The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-31
THE BAGGING TRUST.
HOW THE MERCHANTS OF MEMPHIS
TREATED THEIR CUSTOMERS.
Selling the Old Bagging Stock at the
Old Price and the Trust Bagging at
Cost Price, Thereby Protecting the
Planters.

In talk with Capt ]. ii. Martin, OF
Hill, Fontaine 4 Co., yesterday in refer
cnce TO the cotton bagging trust and its Of.
feet upon merchants and planters with u
view TO supplying planters with jutc bag
ging that gentleman said ave have taken
care OF our customers in this matter. We
had large amount OF bagglng which We
purchased at fair price and we gave our
customers the benefit OF the same, selling
II to them at the old rates, notwithstand-
ing the fact that at the time cotton trust
baggng was several cents higher. When
this large supply was exhausted We had to
purchase from the trust and this We are
selling at cost price, although We cannot
replace il except at AN advance OF several
cents, bagging being advanced weekly.
We advised all our customers TO buy when
we had the big supply and which they sc.
cured at the old price, and We will con-
tnue to give our customers the benefit Of
our purchases.
Mr.. John X. Speed, when asked about
the bagging trust said there was no trust.
lie was the agent OF the manufacturers
and he knew OF his own knowledge that
for several years the bagging manufacturers
had been losing money, selling the goods
below cost price. At the opening OF the
present season the manufacturers ~ bus
incss men, concluded TO raise the price Of
bagging so that instead Of making loss of
| ! cents they would make q gain Of that
amount The price Ol bagging was opened
at n cents, and at that price was offered 10
the merchants of Memphis. They could
have secured all they needed ut that iig-
urc. the manufacturers being satisfied.
They declined 30 buy, thinking II too high.
Ia week or 20 hagglug advanced 10 y
cents, and again advised them
10 buy, stating that IL would 20
higher. Tho manufacturers wanted 10 sell
at that figure and frankly stated
that the market was strengthening aud
that they inl,udcdtu take adyanlagcoi the
situation. They expressed surprise at tho
Memphis merchants not purchasing aud
filling up az the prices offered. They still
declined 10 buy aud bngVng rapidly AL
vanccd 90 M aud i2l cents. When they
concluded 30 purchase u WIS ut the high
figure. The manufacturers did nothin Z
hut what any sensible business men would
do and they bad no idea that banging
would 90 NJ 10 the present figure. They
have taken advantage Of the situation b.
make gain instead OF q loss, but they
gave our merchants every opportunity and
ample time 20 purchase hagling at q low
figure. Mr.. Speed dill not think the sn.
called hargiug trust the manufacturers,
deserved thn ccnsuru Il h. receiving nt the
hands Of the newspapers aud individuals.
They had acted fairly and hpnomhly with
their customers and took not the slightest
advantage ui them.
Mai. ]. T.. pc,t,t, Of tha firm Ut Sugga &
pcttit. said the merchants were sensitive
on the subject, and ~ lar no. hc know al
VI them protected their customers by Civ
ing them thc benefit Of their hagging pur.
rhases His house distributed all the old
baggng among the customers AMI 1t th,
old prices, and distributed as evenly ~.
possible. When they had 10 purhl,,
baggng from the trust Of ln advanced
figurt, those customers not supplied so
cured huFrng al cost price, although II
the time banging was worth much more
In the market The merchants were not
on the side OF the trust and thcy Wgpt-
ted the nccc sity which compelled them
to ask higher price Tor haVing this year
than lnst wear, bat they had no control
over the market They wrote 10 their Gus
TONERS and kept them advised ns Ia the adj
vnncng hllfug market aud asked them 90
purchase in time. SO iarus his knowledge
went, such houses as Stewart, Gwyuuc (,
Co., Brooks. Nccly a Co., TradWcll q
Co.. sohDo'Hyld, lllnaucr * Co.; In fact.
all Of them along Front strrel, had given
their respective customyn thU benefits oI
their purchases.
a representative II Day, Horton 4
Blly stated that they hal sold hlggIng az
the low figure to customers.
Porter - Mncmo Sold whlt hiry'nl the,
had nt low hguo before the market az
yancvd and when they had 60 purchase
up 30 advance prices, they always gave
their customers the benefit OF such pur.
chases
Stewart, Gwyunc & Co. dealt quite ri
\ fairly with their patrons. aul uu thr "a u
OF August published "a card boz Tina ArrrN
stating that they had bought for cash hr