New-York tribune., 1918-01-18
Drygoods Men Voice
Criticism of the Order

Department store proprietors of
Greater New York yesterday voiced
bitter criticism Of the action taken by
Administrator Garfield. All the mem
bers of the Retail Dry Goods Assoca-
ton attended the meeting at the head
quarters, p West Thirty ghth Street,
with II. A. Saks. of Saks & Co., their
president, in the chair. 1t was decided
that the section providing for the five
day cessation of business could not ap-
ply to the stores, because they are not
factories in any sense of the word.
AS for the Monday closing order, the
association is prepared to obey it if it
is necessary, but further Interpretation
of the order will be asked before this
question is definitely decided. Mr..
Saks has called a meeting for this
morning to decide if the stores will
close Mondays. Practically all of the
store executives agreed that it would
be impossible to pay their employees
during the holidays.
After the meeting the following
statements were issued by the mer-
chants:
JESSE IsADoR sTRAUs, of R. H.
Macy 4 Co.: ut is inconceivable that
so drastic and even revolutionary a
istration has knowledge of conditions
more serious and menacing than we
know of. France and England have
been at war for three and half years
and have not had occasion to do any
thing so radical. The psychological ef-
feet on our people is likely to be very
bad"
BLOMINGDALE BROTHERS.: eve
have stood by the government in every
instance. The public interests in these
crucial times arc supreme and there
fore every order issued by the govern
ment, regardless of results, must be
obeyed. The coal order issued by DR..
Garfield is certain seriously to inter-
fere with business and result in con-
siderable loss to all. 1t is questionable
whether the remedy provided by DR..
Garfield will ever make up for the
losses"
II. A. SAkS, of Saks & Co.: at is
evident that the department stores are
not affected by the five days suspen-
sion. 1t seems plain that this part of
the order refers only to manufacturing
establishments. As to the second part
referring to closing on Mondays, the
language is rather ambiguous. The
order appears to say that fuel is not
to be used for heating purposes. This
does not prevent its use for lighting
and power. Now, if it seems to us
that the weather is warm we will be
allowed 10 open. 1t might be permis-
sblc to open and allow the stores to
be a little colder than usual"
FREDERICK LOESER & CO., Brook
lyn: at is difficult to believe that the
calamitous order by the Fuel Adminis-
tration is justified. If not enough coal
can be produced. then we are confident
that the country and the country's
business will approve whatever shut
ting down of commercial activity may
be necessary. But if the chief diff
Guilty is ono of transportation, then it
is 81 different matter
ABRAHAM j. STRAUS. Brooklyn:
"The new regulations are very sudden
and drastic In view of their far
reaching effects and the great hard
ships they are certain to impose on
industries, business and working pco-
pie generally, we hope that q solution
will be found which will enable the
government to withdraw speedily these
extreme measures"
b. ALTMAN COMPANY: owe are
not ID factory and Will open tomorrow
as usual. AS to the Monday closing
order, We will dccidc upon that ques-
ton later"
HOWARD c. BROKAW. of Brokaw