Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-12

ions Of Business Men.
New York Sun, Nov.9.
A San reporter was detailed to call
upon the leading dry goods men of the
city, with instructions to ascertain
what effect the recent change of party
has had upon their southern trade.
The result of his labors is given be-
low.
There was hurrying to and fro of
the attaches, at Messrs. III. B. Clafin &
Co.'s, all busily engaged in filling or
ders, and it was with some difficulty
that the reporter made his way to the
desk of the gentleman who was pointed
out to him as the person competent to
give him the Information he sought.
Being asked whether the trade OF his
house had yet felt the change the gen.
tleman replied;
81 can't say that we have exactly
felt the change yet. Trade is never
over brisk with us at this season, and
this year is not a marked exception
Reporter-Do you think that the re-
cent political change will have any deci
ded effect upon your trade with South
ern merchants?
Manager-Of that can only judge
by conversations have had with such
of our Southern customers as are now
here.
Reporter-Are there many of them
here yet?
Manager-No, sir. No larger num-
Der than usual at this season. But
was about to say that those with whom,
l have conversed are unanimous in The
opinion that trade In the South
will rapidly revive under the IN.
6eunee Of the recent great political
change. OF course four days is too
short a time in which to expect an In.
fiux of Southern customers, but / have
no doubt at all that there is much more
confidence in trade circles in the South
than before the change.
GOOD PROSPECTS AHEAD.
Reporter-Then l may say that you
anticipate a large increase in your
Southern trade within short time?
ManageI-Yes, sir. As / said be.
fore, Judging from the con ersation of
Southern men whom / have recently
seen, commercial confidence lii the
Southern States is soon to be much
frner than for many years past.
At the spacious store of Messrs. E.
F. Jaffray & Co., on Broadway, the re-
porter was introduced to Mr.. Williams,
a member of the firm,
Reporter-I am directed TO induife
of your firm and other prominent
houses whether there has been any
great improvement in the trade with
Southern merchants in consequence Of
the GREET and overwhelming defeat of
the Republican party last Tuesday.
Mr.. Williams-Four days is hardly
long enough 10 give trade a chance to
feel the change. I am well satisfied,
however, that confidence will be rapidly
restored in the Southern States, and
that merchants who have been for
years afraid to invest in goods 20 any
extent beyond their immediate wants
will now come into the market with
more confidence than they have felt
for fourteen years. 1t cannot be doubt
ed that the rule of the dominant party
and the terrorism Of oarpet-bag cor
ruption have materially impaired South
ern trade.
Reporter-Have you large South
ern CONNECTION?
Mr.. Williams-Our business is gene
raj. We ship goods to all parts Of the
country. We have, of course, a large
Southern connection, but as you may
have inferred from my IT marks il has
not amounted to what it should have
been. There has been almost total
stagnation In Southern trade. 1t is al
ways result of corrupt government
that trade should suffer by the impair
ment of general confidence.
TRADE ON A SOUND BASIS.
Mr. Williams, before the interview
concluded, advanced the opinion that
general trade to-day is on a better
basis than it has been for years. Ad-
monished by the panic, country mer-
chants have been buying goods in
smaller lots at more frequent intervals,
and paying more cash for them. This,
while it seemingly curtails business, is
actually benefit to it, for both the
wholesalers of the city and the retail
ers of the country find themselves more
free aid unenbarrassed. I'm fine"
Eaid he, "the panic was a good lesson
to business men. 1t taught them to
deal more closely. Asthings are going
now, hope that by next spring bust
ness will be firmly re-established, and
that every house can stand on it's own
bottom"
Other dry goods firms, with whom
the reporter conyersed, expressed Opin-
ions similar to those advanced by the
representatives of H. B. Claim & Co.
and E. S. Jaffray & Co. As yet, they
said, the change had not had time
enough to be felt, but, within a few
days, the Southern merchants, who
have cramped their operations for
years, because they have lacked conf
dence in the carpet-bag and negro gov
ernments under which the Republican
Administration had compelled them to
live, will flock to this city to make pur-
chases. They anticipated vast i'm
prOvement in business as one-and by
no means the least-of the changes to
be wrought by the political revolution
of last Tuesday