The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-04-17

And Closed the Concern 10 Get q Rest
Stewards shop Shut mn,

Stewards shop Shut mp.
NV Yoax, April 15.-Judge Henry Hi
ton said to-day that the reason he closet
up the business Of A. T. Stewart 4 Co. wal
that he was tired. He and Mr.. Libby had
been together for twenty years and had
never had a word Of disagreement. They
had agreed to sell out while they could
without loss.
"Will you close and sell your mills also2'
was asked.
ayes, they are included in the business
Now Sc what a gigantic concern this was
We had at one time thirteen or fourteen
mills in operation. Some are closed and
some We have sold. We have large ones
yet in operation. There Is big carpet
mill running III Glenham, q wooden mill
in Glenham, thread mill in Catskill, and
mil. l..making underwear in Nottingham,
England. We employ altogether about six
thousand persons, over three thousand be-
ing here in New York"
"Has the firm been losing money since
you took charge Of the business" ?"
II am not going to say what money we
have made; but / will say that we have
each year made profits that were satislac-
tory to us. Since Mr.. Stewards death
have done no single thing in the conduct
OF this business that aiterward had cause
to regret.n
"As to the discrimination against the
Jews"
"That did not hurt our business at al, !"
Mr.. Hilton replied. ave had o great many
accounts with Jews which might have
proved losses for our closing them when
we did. | did not say half what was
credited with having said against them.
did not utter the words that were &C.
tually put in my mouth, and that
caused generally tribal war against
me. But It did not hurt this business,
which was larger the following year than
it had been the previous year. OF course
l did not have objections to all Jews, but
only TO certain class. All the Jews did
not withdraw their business. We do bust.
ness with them yet, and at the same time
buy hundreds Of thousands OF dollars
worth OF goods every year. The business
has been conducted Just as it was under
Mr. Stewart, and while don't intend TO
say how much money it has got, will say
that It has got alI the money that it needs,
Again, il was said that the Chicago branch
was started without the approval OF my
colleague. That Is att nonsense"
"Will you sell out gradually or at once,
by auction, or in what way2"
Il will not FAY. l am accused OF boast
ing, but as matter OF fact have never
boasted, or even told what was going to
do. Go aud stand behind the counter and
hand out the goods there, and you'll see
what it is to sell out. five have any espe-
cial bargains we will advertise them, and
pay for the advertisement"
One OF the clerks was asked whether the
employees knew. beforehand OF Mr.. Hilton's
intention to stop business.
at was surprise to US, he said, tai
though we knew it must come. Trade has
been fallingaway steadily, aud we expected
something would happen, though not so
quickly"
"Have the clerks received my notice
yet2,'
NO; nothing has been said to us. We
shall have to look out for other places
The employees will probably be discharged
few at time, as 1t will take some
months to close up the business"
CHICAGO, April l5.-Messrs. Smith &
Holbrook are the managers ef the Chicago
branch OF A. 7. Stewart & Co. The ware.
house this morning presented an appear
ancc Of business activity. Business men
say that II A. T. Stewart & Co., had not
owned the monopoly Of certain lines Of
prints, they might have closed
out the business TO advantage
long ago. EARLY this year there
was an exodus OF the salesmen, who had
been long in the employ the concern.
The generally accepted reason for ii was
decreasing trade, due TO the supercilious
manners Of the controllers, who drove
customers away in the shoals by reason Of
their want business tact. Mr.. Holbrook
when asked II the report Of the proposed
liquidation Of the business was true, said:
"Fve nothing to say. 1t is US much as
Gun do to deliver the goods promptly and
attend 10 my own business"