"Let your hair down"

Title

Identifier

The column

Language

English

Source

The American Chamber of Commerce Journal Volume XXIV (No. 1) January 1948

Year

1948

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

32 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL January, 1948 The -------------------“LET YOUR HAIR DOWN” — ■ -----Column •TRUCKS •PICKUPS •TRAILERS •HEAVY LIFTS Available Daily Telephone 2-79-35 Mr. Barrett Mr. Schedler LUZON BROKERAGE COMPANY THE Journal this month had distinct and heartening evidence of the dependability of the invaluable cooperation it is receiving from the writers of the various col umns published each month under "The Business View” heading. The editor, realizing that the usual month ly date when the material for these columns falls due fell on our about Christmas Day, when many of the writers would be either especially busy or at least otherwise occupied, sent out a letter to them stating that he had been having nightmares about the January Journal coming out perforce with some of the best col umns missing, and asking that if it were at all possible they send in their copy before Christmas. He averred in closing that Heaven would reward them. The response,—which is deeply appreciated, was that all but four or five of the regular column contri butors sent in their copy well before Christmas Day. Of those who did not, one was in a hospital, recovering from an operation, and the others, we are sure, also had good cause for not being able to comply. This evidence not only of good will, but doubtless of a sense of re sponsibility on the part of the thirty or so men who are collaborating regularly in the publication of the present Journal without direct re compense, has buttressed our con fidence and raised our morale. We may as well reveal the fact that there have been persons who have said that the Journal is really quite a unique production as a business magazine written by business men, but that it would not last. When the "novelty” wore off, the contri E. E. ELSER, INC. GENERAL AGENTS for ATLAS ASSURANCE CO. LTD. — THE EMPLOYERS’ LIABILITY ASSURANCE CORP. LTD. I CONTINENTAL INSURANCE CO. OF NEW YORK — ORIENT INSURANCE CO. THE INSURANCE CO. OF NORTH AMERICA 404 Ayala Bldg., Manila Phone 2-77-58 Cable Address: “ELSINC” butors would "get tired” and "drop out”, they said, or, if they did not say this outright, they would pity ingly insinuate it. The editor would pale, and then hotly repel the idea. Indeed, the Index for 1947, pub lished in the December issue of the Journal, shows no more than a normal "turn-over” in the writers of the columns published in "The Business View” pages. Another, perhaps more upsetting reflection, made by some others, was that the material being published in "The Business View” department is too valuable to the column editors themselves "to give away”. Why should these men make their hardwon information and their own care fully studied opinions available to their competitors, among others? The implication of • this is that these writers do not know what they are doing! We could not and would not deny that the material contri buted by them is valuable. That is what we want it to be and know it is. Yet, speaking generally, we do not believe that it is necessary or even desirable that contributors to the Journal should "give away” in formation to their own detriment. We believe, too, that,—as it is often, though not wholly accurately, put, "the truth never hurt anyone”; any way, not in the long run. Why shouldn’t a wholesaler say, for instance, that an over-supply exists. It is not to his interest to over-sell his customers. And why shouldn’t he say that a scarcity exists, or is threatened, if such is the case? The chances are that if this concerns his own orders, his competi tors know this well enough. January, 1948 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 33 To publish information of use to business men is the purpose of all good business publications. The idea back of the Journal, as it is now put out by the American Chamber of Commerce here, is that certain gen eral local business information being either lacking or difficult to get to hand for easy reading and reference, there were certain distinct advant ages to be gained if business men themselves would, as it were, club together and cooperatively supply this information for the benefit of themselves and such others as might read the Chamber’s monthly pub lication. That is all there is to it, and the idea has proved entirely workable. Best of all, the informa tion thus brought together each month, coming as it does from lead ers of business here, at first-hand, has naturally proved to be author itative and valuable. Now is the very success of the venture to be turned against it? "The Business View” department, together with a strong, informed, and clear-cut editorial policy, pro mises to make the Journal a genuine factor in the development of the economic life of the country. The Journal is being read not only by business men for information, but it is read by many high Filipino and American officials who are the shapers of policy. Its articles and editorials are also widely reprinted, this widen ing stilj further its constructive and wholesome influence. If one puts against this public achievement and promise of our joint enterprise, the fact that occa sionally some "outsider” may be able to sniff out something in "The Business View” columns from which he can make some money he other wise would not have made, and at the expense of one of the Journal's contributors, are we not justified in accepting any actual occurrence of this as entailing a sacrifice, hon orably and deliberately incurred, for which we all owe him thanks? Whe ther their columns actually cost them anything more than time and effort, or not, our contributors merit our gratitude,—and manifestations of this whenever opportunity offers. We are certain that their professional attitude and their community spirit is recognized by all their readers, and that in one way or another they have their reward. E. J. Mora, of the E. J. Mora Electric Co., Inc., throws additional light on the situation created by the present "Flag-materials Law,” which was the subject of an editorial in the THAT WEARS LONGER THAN PREWAR TIRES! Long-wearing tread—Its wider, flatter tread gives greater protection against skidding. 35% Stronger ... The new tire has more and better cords, which give a tire body that is stronger, wears longer. Over 16,800,000 miles of tests under all conditions helped prove the new tire wears longer than prewar tires.

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