The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-12-19
To SELL
HOME GOODS
At HOME
j. S. Lawrence, Of Boston,
Textile Chief, Explains
Need Of industries

John S. Lawrence, of Boston.
Mass, head of Lawrence & Co.,
distributors of textiles, is in Wash
ington today comforting with Gov.
eminent officials on the problem OF
selling" New England to New
Englanders.
leading figure in the textile
industry OF America. Mr.. Law
rence's immediate problem is the
direct public interest in the North
Atlantic States toward the forgot
ten fact that their home industries
represent the best obtainable any.
where. 7
In this campaign MFR. Ilawrence
Is faced with the dual responsibility
OF convincing the manufacturers
and the public alike. ts
The support Of local industry il
essential to prosperity" he said, at
the Department of Commerce, to.
day. II came to Washington to
discover the answer to our prob.
lem. / came to the Department of
Commerce because it is full Of men
of ideas.
Department Merits Praise.
This department, which merits
the praise of every American, can
do a great good in New England
today"
AS Mr.. Lawrence explained II,
the situation in New England, not
so long ago, was this:
One could not buy New Bedford
goods In New Bedford. They were
sold elsewhere. There was but one
store in Brockton, Mass, selling
Brockton shoes. In Ipswich, it was
necessary some years ago to launch
a campaign for the local purchase
of Ipswich hosiery. 1t is a prob.
lem Of selling. i;
'If you don't want to buy the
goods, who the devil wants to buy
them anywhere else?" Mr.. Law
renee was wont to ask Bay Staters.
This condition applies equally to
railroads, textiles and the boot and
shoe industry. There are 5000 900
people in New England. Many are
unemployed, but there is little real
distress.
In certain important lines, manu-.
facturers are making only small
margin of profit. There Is, to
some degree, overproduction, but
this is matter for national rather
than regional study,
BIames False Psychology.
This is all due, Mr.. Lawrence
claims, to a false psychology,
which is. general, that imported
goods are better than domestic.
II put this example up to them"
said Mr.. Lawrence. ."If you went
to a restaurant, and saw sign on
the door-'Proprietor out, to lunch
you wouldn't go in, would you?
Think that over"
New England intends, he de.
clared, to keep on the same lines
of productive effort with a CORE.
spending sales effort F
Through his championship of
New England work. Mr.. Lawrence
has accomplished some excellent
results in awaking industrial men
to the real economies. of the situa-
ton. The railroads, during the
past few months, have done their
bit Other lines of enterprise are
getting busy.
II have perfect confidence in
New England" said Mr.. Lawrence.
IT want to see New England employ
its young mem instead Of export
ing them.
Look for Boom.
IT look for a boom in various
lines Of business, but this Improve.
ment lie apt to delay the economic
changes necessary to genuine
prosperity. r y
I'VE must take a changed atti.
tude toward labor and changed
attitude toward industry. Through
the support of each other, and
through efficient coordination Of If.
fort, / am sure that New England
will again get into its regular. nor.
NAL industrial stride, but with a
new vision and q new appreciation
Of its latent good"
Mr.. Lawrence expects to be in
Washington for two days, at least.
Today he discussed affairs with Ell.
ward T. Pickard, chief Of the tex.
tiles division of the department, End
he luncheon with Secretary Of Com.
merce Herbert Hoover. .