The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-02-07
d R U M M E r s.

y INSTITUTION in this country; they arr
e becoming an element in society
n Perhaps the bulk of the country trade
OF large cities is stimulated by drum.
ming. In this respect there is Il com.
o plete revolution in the internal com.
Il merce of America. The system OF
/ drumming seems to be antagonistic to
: the interest of newspapers, but this is
$ no argument against it. City mer-
: chants send out their drummers at
S heavy expense to bring their wares
/ before the very class of men with
whom they wish to trade. They are
not willing to incur other expense in
/ advertising, consequently the news
paper is left. Hence, quite a number
: of newspapers have opened hostilities
on the system, and the Legislatures of
several States have imposed heavy
privilege taxes.
We do not sympathize or join in
with any newspaper or Legislative
war on the new system of drumming
because it may initiate against the
interest of our craft. An interest
which has to be fOstered by the destruc-
ton of another, loses much of its
claims. We believe in the sound
American doctrine of giving every
man an equal chance to work out his
salvation and solve the problem of
business. If the system of drumming
Is remunerative, and we suppose it |
has been, considering its immense
increase in the last few years, the par
ties interested ought not to be molested |
or obstacles thrown in their way
through any spirit of hostility to their
way of business.
AS a class, drummers are among the
most intelligent, reliable and effective
of men. They are Il long ways ahead
of the average podder. They must
be, otherwise they could make no pro-
gress in their line. A good drummer
is really a great man in given spe-
cialty. He who succeeds well on this
line proves that he has the stuff in
him that would win success almost
We do not find fault with Lcgisla-
lures for taxing drummers. They are
plyinga Il lucrative trade, and are, per- t
haps, as legitimate subjects Of taxation
Is any other privileged class in
jhe State. What we want to protest
lgainst, albeit 1T may be detrimental +
o our own interest, is the spirit of un- |
riendly hostility which would pur- ,
lie them and impose onerous and
taxation which would t.
estroy their profits, or prove a pro- |
ibition. We would ask for them the
anne friendly consideration that other +,
lasses of traders receive. S,
Few people comprehend the I'M S
lense extent to which the system of
running has grown. An intelligent =, ~
nd well posted commercial friend of tC
nrs has given us the following figures, p
'hich he affirms approximate closely 9,
, the correct ones. r
According to him there are 10000
in the United States, whose
lpenses average Sc day each, be-
des their salaries; and the salaries
Terage 81 800 year each. From
lis statement we find the yearly cost =,
follows:
900 Drummers at 49, per diem.......S32S, 100000
lar es of same at II 800 year".... 225, 600 pr
Total yearly outlay S553, 800 900 G.
Thus we see that the yearly cost of pa
seping up the extensive system Of
exceeds five hundred mil W, W.
ms of dollars. Now the question wi
ises, out of whose pocket does this
lmense sum Of money come? Man MI
stly from the country merchants. III;
ewed from this standpoint the conf eX
ercial interest may well consider El
lether some less costly system of !
lde could not be devised. no,