Show INCREASED tA O f fr FOOD r PRICES I ARE PREDICTED Failure of f Farmers Farmers' to Produce Pro Pro- I duce Larger Crops Will Bring Crisis in Winter Business Lead Leader r. r Avers HORTAGE of foodstuffs d during dur- dur r- r S SHORTAGE J 1 mg ing the h winter with still higher prices in m consequence ill will willbe b be the probable result of f failure of farmers farmers' throughout the countr coun country couri coun tr try to produce e crops crop In n sufficient I quantities This was the declaration of ot Lew Hahn managing director of ot the National National National Na Na- Dry Goods association who is looking after atter the w welfare of or the twenty members of or the Drapers' Drapers chamber of ot trade of ot the United Kingdom who are touring the United States and Canada This conclusion is based upon Mr Hahns Hahn's personal observation and andas as the result i of c conversation seed dealers and and experts in agriculture I FIELDS UNTILLED I I 1 noticed as we came across across the I country numerous fields that b bear ar the stubble of or last years year's corn crop fields that the farmers have not oot yet at attempted attempted at- at tempted to cultivate Mr Hahn stated It is too late to cultivate te and plant these fields this year and but butone one thing can result I have talked with seed dealers and others familiar with agricultural agricultural agricultural agri- agri agri agri- cultural conditions of or the situation and arid their belief bellet is that that a shortage shortage- of r result a rt of fo food wages s cannot annot ann t be reduced and consequently prices must go even even higher EFFECTS OF WAR It is bromidic to say that we are suffering from the after atter effects of the war All An th the grea great producing n nations ms of the world could not quit Work vork enter upon a course of destruction for four fout years jears e rs and kill off th the best of or their young men without shortage In materials materials mate mat rials resulting When the armistice was signed the retailers of the country as though by y common consent although there had been no prearrangement kept out of the market for tor about sixty days dais in Ih the he belief beller that prices would go down After this short respite there ther was a scramble to buy bur on the market and prices prIces' conr con went wept hh higher he WANAMAKERS WANAMAKER'S WANAMAKERS WANAMAKER'S COURSE John Wanamaker of New York created created cre cre- an unfortunate an and and 1 erron erroneous ous Impression Impression impression im Im- Im- Im by the announcement that he would sell i his merchandise with few exceptions at a discount of 20 per percent cent had Mr Wanamaker stated that his average profit for four years has been 5 per her c cent pt If It that is true he cannot c cut t prices 20 per cent without losing his 5 per cent profit and arid 15 per cent additional This is Isa a simple aim sim pl pie mathematical calculation BUBin Business Business' ss' ss Is the orderly arrangement of of the af affairs affairs affairs af- af fairs of ot life the serving of the wants of the people The retailers retailer s business Is to serve the public and he can cant can't t maintain that service unless he makes a a fair pro profit lt If It Mr Wanamaker er is losing 15 per cent on his merchandise It is certain that at some time In the near future he will be be obliged to make his normal profit plus something else to make up the e d-e deficit FUTURE PRICES ES It If there be a recession in the prices of the manufacturers and wholesalers so BO that Mr Wanamaker r and other re re retailers re- re who ha have va been slashing prices ric s can an buy back at lower prices th then n Continued on page 4 4 INCREASED FOOD Continued d from page age 1 1 the move is a wise and economic one If It prices continue on the upgrade with 1 I the manufacturer and wholesaler It stands to that those r reason who have sacrificed merchandise by price cutting cutting cutting cut cut- I ting will wUl b be o obliged to buy at higher prices and then they must sell for tor still higher prices SIMILE OF TRAFFIC TRAFFIC- I Business throughout Its different factors from factors from the producer to the consumer con sumer reminds sumer reminds me of a procession on Fifth Filth avenue New York or on any other principal street of a large city When the traffic policeman holds up up his arm arm armand and stops the first car the I entire procession stops for the first firstI car cant can't stop without stopping all the others The retailer may be brow brow- I beaten heMen into reducing prices for the mo mo- ment If It he does so he lie stops the enI entire entire entire en en- I tire procession unless he is able to buy I goods at lower prices I WAGES TO STAY UP The manufacturer must buy raw material at higher prices pay more for tor labor higher freight charges With everything higher it will be impossible ble for tor him to turn out the finished product at low prices There is no I prospect of ot cheaper labor With food tood high and likely to go higher labors labor's I wages cannot be reduced It may be possible to force prices downward by causing a panic pani but as I between panic conditions and an era during which labor Is well employed at high wages even though prices are high the there e should be no question of ot 1 the choice 1 1 |