New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-04
CUBAN FLAGS UNPOPULAR.
THE COLORS OF THE INSURGENTS a
ORIG on THE MARKET.

DRUG on THE MARKET.
Whom TIE war with Spain first thought
Of far-seeng business men MADE prepara-
lions for additional trade. and the prepare
lions for war became greater the army OF spec
uIators and money makers increased. The war
t,nes of '6l were recalled by merchants, manu-
racturers and gpeculatOrs. and visions OF for
tunes made over night and stocks OF gooos APP
preclating tenfold arose before the wide-awake
plungers who built castles In Spain OF mashih-
cent proprrtons. This was the case to such
n great extent that all possibilities seem to have
been discounted. and the chances for fortune
making were reduced 20 an alarming extent III
some in:aances the spectators oversnot III"
mark and instead Of making money out OF theh
purchase. product or importation they fouhu
themselves when hostilities began hampered
with lot Of unstable merchandise. when was
finally disposed Of at a sacrifice.
There were hundreds of OF that kind.
covering all sorts of goods. but the one which
no one seemed 10 have anticipated was the
slump in the flag business-the Cuban nag REQ
nile all over the country invested in the insur-
gent colors. and within short time after buN-
ing the flags the buyers were ready to unload
them at a oss.
r. F. Bloch. OF the American Flag Company,
making millions Of these emblems. Cuban
flags" he said were worth a good price. We
made them in all sizes. from the wee things
that retailed in the candy shops for one cent
each to large. beautiful silk flags We shipped
them to all parts Of the country. and although
we worked two sets OF hands and put az many
people TO work as our machines would accom-
modate we could not deliver the goods fast
enough. Every day brought dozens of tele-
graphic orders for Cuban flags and in order to
keep all customers satisfied we had to re-
duce many large orders so that smaller purchae-
ers could be served. But II was only the first
orders that customers made fuss about.
and dare say that with the exception OF the
cheapes' kind. nine-tenths Of the Cuban flags
still In the hands Of merchants who would
be willing to sell them at 30 cents on the dollar.
The merchants who only short time ago tele-
gra phcd 10 have their goods rushed now write
asking us 10 exchange the Cuban flags for
American coors. and the average proposition Is
ten Cuban flags for one American.
But the Cuban flag is ess hopeless piece
o. merchandise than the Hawaiian coors All
flag concerns had 10 keep them. and there was
a fairly good market for them. because the Ia-
wallans used flags for decorating their houses
quite extensively But the annexation OF the
Islands made the flags even less valuable than
the Cuban COlors"
The unpOpularty OF the Cuban flag dem
onstrated one day last week in a little saloon on
Staten Island. where sailors from the warships
gathered to wash the Santiago smoke out OF
their Threats. The place crowded with
sailors. and circulating among them were
catchTenny traders who offered all sorts Of ar
ticle7 for sale. Among these young man
With stock OF handkerchief boxes The top
box was open, and showed neatly folded silk
handkerchief The salesman called attention 10
his wares, and In true huckster style told OF the
superior quality Of the handkerchiers And
look a. that" he said, holding one up 10 display
an embroidered corner. "a Cuban fax on every
one"
What" yelled a barefooted sailor who had
evidently washed his throat often and thor
oughly 10 Judge by his voice ana his somewhat
unsteady step, What A Cuban fiag! Not for
US Give US good American flag and we'll 90
you. Out none OF that" chorus OF voices In.
dorsed the sentiment, some Of the remarks no.
Ing more sailor-like than parliamentary The
salesman insisted on advertising his Cuban eag
handkerchiefs and presently n large glass NJ
oeer got mixed up with the stock OF goods and
the salesman gathered up his beer-soaked stock
81 goods and departed. fully convinced tina, all
American sailors are not enthusiastic admirers
Of the Cuban flag