The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1922-06-19
MILLIONS FOR ENJOYMENT

UIllEN New YORK retail merchants voice a
wv clarion call for economy il is a safe bet
y that the country is getting back to bed
rock normally. Declaring that the slogan OF
The New York City public is millions for en-
ioyment, a leading retail trade paper declares
that the policy leaves nothing for clothes aud
other necessities and that the result is n de
mand for cheaper clothes.
Tim payment collectors are like daisies, -
this paper says-"they never tell. If they did
the social citadels Of the city Of New York
would probably dissolve over night. II is the
craze for talking machines, radios, autos and in
iact anything that may be purchased on time
payments that is largely responsible For the
piercing and sustained clamor for cheaper
clothing, 81 shirts and 80 cent ncckties. II is
becoming a joke in the trade that many n man
who exploits an automobile buster is ashamed
To show what he is wearing under il. Men are
buying four piece golf suits because they get
an extra pair Of trousers and not because they
play golf.
"A canvass Of a few Of the retail concerns
handling timc-payment business shows these
merchants to be thoroughly wise To the modern
salaricd man who ia robbing Peter 20 pay Paul,
aud the ultimate victim is not the instalment
house but the merchant who has charge ac-
counts. Thousands Of New Workers are said
10 be spending this weeks salary for last
week 5 pleasures, and IL nobody steps IN to in
terfere they intend to hold the pose, Merchants
who have reason to know say that the time
payment idea is killing off a big percentage Of
their business. No man who is paying $50
every month as part payment for an autOmO-
bile, and i%nstalments ON talking machines and
other luxuries, can bay good clothes. If he
couln do both he would not be in the hands Of
the part payment interests.
THE man who is paying for an automobile,
a talking machine on part pa payments and is in
debt for a radio machine, and perhaps a carpet
cleaner, clothes washer or some other electrical
contrivance, does not have much time or IN
cIilf ion to preen before a mirror and accord
ing 10 many merchants the hardest accounts TO
collect can be traced 20 homes whore people
have learned 10 ride instead Of walk. where
some member Of the family is always saying
il with music" and when no evening is com
pletc without its radio party. To be without q
radio is to sacnifce social recognition. One may
dispense with food and clothing, IL is claimed,
but not without a radio.
According to the managing director Of one
of the largest chain ii sporting goods stores in
New York, handling both radios and talking
machines, Che latter was the cause of all the
disturbance originally. The executives view
of matters is absorbing. He declares that the
$40 week man viii not be satisfied with any
thing cheaper than a $3.50 receptacle for arti-
ficinlly preserved sonatas. For this type Of
customer no mere $50 article will serve.
"Thc man drawing down $40 q week viii
always buy the best-if the dealer will lei him,
declared the executive. ''Of course, the wise
operator has an argument ready for these boys.
II is I'M effect that the amount Of credit extend
ed depends upon the salary Of the applicant
We tell these men 10 buy a $50 machine and
when that Is maid for to come in and trade IL
in for a $3.50 apparatus. But il is hard 20 make
them see IT,"
OF course New York City has no monopoly
Of this kind Of spending. II is complaint about
any kind Of spending coming from New York
that makes the comment of interest.