The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-05-23
me why's and wherefores of j. H. Hill

The why's and wherefores OF j. II. Hill.
EDS. NEWS Before replying to Mr..
Hills article, desire to call the atten-
ton of your readers.
LIST. To the fact that I did not COM
mence this discussion, but was drawn
into it by false statements and figures,
and If any one gets stepped on 1t is not
my fault.
ID. That / am not interested, directly
or indirectly, in any publishing house,
and do not care a straw what books are
adopted so that the county has general
uniformity.
Sd. That Mr.. Hill is the regular paid
agent of Appleton Sc Co. to work and
talk for them and their interests.
4th. That my position today is the same
as it was two years ago when Mr.. Hill
was strongly favoring the Independent
readers.
9th. make no statements that do
not back by proof
The only point Mr.. Hill makes, we
answer: He intimates that we have
charged our city customers one price and
country another. Coming right down to
the facts in the matter we have giUen away
more books than we have sold in the city
since low prices ruled. That isolated cases
have occurred where regular retail prices
have been charged we do not deny. Our
regular prices in the city have ranged
from 10 to 3315 per cent. discount ac-
cording to quantity purchased, and
bought on time or for cash.
Mr.. Hill closes his article, LIST, by com
pairing wholesale against wholesale and
retail against retail. Our trade in Barnes
81 Co.'s publications extends over nine
counties, our sales in their books for
April amounting to 81 ,s6S.S9. This ena
bles us to offer to Lyon county tolSOIesdIc
instead of retail prices, owing to the
enormous quantity handled. I'd. BY
saying: 1.-THE astonishing reduction in
prices of the Independent readers is
caused by the action of the board" Oul
prices existed long before the action OF
the board, and were brought to notice
more prominently by publishing them
contrOverting the erroneous ones as Civ
en- by Mr.. Davis. 3. "Mr Fox has prac.
tical opportunity to show his public
spirit by selling the new readers al
wholesale for the next five years." OF
one thing you may rest assured, Mr. Hill,
and that is, Mr.. Fox will never be found
attempting to put up job on the people
to raise the price of books.
On Wednesday morning following the
adoption of the Appleton readers, Mr..
Hill called at our place OF business and
inquired for me. was out at the time,
but coming in was informed of the call.
Some hours afterwards, seeing Mr.. Hill
pass the door, called him in, saying !
had been told he desired to seer ayes,
he said; / want a talk with you on the
school book business."I invited him back
to the Office and asked him to state his
case. He said: 81 learned incidentally
yesterday that you were selling readers
throughout the county at reduced rates."
said, ayes, that is So" at is to our in.
terest, }" says Mr. Hill, ito keep the prices
of books up, and / hope you will meet
us half way, and stop this cutting OF
prices" / replied shat our present prices
had existed for nearly a year, and two
years ago we had pledged our word, in a
public meeting at the court house, to
make low prices for the people of Lyon
countyiOn school books, and could not
break it." He replied "that he accepted
this agency to make money, but if we did
notcome to regular retail prices he would
cut and slash as much as we dared to-"
said: "Mr. Hill, we cannot allow any
agent of any house to come here and
dictate at what price we shall or shall
not sell goods, especially when those prices
existed long before you received your
appointment. We shall move along in
the even tenor of our way and conduct
our business as though nothing had hap
pened, and you had not received your
appointment" In leaving he said :
"Well, shall give you the hottest fight
i know how to give" laughingly said,
"Al right; good day"
This conscientious gentleman who is
"consclentiously recommending the Ap-
pleton's readers to the peoples of Lyon
county" made the above proposition
which / could not cOnscientiOuslU
accept. For proof of this conversation
l refer you to w. b. Jones Jr., who was
present and heard the whole of thelabove,
and TO Mr.. Hill himself. If Mr. Hill or
any one else desires to show up the sup
posed merits of Appleton's readers, /
shall be glad TO meet him on that issue.
In the language of the tonsorial artist,
say "Nert," and although very busy
and very much over worked, / will
try and meet your wants, until this ques-
ton is fully ventilated, Yours truly,
/. d. Fox.