Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-28
BUYING IN DISTRICT
PLEA BY SUNDLUN
Retail Trade Chairman Cites
Necessity of Business in
Capital.

A plea for recognition of Washing
tons commercial mart to the extent OF
trading with it's business concerns and
approaching 1t as "A commercial city Of
the highest rank" was voiced over radio
station WMAL last night by Arthur j.
Sundlun, chairman OF the buy-i WASH
ing subcommittee Of the retail trade
committee of the Washington Chamber
Of Commerce.
Declaring that while Washington is
most often spoken of as beautiful"
city and reference to 1t as an indus
trial. community is rare, Mr.. Sundlun
commended that washington's COM
mercial industries and retail establish
ments ARE on par with those of other
cities" He pointed out that Washing
on now has more than 500 nnanufactur-
ing plants with an annual production of
more than $90,o00,00o worth of mer-
chandise and retail mart that offers
all the modern facilities for buying.
Mr. Sundlun declared that Washing
ton merchants, unlike the shopkeepers
Of most other cities, are in competition
with dealers of almost every city of fair
size in the country.
A Homogeneous Population.
Because 1t is homogeneous city"
Mr.. Sundlun told his radio audience,
Washington has among its populotion
who do not quickly give up their bust
ness associations Of long standing back
home. The Washington merchant
knows that he Is placed directly in COM
petition with stores Of other cities and
he must then be prepared not only to
render service that satisfies, but he must
be prepared to meet the needs Of the
consuming public with extensive sup
plies and equipment in every field. re-
'membering at the same time that his
commodities must be- equitably priced"
with these facts in mind" the
chamber speaker continued. I'VE bust
ness men cannot help but wonder why
so many of our residents find 1t nee
eSSary to 20 outside of Washington to
make their purchases. Money spent in
Washington by Washingtonians does
not necessarily benefit the commercial
houses only; money spent in Washing
ton by. Washingtonians broadens the
prosperity Of the whole community.
Every dollar expended out Of Washing
ton by its residents Is just that much
money taken out of circulation here.
Support at Home Aids Prosperity.
IF more and more of us were to look
to other markets for our needs ana
send our money for purchase to other
cities. there would necessarily follow
certain amount of business depression
which would reflect back into the very
homes of those who, either through
or through lack OF civic
pride. failed to support the merchants
of their own city. On the other hand,
IL every possible dollar intended for
purchase by WaShingtonians were
spent in Washington with our own
merchants. that money would clrculate
through our local banks, eventually TO
find its way into the very homes OF
the spenders."
ton as "a great American commercial
CITY" be appreciated, Mr.. Sundlun TOLD
his radio listeners that one OF the
greatest needs in the development OF
fhis appreciation "is the arousing OF
civic self-consciousness distinct COM
munity pride that would awaken tne
resident of washington to the fact that
this great Capital is city OF the nrsC
rank: that its commercial industries
and retail establishments are on par
with those of other cities"
Concluding, Mr.. Sundlun said:
eve do wen to think Of the esthetic
DEVELOPMENT of Washington, but we
must not forget that if we want our
CITY to become more attractive, more
beautiful, we must develop q certain
degree of commercialism as well: The
greatest Nations Capital should be the
Nations greatest city. You can help
make it so through your progressive
support of its industries and through
the development Of your own civic pride
in the commercial standing Of your
city"