The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, Digital Edition > My Day
My Day by Eleanor Roosevelt

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NEW YORK, Friday.—I am here in New York City today, doing a number of errands, and seeing several people. I want to mention a testimonial luncheon here today at the Hotel Astor, which is to be held under the auspices of the Town Hall and the Economic Club of New York, in honor of Mr. Robert Erskine Ely, who will be 80 years old tomorrow.

For 40 years he has directed the Town Hall and, in 1907, he founded the Economic Club. He has probably known as many of the great figures in the world of art, music, politics, science, international affairs and literature as any other one person now living in this great city.

Mr. Ely has been witty, but rarely caustic, always gentle and gracious. He was one of a group of Harvard professors whom many of the noted men of today remember with admiration and joy, for they spent many profitable and entertaining hours in their company.

I know that all my readers will want to wish Robert Erskine Ely a happy birthday. May we continue to appreciate what he and others like him have given us!

Next Monday there will be launched, by Benjamin H. Namm, a plan in the interests of national defense. The American retailer is asking: "In what special way can we, the retail craft, be of service at this time to our country?" The answer is contained in the 1941 National Retail Demonstration, and here are the points stressed:

1. To practice and to preach the doctrine of "our country first and foremost."

2. To act as "purchasing agent for the public," and, in that connection, avoid even the semblance of profiteering.

3. To prevent, as far as possible, any unwarranted increase in the price of merchandise, both wholesale and retail.

4. To eliminate any and all unfair trade practices which may injure the public.

5. To maintain retail employment at the highest possible level.

6. To give every possible encouragement to employes who wish to serve their country.

7. To disseminate to consumers such defense literature and information as the Government desires to have distributed.

8. To urge upon manufacturers that merchandise be informatively labeled.

9. To eliminate all "scare" advertising, particularly that which says or implies "buy now because prices are rising."

Last but not least, to help unify the people of our country through our advertising, display and consumer appeal—in support of our defense program.


Names and Terms Mentioned or Referenced

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  • New York (N.Y., United States) [ index ]


About this document

My Day by Eleanor Roosevelt, September 13, 1941

Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962
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Syracuse Herald-Journal, , September 13, 1941

Digital edition created by The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project The George Washington University 312 Academic Building 2100 Foxhall Road, NW Washington, DC 20007

  • Brick, Christopher (Editor)
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  • Regenhardt, Christy (Associate Editor)
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  • Black, Allida M. (Editor)
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  • Binker, Mary Jo (Associate Editor)
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  • Alhambra, Christopher C. (Electronic Text Editor)
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Digital edition published 2008, 2017 by
The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Project

Available under licence from the Estate of Anna Eleanor Roosevelt.

Published with permission from the Estate of Anna Eleanor Roosevelt.

MEP edition publlished on June 30, 2008.

TEI-P5 edition published on April 28, 2017.

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Transcription created from a published My Day column instance. Syracuse Herald-Journal, September 13, 1941, page 5