St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-22
A Boycott Threatened Against
the Representatives Of
Eastern Firms.
Determinations Against the
Mill City in Favor Of
st. Paul.
Days Of Alma Mater Revived
at an Enjoyable Re-
union.
A Tour OF the City and the
Revelations 1t Pro-
duced.

Minneapolis men are crying out in
a most pronounced tone of voice
against alleged discrimination by the
travelling men in favor of the st. Paul
hotels. A conservative estimate shows
that at least seventy-fye per cent of
the knights of the grip who have bust
ness in the twin cities establish them
selves in st. Paul hotels during their so
iourn. and if called to Minneapolis Oh
business return to this city in time for
supper. An exception to this rule is
only found in the case of such travelling
men as carry goods which necessitate
an elaborate spread upon sample ta-
bleS. Those who carry such lines
as dress goods, furs, hats, caps or other
cumbersome commodities are forced to
remain in the Flour City and take a
room in one of its hotels; but the cigar.
whisky. tobacco men and others. whose
lines permit them to carry light sample
case, III a large majority OF instances
spend but little money in Minneapolis,
merely paying for dinner at con-
yenient hotel or restaurant and deposit
ing the bulk of their supertiuouS cash
in the Golfers OF st. Paul
HOTEL MEN AND SToREKEEPERS.
Travelling men are liberal spenders,
and the merchants of Minneapolis have
for a long time noted with alarm their
preference for st. Paul and its hotels,
but have until recently taken no de-
cided action upon the subject. A few
weeks ago representative OF one OF
the leading hotels in Minneapolis called
upon many of the prominent merchants
of that city who buy goods from travel
ing representatives of Eastern houses,
A. "A at.OtN
princes private office, with no witness
save the ledger and the skylight, I'M
folded his grievances, and asked for
concerted action in the matter.
You buy goods from these travelling
men," was the plea. land directly and
indirectly help their respective firms
and their representatives on the road.
In return for this courtesy travelling
men tacitly ignore Minneapolis, and
treat it as though it were merely way
station. They stop in st. Paul when
they can possibly do so, spend their
money in that city, and only remain i'll
MINNEAPOLIS DURING THE DAYTIME.
This method of procedure is not only
menace to the hotel interests of Min
neapolis, but exercises IFS baneful inf1u-
ence over other business enterprises as
well. Something must be done to rem
edy this evil, which is increasing every
year"
AS. result of this informal plea,
many of the business men of Minneap0-
lis began to agitate the matter, which
resulted in a meeting last week, and the
initiatory arrangements were made for
perfectng a boycott. This protective
association will meet at intervals until
line of campaign has been fully agreed
upon. Sentiment at the meeting was
strongly in favor of defensive action,
and the most feasible plan which pre-
scented itself was in the shape
of circular which would, after
setting forth the grievances of
the Minneapolis men. decline
in the future to purchase goods or have
any business relations with a house
whose representative did not ally him
self with the fortunes of the Flour City,
and pay for his bed and board in Min
neapolis while soliciting orders in that
city. These circulars will be sent
To ALL THE EASTERN FIRMS
from whom the local merchants buy
goods, and will be followed most rigidly.
The travelling men, on the other
hand. claim that the Motel facilities of
st. Paul are infinitely superior to those
of Minneapolis, and the management Of
| the former are much more liberal than
their Minneapolis brethren. At the st.
! Paul hotels the knights of the grip are
cautiously received, and everything
| done for their cometort and accomm0-
| datiOn, which is not always the case
| In the city up the river. At the Ryan
| and Merchants travelling men are not
| charged for dinner on week days ii
| business compels them TO be absent.
| The same rule is in vogue at the Nicol-
let house i'll Minneapolis, but at the
West travelling man pays for his noon
day meal whether he is absent or not.
| Some time ago the same tactics were in
| dulged in by the management of the
| West, but discontinued for the reason
that they fancied that the privilege was
being abused, and that man would re-
ceive credit for Il dinner and take
| chnan lunnh OR dine with friend