New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-24
PROSPERITY GETS
S1,OO0,OOODIADEM
Jewellers Wares Flash at
Retailers Exhibit in
Central Palace.
T. L. COMBS TELLS
OF BUSINESS BOOM
Delegates to Launch Campaign
to Interest Public in Gem
Fashion Changes.

"A mllIlOU uolldlS WOl III VI JCNtlo VIII
be on exhibition at the Grand Cen
tral Palace this week, as a sign of the
belief held by the American National
Retail Jewellers Association, meeting
here. that times of tremendous pros
perity are at hand. This opinion was
expressed yesterday by many of the
hundred delegates who assembled at
the palace for the first meeting of the
week. The coming boom, they said,
will not apply alone to the gem trade,
but all branches of industry.
Ralph Folks. acting Borough Presi-
dent of Manhattan, welcomed the dele
gates. Upwards of 1000, from all
parts of the country, are expected to
attend. While the convention was re-
assembling yesterday afternoon the
wives and daughters Of the delegates
were driven about the show places Of
the city in automobiles.
The country is rapidly proceeding
into the good time zone, said FINLEY
l.. Combs, president of the association.
He was enthusiastic over the approach
ing prosperity, not alone in the jewel
ry business but in the general trade
and finance of the country.
IL have just come from the Coast"
said Mr.. Combs, "and | have been
agreeably surprised at the confirma-
tion of my own judgment on the bust
ness outlook which | have received
from all sections. The upgrade started
within the last thirty or sixty days,
and men with whom | have talked in
all parts of the country seem unani-
nous that the United States is due for
an era of general prosperity such as
we haven't had in many years.
"You see we retail jewellers are in
closer touch with the financial status
Of the country at large than perhaps
any other body of men. When we
make a sale in nearly all instances it
is because the purchaser is ready to
spend some of his savings. The coun-
try is now very prosperous. Crops are
better than they have been in years.
The banks are full Of money and the
Industrial world is alive with activity.
People are loosening up. They are
getting ready to spend some of the
money which they boarded during the
early days of the war"
The jewelry men have taken every
precaution possible against theft. They
are aware that the exhibition will be
a great temptation to the thieves of
this and other cities. Many detectives
guard the gems.
Charles +. Manahan, vice president,
who is in charge of the exhibits, was
busy yesterday afternoon getting the
showcases in order. He explained that
he was not responsible for guesses as
to valuation put upon the exhibits.
There VIII be single exhibits Of prec-
ious stones that will reach into hun
dreds of thousands of dollars in value.
Emil Freund, gem collector since
childhood. will exhibit his private col
lection. which is said to be one of the
finest in the country. The exhibition
booth of Gorham & Co. will contain a
stained glass window of Admiral Farra-
gut at the battle of New Orleans. One
booth. that of J. VI. Ney & Co.. contains
wall of gold built up from 1857
parts.
The daily sessions will be devoted to
a series of addresses and papers by
leaders in their particular line of topics
of Importance to the jewelry trade.
Election of officers will take place Fri
day morning.
One of the most interesting cam
paigns to be launched will be the at
tempt to interest the public in jewel
~ fashions 10 almost the same ueBIte
that they ere now interested in dress
changes. Another suggestion. made by
Mr. Combs. was that the members get
together and incorporate a salvage or
sustaining company. This would rem
der service. he said. to jewellers who
were in financial difficulties and tide
them over until such time as they were
able to help themselves.
Assistant United States Attorney
General Samuel Hershenstein spoke TO
the delegates yesterday afternoon on
Fraudulent Bankruptcies and Their
Prosecution. William J. Burns told Of
the steps he had taken TO make the
nations jewelry stores less liable to
loss by robberies.