The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-01-20

ers' climbs or the oranges except at retail prices,
but recommended our agents In all locaties 10 sen
to parties wishing to buy largely for cash at rates
as much reduced as the expenses incidental 10 40
Ing business Will permit.
When the State Grange met at Bloom
ington, that body said;
WHEREAS. We consider the above resolution az
aimed directly at order, so as to compel US 10
buy from their agents and not from manufacturers
RssoiSed, BY the Oranges Of the Patrons Of Hns,
bandry of the State of Illinois and OF the utI'1 ~
States, that all members and purchasing agen1 9 "
the Order are requested to buy no macnimetty vi
the above named manufacturers or their agents
Their action has been very generally IN
dorsed by County Councils and local
oranges. and arrangements are being made |
at various points for establishing new fac
tories for the manufacture Of various kinds
of machinery and tools used by farmers.
The plow makers are evidently satisfied
that they made mistake in their action
at Chicago, and they have set forth their
views at some length in the form of anews-
paper reporters interview with Mr.. Chas.
II. Deere, of Moline, as a representative
of their sentiments. The Chicago Tri-
bune of last Saturday, contains two col
umn interview with Mr.. D. on the subject.
The ideas are good deal watered and
spread out, but the. following extracts serve
to show the drift of the interview:
Reporter-What objection would there
be to declaring virtual free trade in plows
selling to any and every merchant who
would pay for his order?
Mr.. Deere-Our business, and that Of
other large pillow factories, has been built
up entirely by the agency-system. These
agencies extend all over the Western States
and Territories, and reach eastward be-
yond the Alleghanies. By this system we
have been able to place plows and cultiva-
tors in the hands of farmers at lower prices
than we could in any other manner, through
our facilities for doing work well and cheap
ly, and lower than local shops can supply
them. Our business has been extended to
much larger proportions than would be
possible if we dealt with parties who would
be privileged to sell other, and often infer
Tor, goods with ours. Under our system, a
dealer has the exclusive sale of one make
of implements in his locality. This affords
great inducement for him to push the one
particular brand. IF every dealer had an
assortment, say plows from o dozen differ
ent factories, he would be Indifferent as tC
which was chosen by a customer, or the
satisfaction given. If he had any choice
at all, it would be in favor of an inferior
pillow, because he would make more money
on it. The same feeling might influence
the purchasing agent of Grange, if tn,
body were unfortunate enough to select al
unprincipled man for the position. Gu
agents are pecuniarily interested in givin!
satisfaction. They point defects out to us
and make suggestions for improvement
designed to better adapt the plows to tn
soil of their locality
R-You have fixed price which obtain
wherever your plows are sold?
Mr.. Dive have a price-list, which i
the maximum dealers are allowed t
charge 1t affords them fair cOmpensa
ton for handling goods, and allows them t
deduct percentage when they think it t
their advantage to do so. No restraint
placed upon them in this respect. The
are at liberty TO sell plOws as cheaply g
they desire or can afford to- Ifthere wer
no maximum limit, extortionate charge
might be made in isolated localities
R-Can you offer no particular Undue,
ments to Clubs or Oranges desiring to bu
in quantity?
Mr.. Dive can and will place goods
the hands of farmers who will club togetl
er and order large lots, for cash, thrOug
our local agents authorized to transact IL
business, at rates that will compete wit
any establishment in the country, small
large, and give them an article that can
depended upon. They can obtain as favo
able rates in this manner in their own
cality as it would be possible for them
do were we to fill their orders direct fro
the factory.
And the reporter closes his article
follows:
subsequently conversations were he
with representatives of the Moline Pic
Company, of Moline, and B. d. Bufo
4 Co., of Rock Island but, as the abo
embodies their views, it is unnecessary
go into further detail.
This conversation is evidently an effo
to smooth over that bad job at Chicago,s Sc
eral of the pillow makers being of the OPT
ion that the Chicago resolution was an
iudicious move and one, if strictly adher
to, well bringing into life many new factC
les, greatly injure those who adopted {
Chicago resolution, and who belong to t
monopoly they seek to enforce and perpt
uate. Mr.. Deere, AS the mouth piece oft
manufacturers, comes down a peg or tv
by now declaring that their agents can sell
large lots at greatly reduced prices, TIL
does very well as far as it goes-but it dor
go far enough.
What the farmers want to know is:
l. If John Doe, doing business at Buffa
Prairie, and has been selling Deere's pillow
orders so plows, and Richard Roe, dol
business iu the same place, wants the sar
quantity, can he get them on the sar
terms as John Doe? The plow-make
say-''No." This is a denial of the dc
trine of free trade and equal rights, al
will stimulate the building of other sho
to make plows,
2. They want to know, if they recol
mend suitable man as agent, in pla
where the Deeres have no agent, will t
Deeres give that man the same terms tn
give their other agents The Chicago I
porter was not!instructed to ask this que
ton, and, of course, it is not answered.
All the farmers ask is free trade and
fair field. They don't ask any special
vors of anybody; they only ask equal
of rights and privileges. They are und
the impression that their money is lust