New-York tribune., 1921-01-23

January II, 1921
Mr.. Henry L. Doherty,
50 Wall Street,
New York City.
Dear Mr.. Dehery:
1t has been brought to our attention that
some OF the retail merchants are not in
sympathy with Thrift Movement at this
time, believing it will be harmful to their
business. We asking number of our
speakers to assure the merchants that
we do not want to hurt their business
but want to help. Will you please do
what you can to help US promptly cor
rect this matter.
Let me suggest that you take this up in
your talk at the Brooklyn Central Branch
of the Y NJ c. A. Tonight and perhaps
you would be willing to answer this mat
ter through the press by interview or in
your own advertising space.
Very truly yours,
(sd) w. H. BAXLEY, Secretary,
New York City Thrift Committee
This appeals to me as a vastly important mat
ser, for we want the support of these merchants,
and as we are already in the campaign and as
We can reach 20 few people with voices, I
am glad to pay for the necessary space in the
daily papers say little bit of the much we might
say about what we hope to accomplish.
the Thrift Movement believe it Is not only help
tul to business but absolutely necessary for busi-
ness.
As portion Of Thrift Week is already gone
we cannot get together and harmonic diff
ferences Of opinions the only thing left for US
to do Is to space in the daily papers present
views and invite those who dissent to present
We believe that Thrift and Investment is a.
al times helpful to business and that it is par
ticutary needed just now. Our non~symp athizers,
understand, think Thrift and Investment is
generally q good thing but that Just it will
acrentuatc the so-called Buyers Strike.
Some merchants seem to think that an Ameri-
Federation of Retail Buyers has sprung up
overnight which in strength and determination is
that the hrn thing the new Federation did was
to DECLARE Buyers Strike.
There Is no more Of "BuyerS Striker among
the part of the retail merchants themselves.
Don't you think that figures would show that the
public 10 buying more from the retail merchant
than the retail merchant is buying from the job
merchants do you think willing to take the
money their retail customer pays them and pass
the proper share of 1t right along TO the jobber
and to the factory for more goods!
How many merchants do you think al
ready carrying less than normal stocks !-and how
many do you think of those who are carrying
normal or abnormal stocks would resist the temp
saden to reducs their stocks far below normal
If they could create enough retail buying to
abls them do sop
Nov, we have all seen some wonderfully clever
advertisements tening why the people should buy
merchandise Literally. hope every merchant who
s not 10 sympathy with the National Thrift
Drive will get these advertisements and read them
over and make up his mind how. much of the
advice given to the retail buyer he will accept
for hirnself and how much of this advice he thinks
his fellow merchant will accept
Let remind you that present troubles
were brought on largely by wild and extravagant
buying on the part Of the public. Retail mer-
chsnts were encouraged to place sbnormally large
orders 70 insure against depletion OF stocks and
rely on their banks TO carry them This, with
the load the banks were already carrying brought
q strain on our banking system which carried it
70 IL full elastic limit. Money thereafter had to
be rationsd The public in some cases bought
until thsy had BECOME ovsrseocked and the retail