The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-05-27
RETAILERS IRE
IS AROUSED BY
PRICE CHARGES
Cost TO Consumer Cut to
Limit, Reply Made to
Manufacturers.

Manufacturers.
Demands Of the National Associa-
ton of Manufacturers that retail
ers reduce prevailing prices we're
met in Indianapolis with indigna-
ton by several Of the city's largest
retailers today.
Publication Of a story in which
the national association declared a
return to business prosperity was
possible in the near future only by
increasing public buying power
through retail price reductions drew
not only adverse comments of re-
tailers. but Of Charles o. Grafton,
president of the Indiana Manufac-
turers' Association.
Leading retailers of clothing, food,
furniture and household equipment
were unanimous in declarations that
prices could be cut no more than
they have been since January, 1890.
and asserted they had been sliced
more than the national manufac-
turer's group admitted.
Merchants Defend Prices
Following are comments Of several
prominent local merchants inter
viewed by The Times:
A. w. METzGER (Kroger grocer
ies)-I examined prices Of $50 every
day items and find our prices have
decreased % to Is per cent since
January, 1880. Here's one thing the
manufacturers overlooked. More
than so per cent Of our merchandise
is sold on week-ends when there is
an additional reduction of about 10
per cent, making an actual reduc-
ton Of 30 per cent since a year ago
HARRY ISRAEL, (Sommers
Furniture Company There is no
question Of our reduction as far as
possible on present wholesale prices.
In fact, we even anticipated some
decreases by reducing prices before
the decrease came. 7 don't see how
there could be greater cuts than
have been made.
Declare Cost Is Down
SAUL SOLOMON Victor Furni-
ture Comparative have reduced
our prices in comparison with what
we pay for merchandise now. I've
talked to number of retailers in
town, and they all have done this.
S. a. SULLIVAN Il. S. Ayres &
C9-Let me make one point. Take
mans suit, for example. The cost
is less than so per cent in textiles,
and the rest in labor. A cut of Is
per cent in textiles doesn't mean a
30 per cent reduction in the suit
cost. The President asked that we
do not cut wages, and needlework-
ers' wages were not reduced. The
figures Of the National Association
Of Manufacturers are interesting, if
true, but they will not bear analy-
sis. The story is a smoke screen
rather than an actual showing
Of facts.
LEO TRAUGOTT (Fair Store)-
Their assertions are false, absolute
ly, because wearing apparel is sold
now more than 80 per cent lower
than two years ago. I should say
IS to 40 per cent. Retailers have
cut their prices much more than
the story says they have.
Story Called Unfair
SAM GOLDSTEIN (Goldstein
Brothers, department store)-There
is nothing to these charges. The
latest reports on net profit percent
age of retailers would refute state
ments Of the manufacturers that
retailers can reduce prices still fur
ther The story was decidedly I'M
fair to all retailers.
GEORGE E. FRANK CThe Kirk
Company)-The manufacturers are
absolutely wrong. Our articles now
are down from one-fourth to one
half below what they were a year
ago. We couldn't cut our prices any
more.
CHARLES O. GRAFTON
(Muncie, president of the Indiana
Manufacturers Association - We
know that the manufacturers natu-
rally have been feeling effects of
the present depression in forcible
manner and that they are stagger-
ing under the load, trying to keep
their plants running. Retail prices
and the cost of living have been
cut greatly in the last fifteen
months and the retailer, especially,
is working on the lowest of profit
margins.
We feel that all lines of industry
have, to the best of their ability,
and should, Cooperate in every way
to make the best of the present
condition and that no individual
group should or can be blamed for
present conditions.