Sears, Roebuck

The Ku Klux Klan has been cited as the cause of many curious happenings. The latest story of the masked order to circulate in business circles is to the effect that it had organized a systematic boycott of Sears, Roebuck & Co. through the small towns of the South and West, because of that firm's predominantly Jewish ownership and management.

Undoubtedly it is true that Sears, Roebuck's business has not been making anything like as good a showing of late as its rival in the mail-order business, Montgomery Ward & Co., and this fact is pointed out as proof of the Ku Klux Klan boycott story. Three years ago, Sears, Roebuck & Co.'s business was almost three times as great in volume as Montgomery Ward & Co.'s.

Last April the latter firm did over half as much business as its larger competitor, while in May last it did 40% of the combined business of the two firms.

Less imaginative students of business, however, do not put too much stock in this boycott story. They point out that Montgomery Ward & Co. has thoroughly overhauled its merchandising policies, has been making a vigorous campaign for new business by competing with dealers in rural towns on the basis of improved service and cut prices.