Evening star., 1933-09-02
SMALL MERCHANTS
HERE @PCT. UNDER
BLUEEAGLEB BANNER
Neighborhood Store Owners
Response Complete, Stengle,
Drive Leader, Says.
FULLEST COOPERATION
is SHOWN BY GROUP
Only Delay Due to Absence of
Proper Code Governing Their
Operations.

Ninety-nine per cent Of Washington
smaller business firms-those outside
the immediate downtown shopping dis
trict-have become members Of the
n. R. A., Charles l. Stengle, major in
the District of Columbia recovery drive
organization, announced today.
All but of the 70 captains in Stem
giles group of workers have reported,
and while most have signed up 100 per
cent Of the employers in their respec-
tive areas, none has signed up less than
80 per cent.
Furthermore. Stengle said today, not
one employer in the broad territory his
organization is covering has refused
to become Blue Eagle member. A
few have been obliged to delay Joining
because of administrative dlfhcultleS
end tardiness in framing codes under
which they should operate.
Jealous Support Giyen-
"It is notable" Stengle said. that
the little fellows who operate. small
community businesses. not only are
willing to support the N. R. A. drive
and become members, but they are
really jealous in their sincerity to do
the Job right. There is one OF the
captains sections that is populated
largely bv foreigners and we did think
that perhaps some of them would not
be willing to do much about the cam
paign because of lack OF understand
ing. But they were enthusiastic and
we found every one OF them members
and displaying their Blue Eagle. III
But, as a matter OF fact. IN All
our territory. which embraces the
whole city with the exception OF the
big downtown shopping district below
K street and above Pennsylvania ave,
nue.. we have not had single refusal
by an employer to sign up. We expecI
to complete our job very shortly now.
Besides the community stores MAI.
Stengle's N R. A. territory embraces
the service clubs, and they, ne polnteo
out today, were among the hrst unlts
to come under the Blue Eagle loo per
cent These clubs, including Rotary,
Optimists and similar organizations,
embrace within their memberships most
of Washington's leading business men.
Consumer Drive Pushed.
While the city's employers are being
~signed up the women'S organization
in the D. C. National Recovery Com
mittee is pushing forward its task OF
allying the consumers of the city on
the side of the firms which display the
Blue Eagle. Reports on their progress
will be made in detail next Thursday
morning.
In an address last night over radio
Station WMAL on "Women's Buying
Power Back of the N R. A." Mrs. Grat-
tan Kerans. one of the indefatigable
members of the army of women, pointed
out that the American women spend
annually something like $50 100000, 900
for food clothing furnishings shelter
services and other family requirements.
Now my point in this" Mrs.
Kerans asserted, the women Of Amer
ica not only have a vast purchasing
power; they have also the right and
the freedom to buy of whom they
choose. If. in any community, they
resolve to give their preference to those
individuals and institutions that de-
serve to display the Blue Eagle, their
patronage will, in that case, justly
recompense good faith and patriotism"
Make Direct Appeal
Continuing, Mrs. Kerans made
direct appeal to her fellow women to
purchase our goods from those who
have pledged themselves to cooperate
with the President" The token OF that
cooperation, she pointed out, is the
Blue Eagle.
LAS an example. and as stimulus
to the makers and venders of the COM
modities we need and purchase" she
declared. I'VE women should, every one
of us, sign a consumers pledge and
exhibit the Blue Eagle as notice to all
that We in our turn intend to prefer
those merchants and those articles that
conform to the Presidents wishes and
pOlicies"