New-York tribune., 1904-09-18
7 BUSINESS is BOOMING"
MERCHANTS ALL SAY so
Campaign Has No Effect on the
Fall Trade.

That feeling OF security permeates the buy
s,r public in spite OF the fact that tbis !.
occidental year. IS made strikingIv evident
~ the optimistic reports OF the owners s,d
,nsnazers OF the large department stores :,
.bss city. Al no time has the prospect for q
prosperous fall trade been brighter than il is
.o-6av. The consensus Of opinion points 70 the
.tability OF the Republican party and the wide
s,,ead conviction that Roosevelt will be elected
,s the result Of this unusual situation. for never
t.sore has politics interfered so little with the
saIes OF the city shopkeepers. Back Of this is
she fact that the country appears to be in
universally prosperous condition.
Y * not any one class Of people that is buying
so ,Inreaervedly now. or any one department
.bs- IS making a particular appeal. the store
.bs. g INTENDED 70 meet the demands Of the
,,.sses is as busy as the shop that meets the
-.guiYernerlts % the most fastdous. The de-
,.Ttuents that display sutings or furniture are
as prosperous as those which sell groceries or
,ollarettes one has only 10 traverse the shop
,;,p section Of Broadway or Sixth-ave. any day
This week morning or afternoon, 10 substan
,iats this statement he viii 7nd the sidewalks
th-onged with a hurrying and high spirited
crowd. which s,rges in ard out of the stores
with = persistency that might he laid 10 in
6scision we're Il not for the bundles and the
,rsu filed b7gs with which the majority are
fu-sened The c,irbs a7e lined with carriages
drawn Cd ~ the curb waiting for nistresses
who are making purchases
The stores themselves present the best signs
er activity. and VIII be found filed 10 their
utmost capacity: the aisles thronsed. The ooun-
fsrs crowded. Tie woman who has come -
acquire fau wardrobe takes time 70 inspect
.he bargain counter: the shopper VINO is look
.ng for bargains inspects becoming hat and
purchases it with the feeling that she is
rot oye-stepping her privileges. eyervwhere
throughout every store the counters Interchange
their customers and me customers buy ex-
,ensiveiv. Put the most skeptical of men into
,he elevator Of one Of the large Sixth-ave stores
and make him ride 10 the TOP floor and hack.
Public pressure will convince him that pros
pe-ity is indeed With the New York merchant
RFPTBIICAN SECURITY THE CAUSE
Tribune reporter made his way through
.ust such a crowd in Stern Brothers store one
morning last week and sought out Louis Stern
What is your opinion OF the business out
look?" be asked him.
Mr. Stern smiled contentsdly az he gave the
reporter seat
Z could not ask II 10 ~ bettered" ne said.
we have every reason 10 look forward 20
successful season. ana no fears that sales
viii be diminished either this month or next.
our store is crowded daily and we are taking
al the orders We can handle"
Was the buying public cautious in August
be was asked.
The people were not al all modest IN their
demands last month" said Mr.. Stern. ON the
contrary. our trade was materially increased in
August The explanation is very simple
Mr. Stern paused as a huge stack OF mall vas
handed him. and then he concluded shortly
I'll les IN The certainty Of RooseveIts election
LORD Taylor was the next store 20 which
The Tribune reporter went and he found Z. P.
Hatch in his Office and quite wiling 70 give
expression 10 the optimistic outlook Of his house.
7 an Of the opinion" said Mr. Hatch. that
= was not until the first OF this month that the
public altogether threw OF q caution Inspired
BY The campaign. There was a little scare in
August, but there has been a decided improve
nlent II our business in the last Ten days
Everything iE IN splendid condition now and
our sales show marked and steady increase.
~ increase which. considered in connection with
the national election, is the first OF its kind in
the history Of our business
Wsuamaker's store was alive with shoppers
when J. Is. Harris. Of the managing DEPART
ment. substaRt.atsd this appearance Of pros
perity with a Few facts
We are starting in earlier han ever with a
trade
which We believe viii r=ach our highest expec-
tatio1s. A managers expectations are never
overreached. you know. We are prepared TO
I'll demands more extended than have ever been
made on Us IN the past and We are confident
that our expectations are based on sound judg-
meat The people are not frightened over the
Presidential fight, for they put faith I'm both
candidates. You wiz ind that It is not alone in
such stores as this that prospects are golden.
fo- in every branch Of trade 7 have resson 70
see nothing but prosperity"
Taking 8 car up Broadway. The Tribune re-
porter went 10 the other extremity Of the down
town shopping district. p. A. Come. OF Saks
q Co, grew fscetious as he considered the pres
ent state % affairs liz the hinge store on Thirty
third-st
II this trade Of ours is the result OF politics"
ne said y wish We could have q Presidential
campaign every year. Why don't believe the
huying public is paying any more attention TO
poAucs than cats 10 the grand opera. OF
course added M. Come. with a laugh you
VIZ mo cat low and then which aspires 10
tgs grand opera We are carrying on an excel
'sill business, and We have every proof that We