The Winslow mail., 1920-05-07
OvERALLS AND OLD CLOTHES.

Wv EhALIIfS AND OLD SAO II nCSs
Just now the movement to organize
overall and old clothes clubs to aid
in reducing the cost of clothing seems
to be having it's inning. Whether it is
a fad of this moment which. will die
without giving birth to any percep-''
tible results remains to be seen
Peoples habits and modes Of life are!
extremely difficult to change. and wei
suspect the vast majority Of people
are going to balk at any very radical
departure from custom and are going
to stick to their usual course with
some slight modification, perhaps. in
the interest of economy.
The American people do not hesi-
tate to wear overalls for work of a
character which makes overalls ap-
propriate, but it will be extremely
difficult to make even the man who
wears them at work six days in the
week wear them at church or to see
his best girl. The incongruity of the
thing shock his susceptibilities.
This is even more true Of the man
who seldom has any occasion to wear
|overalls. We are rather disposed to
think the movement will sell more
|overalls. but not many fewer street
suits. 1t smocks of a fad.
However, the old clothes movement
has more of an appeal in it. Personal
comfort has something to do with
what we wear but public opinion has
much more to do with it. A modified
public opinion which will place pre-
MUM on public approval upon darns
and patches will encourage thousands
to stick to old clothes until they are
really worn out
Such a course is sensible. We have
igrown over-proud. The American
|people are the most extravagant peo-
pie on earth. They need to learn les
sons in economy and thrift, If the
money saved by wearing old clothes
will be put into the savings banks in
lstead of merely being diverted to ex-
|tragavance in other lines it will get
us somewhere.
If this is done the banks will loan
the money to expand other businesses
which will in turn employ more men.
They in turn will buy clothes and
business will go on as usual except in
|ner. No one will seriously contend
that thrift is bad thing for anybod,
in the community, Merchants do best
where thrift is greatest.
If you wear old clothes and still dc
mot increase your savings you are
merely kidding" yourself. The mer-
chant who sells you something from
which you get exceptionally satisfac-
tory service. has made permanent
customer. To induce you to extrava
gance is bad for both merchant and
customer.
In the meantime it is we'll for. mer-
chants to remember that the clothing
and food habits of people are largely
inspired by suggestion and that to
cease suggestion in advertisements
is to Immediately cease creating de-
mand. The clothing requirements OF
America have been created by sug-
gestive advertising in American news
papers.
Besides, if sales are to be curtailed
competition will be keener and the
the need Of saving in the public eye
through advertisements will be in
creased instead of lessened.
We commend the up-to-now methods
of the Albuquerque merchants who
showed their adaptability to circum-
stances by breaking into print with
their large advertisements of overall
stocks.
The shortsighted merchant may bel
or even irritated, by theI
present agitation, but when it is all
over nobody will be hurt except the
man who lets fear modify his busi-,
ness policy. Fear is the greatest enc
my of good judgment and progressive
business developments. 1t paralyzes
initiative. 1t lets the clock run down.
A Albuoueroue JOurna1