The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-17
AMERICANS CRITICISED.
Their Business Methods often Care
less and SIOvenly.
H. wv. Horwin. in Boston Transcrlpt.

II. w. Horwill, in Boston Transcript.
Americans are in danger of forgetting to
what a large extent their present COM
merciaI prosperity is due to the business
ability of a very small proportion of the
population, aided by the vast resources OF
the country-or rather of a great alliance
of countries. not hamPered by any mutual
customs barriers-and the psychological
moment" The average tradesman IS
tempted to bask in the reflected glory OF
a Carnegie or a Rockefeller, and to draw
from the success of the Napoleons or
finance very fiattering differences concern
ing his own capacity. Many people VIII
doubtless be surprised to learn that the
visitor from whom | have already quoted
Mr.. ]. +. Holder Williams, who is con-
nected with a leading firm of London pub
lishers-eXpresses the opinion that the av-
erage Englishman in a London office works
harder and longer and better than the av-
erage American, and also that the same
amount of business is done in England
with about half the staff employed in
America. | am not myself able 10 make
any comparison between the business meth
DDS of the two countries from an inside
knowledge, but writing from the point or
view or a customer am certain that
London firms which adopted the easy-go-
Ing fashion Of New York would soon find
themselves in the bankruptcy court. The
advertising on this side is far more lavish
and ingenious than across the Atlantic,
but the American tradesman seems to
run a business of itself, and will excuse
carelessness and inattention to detail.
Let me Illustrate. An English FRIEND,
visiting me recently, was struck by a GER
tain advertisement in the street cars, and
expressed a wish to get some information
about the commodity advertised. l wrote
for particulars. Ny letter might have been
easily and fully answered by return of
post. / heard nothing about 1t until a week
later, after my friends return to England,
when an agent Of the firm called upon me,
without giving any explanation of the de-
lay. Again. l happened TO want a certain
book recently published in London and, in
ing New York bookseller. / received IL
three weeks later than if l had written for
il direct. and paid % per cent more FOR 1t.
l shall know better another time. Again
and again l have found that such a simple
matter as the registering of a change Of
address has been overlooked in American
offices with which ! have had 10 deal. with
the result that considerable inconvenience
has been caused and that il has been nee
essary TO repeat instructions which should
have been noted when first given. The gen.
eral reputation of Americans for hustling
seems very strange in view OF the long
periods one has to wait for an order 10 be
executed. either in a restaurant or in a
store. From conversation with friends I
| learn that my own experiences of the
~bUngling and dilatoriness OF well-adver-
tised firms are by no means exceptional.
Such lack OF system would be fatal TO a
business house in London: il does not
seem TO be inconsistent with success in
New York. OF course. such petty questions
Of retail supply do not directly touch the
great problem of international competition
in the coal or steel trade, but II the facts
l have mentioned are indications Of the
kind of training young America is getting
in commercial methods they may never
theless be worth consideration.