The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-08-20
HUBBARD q co. TALK TRUTH.

| run" F'f f'SS.
The Rerirtc having devoted consider
able space in trying to make the people
of MankatO believe we have been ant
SCHEME" by which the price of flour
and people compelled to use our floul
and pay any price we might ask for it
we desire to state the facts, and let the
public know on what grounds the Rerie,,
attacks us.
When We commenced business, We
found 1t customary TO allow grocers q
commission of 40 cts. per 100 pounds fol
selling flour, which we considered Ell.
tirely too much, and offered much
smaller commission for handling Oul
flour, and this not proving entirely salts
| factory Ia the dealers or ourselves, We
adopted the plan of selling our flour
direct from the mill, in other words re-
failing our flour at wholesale prices.
THIS plan was continued for some time
but after year or SO, we concluded to
sell flour us other mills were doing, al
lowing II smaller commission however
as we were unwilling TO put flour sc
high, as would have been the case, had
we paid such high commission.
This plan was followed for several
years, when we decided to adopt oul
former method of paying no commits
sions, retailing our flour ut wholesale
prices, the consumer getting the bene'
fit of the reduced price.
This was done without consulting the
groccrs, no threats made and nc
SIuccHc" attempted. This plan has
been in force nearly Il year, and we have
made no attempt 10 change it, being en-
| tircly satlsned with the result. About
month since committee of grocery
men waited on us to soc if arrangements
could not be made whereby our tlOul
could be sold in the same manner u
other flour, our price then being 9Oc
per sack, while others, no better than
ours were selling ut 81 .05 and Sl.l0 pei
sack We have always thought home
manufactured good should have prefer
cnce over those made away from home
price and quality considered, tive have
always followed this plan in buying
goods and so informed these gentlemen
but agreed, if Mankato made flour ant
Rapidan mills we've handled exclusive
", we were willing To allow them a
reasonable commission, and would sci
our flour at same prices AZ other mills.
We did not consult Mr.. Bierbauer, nol
did We ask the grocers to handle sacl
of oar flour.
No Scheme" was thought of to al
vance the price of flour, ours was theI
selling ut 81 so per hundred, Will,
others of same grade was selling ut from
-. 10 To 50
Commission added would not have
advanced our flour over the price of any
flour then in the market. We We're no
given the power la make prices had thi
plan gone into effect, Mr.. Baker ant
! Mr.. Bicrbauer both selling as mucl
flour aus we, and being at liberty To make
any price they chose.
1t was distinctly understood if price
were ut any time made above reason
able figure, the agreement was not bind
ing on the groccrs, and they were at lib
erty To buy any flour they chose.
Some dealers objecting to the plan j
was dropped and nothing more sai'
about it,
Wheat having advanced we were com
PEELED to advance flour 10 cts. per sack
Had the 'schcmc" gone into effect
We would have received no more for on
flour than before, but would have dom
simply what all other mills in this markc
or anywhere else are doing, !. q. allo,
grocers Il commission for handling.
il il crime 10 sell flour cheap, we ar
guilty; for flour has been retailing her
cheaper than any place in Minnesota
but consumers appreciate this, judgin
from our trade.
, Wise's insinuation that we refuse 1
furnish local feed dealers with feed IN
less they handle our flour is utterl
false. We furnish them all they want
and have never asked them Ia handl
our flour.
If Mr.. Wise can make capital ont G
the truth, here it is, and he is welcom
, To all he can make.