Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-03-23

BUYER, MIR. A SAKS, TELLS ITS OWN STORY
HOW THE WASHINGTON HATTERs ENDEA-
voRED TO CREATE a
CORNER IN HATS
RICHMOND Va,
1913 Maine street
BALTIMORE, Nd.
80 and 80 Hanover street.
WASHINGTON CITY,
800 10 3OS 9TH street.
NEW YORK CITY.
$50 Broadway.
OFFICE OF sAKs & COMPANY,
653 Broadway,
NEW YORK. March 10. 1885.
To sAKs & COMPANY,
Washington. d. c.:
DEAR SIR: Some weeks SINCE when ordering Straw
Hats of Brigham and Hopkins, who known the
manufacturers OF the finest goods in America,
claimed and obtained the best terms. accepting. of
course those which were shortest, and gave the
greatest cash discount.
Their stock was very handsome. and justified my
placing large order, which did After concluding
purchase you may imagine my surprise when they
told me that they had received notification from sew
eral OF the leading haters in Washington that if they
Messrs- Brigham and Hopkins, sold US, they would
decline To purchase any goods of them.
The reason they gave for this alternative was that
Our House had Ruined
The Profit on Hats
l told Mr.. Hopkins that always paid for
goods. and belonging by virtue of such purchase.
we proposed to dispose of them for what deem
value; but we did not request them 20 sell other
house In Washington do not care what he did
with his goods for We will TO it that do not get
lett when low prices are in question.
Mr. Hopkins said, to me that as the terms upon
which we bought were practically spot cash. his firm
Claimed no right to dictate to at what prices
were to sell our goods That said he. is your affair.
and we Will sell all the goods you want, notwith-
standing the protest we have received
Yesterday called Dickerson & Brown. manu-
facurers of fine hats, sold by leading New York Hat
ters such as Miller, Forbes and others to place
order for the Richmond House. In conversation with
Mr. Dckerson, he told me that their drummer in
Washington last week and failed 10 sell dollars
worth there because they sold u.s.
Tell, them said MI. -, old customer, TO sell
them to Saks'
Mr.. Dickerson said the reason this and other old
customers gave for their refusal purchase was:
'SAkS SELLS HATS TOO CHEAP
1 told Mr.. Dickerson we did not propose to govern
other matters prices, and that would not permit
them to dictate If chose to sell their hats
which cost two fifty each for two seventy that was
our business Mr.. Dckerson, in reply, said that all
the hats his firm had sold this spring had paid
for, and they were property to do with as we
chose, and that they would ship all would buy.
He asked if objected selling other matters In
Washington and told him to sell them all he could
all that should ask would be admitted on the
ground foor and that We would take care of the
rest.
Again. last evening, called on friend who had for
Heighbor a leading hat manufacturer My friend
had previously he told me, asked his neghbor if he
had sold hats to Saks and Company and if not why!
He replied L dare They sell hats too close and
our trade in Washington objects having them ham
die our hats
knew the hat men in Washington were not sending
Us ooques, but seems they had quietly understood
arrangement to drive of the market with what
result the future will tell
nave given you names and facts and would like
You TO take these facts and give them the public
Just as they are that they the animus of
competitors actions in opposing our entry among the
hat trade.
would advise an enlargement of our Hat Depart
ment TO its fullest extent once and if you find it
necessary 10 sell Hats at cost lower to meet
any competition, You have my sanction In advance
When shall ship the straw goods?
Truly yours,
A. SAKS"
IN CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE MEM
BEERS OF OUR FIRM HERE, WE CONCLUDED
THE BEST WAY TO CONVEY THE INFoRMA-
TON 1T CONTAINS WAS TO PUBLISH THE
LETTER JUST ASST WAS, AND BEG LEAVE
TO ADD THAT WE ARE FULLY IN ACCORD
IN THIS MATTER. AND PROPOSE, IF NECEs-
sARY TO CARRY THE WAR INTO
AFRICA.