| OCR Text |
Show 'LOIR SPfS'" Action of New York Retailers ! Brings "Tempest in Shoe Shop" Over Country XEW YORK, April 22 Recent action ac-tion of the New York Retail Shoe Dealers' association for limitation of profit on " standard" footwear, that is, ' shoes selling for ?10 or less a pair, and which do not carry a luxury tax, naa created what might be called "a tempest tem-pest in a shoe shop" all over the United Uni-ted States. The tempest was caused by a little item wired from New York on March 22, to the effect that the federal authorities au-thorities had announced that they had been informed by John Slater, president presi-dent of the local retail dealers' association, asso-ciation, that "standard" shoes would be reduced during the spring and summer. It was published in many newpapers, and pater and mater l familias, with lots of little feet to be shod, chuckled over the ulad, sood 1 J news at many a supper table. The 1 item read: i NEW YORK, March 22. Prices of standard shoes will bo reduced during tho spring and summer, John Slater, president of the ltetuil Shoe Dealers' association, asso-ciation, announced today, in a communication to Arthur Williams, Wil-liams, federal food adnilnistratoi . Retailors at a recent meeting de-i de-i cided to bo content with a smaller margin of profit, Mr. Slater said. ' Reductions, however, will not apply ap-ply to ''all klnd.s of fancy and ultra-fashionable footwear." i Tho action of tho retail shoo dealers, Mr. Williams said, probably prob-ably presagod thup beginning of a general narrowing of profit marginu In other wearing apparel. .Looking Tor Fall. One papor in Arkansas carried t.'io item with tho heading: "Here's 1-Iopo for tho Woary; Say Prices May Como Down." By man it was rogardod as the first real move toward a reduction in tho high cost of living. Tho next day or so retail shoo storo patrons from coast to coast and from Oshkouh to tho Gulf visited their favorite Jea.1-ers Jea.1-ers to buy tho cheaper footwear. Tho dealers, many of whom hacl not hud a "marked down" sale sinco before the war, said they had not heard anything any-thing about a dccllno in prices. Tho nows spread to the trade, however, how-ever, and soon dealers, Jobbers and manufacturers began to bombard Mr. Slator -with Inquiries as to the basis for his assortlon. Meanwhile, Mr. Slater had been Interrogated here by tho Associated Press regarding tho correctness of the statement attributed to him, and he declined to comment on It, Whereupon, Mr. Williams, for-morrly for-morrly federal food administrator and' fair prlco commissioner, was visited, and ho confirmed tho statement as sent out by tho Associated Press. Cause, of Confusion. It became known, however, that much of tho confusion had been caused by the form of the announcement announce-ment made from tho office of tho 'air prico commissioner, for instead of a general movement, such as was indicated indi-cated by the announcement, tho only plan in contemplation was limitation I of profits In New York City; and oven that ha3 failed to be put Into effect. Mr. Williams, however, stood by the 3tatemont as carried by the Associated Press. Ho said it was correct, and ho would assume full responsibility for :t. Mr. Williams explained that early this spring the federal authorities mado an effort to reach an understanding under-standing with New York retailers concerning con-cerning tho profits on footwear. In hie official capacity as fair prico commissioner, com-missioner, ho said, ho received on March 22 last, a communication from Mr. Slater as president of tho New York Retail Shoo Dealers' association, containing a proposal for limitation to a maximum of 21 to 35 per cent of retail profits on shoes selling at $10 or less a pair. Mr. Williams said he referred re-ferred tho proposal to United States Attorney Caffey. No action on it has been taken by tho department of Justice. Jus-tice. Mr. Williams lias since resignod and no successor has been appointed. Meantime the retail price of standard stand-ard shoes in New York remains as high as ever. Sends "Explanation. While declining to mako any statement state-ment for publication in rogard to tho diverging views of Mr. Williams -and himself, Mr. Slater sent an "explanation" "explana-tion" in letters and telegrams to newspapers news-papers and members of tho shoe trade over the country, saying that Mr. Williams Wil-liams had told the reporters that he thought slices would bo cheaper. Ho denied ho had told this to Mr. William.?, Wil-liam.?, and said that although it was true negotiations wore under way for limitation of profits ho saw no basis for tho assertion that prices would como down. . A Fort Smith, Ark., merchant who wrote to Mr. Slater received a reply which apparently gave the death blow to the expiring hopes, built upon the announcement from the fair prlle commissioner's office, that shos would be cheaper in New York or anywhere else. Mr. Slater said:. "In making my recommendation to Mr Williams about the maximum profit c be allowed on non-taxable footwear I told him that the price of shoes would j not come down." |
