San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-02-20
AN ARMY OF psApeeATs.
Quaker City Men Who Forget 70 Pay
Their Tnilors.


Quaixnr City Men Who Forget 70 Pay
Their Tailors.
There are between 5000 and 5000 men
in this city who do not pay their tailors'
bills. This statement 10 made upon the
authority of a member of the new instl-
tuition known as the Merchant Tailors'
Protective Association and Exchange,
which is preparing the list for-publica-
ton and circulation among the members
Of the organization. When this black
list is once made public it will ruin tho
credit of the hundreds who have existed
on the tailors in the past.
The Merchant Taifors' Exchange has
had list OF this character for some
years, but the membership of that organi-
zation is small and limited almost en-
tirely TO the tailors having large estab-
lishments in the vicinity of Walnut and
/ Chestnut streets. The new association,
which was organized on Monday even
ing, will cover much wider field, and
efforts will be made TO include every
tailor in the city. Each member viii
turn in the names of those from whom
he has been unable 10 collect his money,
and copies of the complete list will be
furnished every tailor in the city.
The list is to include not only the dead.
beats that never pay, but all those who
help to make the life Of tailor bur-
den. For example, 1t is almost impossi-
BILE to make clothing to suit some men.
No matter how carefully they are made,
some objection will be found. and after
enough alterations have been made to
eat up all the profit the price must he re-
duced, ON the ground that after so many
changes have been made the garment
comes under the head of damaged goods.
Under the new order of things these men
must change their tactics or depend on
the ready made dealers for their cloth
ing.
Hiram DeWalt, who was made tenn.
porary chairman of the new organiza-
ton, says 1t is surprising to what ex-
tent the business of beating tailors out
Of their money has been carried. ut is
confined to no particular class" he said,
"but Is done by men in all the walks OF
life. Two classes of people stand out
ever--those who want to make a greater
display than their circumstances will
warrant, and the sons of rich men who
evidently use their allowances for out
side pleasures and want to get Their
clothes ut the expense of the tailors.
an the compilation of the list great
care and caution will be exercised. The
tailors will all be given numbers, and the
names of those reporting delinqucnts will
not appear on the list; but opposite the
name and address Of each Objectionable
customer will be given the name of the
tailor at whose insistance he has been
blacltlisted, and tho cause for the action.
1T is only after man has shown con-
clusively that he does not intend to pay
that his name will be reported. After
dunning a man for year without get
ting anything out of him, 1t is safe ia
suppose that he does not intend to pay,
and down goes his name ON the blach
list. don't believe. however, that the
losses from this source are 80 heavy as
are claimed by some. The tailors have
learned wisdom, and during the last few
years have been very careful about trust
ing people they were not absolutely sun
d. But even with ell this care they gei
stuck every now and then, and the gen
eral black list Is intended to remedy
his"
Robert Stewart. the president OF the
Id Merchant Tailors' Exchange. is
irm believer In the efficiency of the
blacklist. Nothing but the best goodi
n the house will suit those people wbc
make habit of not paying he said,
and whenever we lose by one Of them
{ is always a pretty fair sum. A man
Who appeared TO move In the best circles
anne into the store some time ago and
rdcred a suit Of clothes for S65. After
ie had gone / looked over our list and
CuDd his name thero. 1 Immediately
ent him note stating that We could
ot make the clothing without havings
ood deposit. He stopped in shortly
forwards and explained that he ex,
ected 70 rcceive some money IN about
eek or 80, and would pay whom the
Iotbes were made. He never returned.
ovrever, and / have since seen him ou
se strccf in = new suit but they wers
.ady made.
"a blaek Iist Of this character may
en- rather hard 30 some outsiders. buf
is The only gay By which tailors car
event heavy inroads into their yearly
oaits. l think 5000 low estimate oi
e number q men of thai character IN
T. city. and for the tsilors 10 clOthe an
ny Ike that free Of charge Is conSid-
atle - q drzft upon Cur PurseA
.ilsielftia Record.