The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1879-11-28
EkEE s5EU3s3zERS.


The Trigg County Democrat, com
menting GA our article published some
time since 10 reference 10 the drumming
system. says
This enormous tax is added by the
wholesale merchants 10 the price ot the
goods sold the retail dealers, who in
turn impose il upon their customers
/ Talk about the burdens OF federal and
municipal taxation, here Is a system
that is fast draining the very life blood
. from the industry Of the country"
The Clarksyille Tobacco Leaf adds:
1--WE publish the article referred to,
from the Trade Review, aud again pre-
sent the matter as commented on by
our contemporary, that the attention
/ of the press and merchants may be
( directed to the evil. Texas has under
taken to grapple with the question by
/ taxing dr1mmers $3.50 annually, but
/ the resalt Is that they pay the tax aud
must Of course add it on the price Of
their goods, making the people pay it
/ The system ought aud can be abolished,
/ if retail merchants so will it. by Ieius
ing TO buy goods from travelling clerks
or houses that send them ont aud il is
q matter for the press to persistenily
condemn. We never meet a @sE<t4smer
. who does not com plain Of the hardships
Of such a life. expressing Il Tish 10 re-
tire from it, aud 10 doubt wholesale
merchants would be glad to dispense
with the system it all we're agreed to
drop it az once. Merchants can save
money for themselves and customers
by the oid~fashioued way of buying
directly in the market, having better
opportunity for examining the goods
bud selecting TO suit their trade, be
sides the merchant is afforded some res
creation, aud is better posted ia his
business It this question was agita
ted Iiu.e by the press all over the
country public sentiment would soon
condemn the system TO death
It has now been month since the
article on the drumming system was
published in the Review, and, while a
great many Of our exchanges have re
published it, We have not until now
seen anything said 10 condemnation
Of the system ay aGy paper that copied
the article. We are glad TO receive
re-inforcemeuts from the press and we
hope to see every paper 10 tie South
take Up the fight [ does not coueern
US as journalists We know that the
drumming system costs the country
twice As much as the army. the Indians
q and pensions combined; that IL Is taxi
Jag an amount Of money to support the
drumming system equal 90 The farm
products of Kentucky aud TENNESSEE.
: and that on 35 24l 900 acres Of rich
land. valued at $500 .033 663, aud
worked by 5zS 600 agriculiurists
This is enough 10 condemn the system,
whether the imposition Is borne by the
i0bber the retailer or consumer
On every thousand dollars worth of
merchandise sold by dr1mmers. there
Is included for travelling expenses, saI-
aries aud contingencies for bad debts.
the sum Of one hundred and twenty five
dollars.
just here we viii draw a comp2ri-
son between the retailers OF 70 do > "a =
those who did business prior TO the
adoption Of the drumming system.
Twenty years ago il was not an uncome
O mon thiog to fad every merchant in q
country town making money. Their
sons and daughters were educated from
home; their houses we're we'll furnished
and everything about them had a WELL
TO do air. You who are IN business
to-day in the same locations can
draw the other side of the picture
This is a Question thatit seems Iegis
lation can not regulate. Nearly every
, state in the South at some time has
passed laws tazing drummers, aud
many Of them are still inforce; but it
. adds to the states revenue from its peo-
pie through another source than direct
taxation, and it is questionable if there
Is daummer less Tor there being such
laws The matter rests entirely with
the retail merchants. There can be
: 10 unity of action among the iobber5;
and if any Of them should undertake
to dispense with his drummers while
his competitors continue the system, 1t
would prove very disastrous to his
business. The retailer, however, can act
b, in his individual capacity with profit
t to himself He need not sever old ties
= lie may send his order direct to the
S merchant from whom he has alwaye
5 bought. and have the goods sent as
t easily as if they had been ordered
l through the drummer. When the
, system is abolished, the additional cos
or merchandise which sustained it will
be properly adjusted, and each depart
ment Of commerce will receive its pro
c rata Of the dividend.