Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-01-03
PALMER's DEALINGS WITH STEWART.
A Single Transaction Won the Adnira-
ton of the Dry Goods King.

ZION OF the Dry Goods King.
a. I. Packard tells of a deal that
once occurred between A. II. Stewart
and Potter Palmer. 1T was during
the early days of Palmer's career in the
dry goods business-1S62. think. He
enjoyed a good credit in Chicago, but
In New York he was not much known.
and for that reason he went there him
self to buy his goods and pay cash for
them. Every day and sometimes
twice a day the receipts of the business
In Chicago would be sent to him, and
he would place the funds in a safe in
his quarters at the Fifth Avenue hotel
until he went out to buy, and then he
would carry the money with him. His
banking business he did in New York.
"One day a friend advised him to buy
prints, as a boom in the price was
about to occur. Palmer posted off to
n. T. Stewards wholesale establish
ment, and was shown through the
print department, in which were 420
eases of the goods After looking
them over and getting the lowest price
he remarked as calmly as if he were
purchasing one yard, III take the 420
cases, and then went to his hotel. The
sale caused a hutter in the house.
Who is this Potter PaImerr was the
query. And as the bill amounted to
$500, 900 the clerk, unwilling to take
the responsibility of so large a credit
upon himself, reported it to Stewart.
The next morning Palmer received
word that Stewart wanted to see him,
and thither he posted In the mean
time, | should say, the price of prints
had already advanced Il couple of
cents, and Stewart made up his mind
to cancel the sale if by any possible,
honorable means he could do 50. You
know that in the dry goods business
cash goods sometimes means payable
in ten days, and sometimes in thirty
days a fact upon which Stewart relied
to help him out.
Mr.. Palmer he said, when the
latter appeared, you bought a pretty
large bill of goods yesterday. sup
pose you know on what terms you pur
chased?
Certainly; thirty days Palmer
replied
Not at ALL responded Stewar in
his sweet oily way. They are ten
days goods, and on no other terms can
l sell them.
AT this Palmer was silent a moment,
while Stewart chuckled inwardlv at the
thought of the ease with which he had
saved the profit of the rise to himself
But wishing to appear liberal he said:
Yes, that is the best | can do; but
if you can pay spot cash | can give you
a good discount
How much of discount queried
Palmer after the manner Of a man
thinking of something else.
oh, can give you 10 per cent. for
spot cash; otherwise | must have the
money in ten days or no sale. Stewards
manner was that Of a fisherman playing
Will IL well llOOhGu IiOuJ- dlIllCI
manned lost in thought for about two
minutes and then, while his face grew
longer than ever, though inwardly he
was laughing at the gIee in Stewards
eyes, said, slowly drawing a big wallet
from his inside pocket:
. We'll, guess I'll pay spot cash,
and to the establishment of Stewart
Palmer counted out the amount, less
the discount, and asked for A. T. S re-
ceipt. The latter's admiration for his
Chicago customer went up like rocket,
where to the day of his death it re
manned. Ever afterward Potter Pal
mer's credit was Al, and he paid for his
goods when he got Chicago
Post.