadian workers, while af-
fected by the worldwide depression
have suffered less than those Of most
other countries. Production has dropped
about Is per cent less in Canada than
in this country, it is stated.
At the moment, activity In the public
utilities is the backbone which Is keep
ing the labor situation upright in this
country.
(CopyriRht, i930.)