Telegram-herald., 1891-08-17

DECEPTION IN DEALERS
The atteatson II the press has been
given TO an abuse IN connection with
the sale OF advertised articles by re-
tail dealers. There are many standard
articles of general consumption. the
value Of whica has been brought be-
fore the public BY extensive adyertis-
ing. The names Of these articles viii
readily suggest themselves TO the pub
sie. Very large sums of money have
been spent in this way. The merit Of
such articles Is OF course TO Be tested
IA the end ny those who use them and
the pFoprietors are fully content that
this should be the case. The wrongf
under which they labor is that there
Is conspiracy TO prevent their be
ing so tested. The dealers in many
eases hold them back from the public
and substitute another article, spur
ious and often 10 a great degree
vaiueless, for them.
advertised article is made OF valuable
material, and &c Ia we'll adapted TO its
purpose. 1t has been proved TO answer
the ends claimed for it. In short, it
has established itself a reputation.
This y the fair capital OF its owner.
The knowledge that it Is everything
they claim it TO be iustifies their ad
vertising it. The public are desirous
OF possessing it. They go to store
TO make It's purchase. There. under
the operation of the fraud, they find
themselves forestalled. Some other
manufacturer, approciating the favor
which merit and advertising In COM
bination have brought for the article,
Is there TO rob its proprietor OF the
fruits of their legitimate outlay. He
has appeared with an imitation. 1t
n not an absolute counterfeit, that
the law might reach. But 1t is got
up closely TO resemble the genuine pro-
duct. ''How is he to get this substi
tuted?'' we may be asked. He does
10 in collusion with the dealer. Some
times, indeed, ne is the dealer himself.
In the first place. he presents an article
which costs nothing like as much as
the genuine one. OF course, under
these circumstances, he can sell 1T for
considerable less, and at the same time
afford larger margin OF profit. The
cupidity OF the dealer being thus ap-
pealed to, genuine conspiracy
against the real article and the custo-
mer is established. The customer
asks for the article OF reputation which
has been advertised: 1--WE have not
this article, but we have one that Is as
good, or better, which we will sell you
for a lower price. Take this home
and try it. We know all about it,
and will insure that you will like it,"
Now, see the double wrong there Is
in such proceeding. 1t IS the adver-
tising and the reputation that have
brought the customer. The advan-
tage OF these is stolen away from the
man who has paid for them, to be used
by somebody else. And then, in ad-
QlllOn, an lNitTIOr drticic ubNiifS pNNu
palmed upon the customer, he finds
it TO fall short OF his expectation, and
Is very likely to become disgusted with
the whole affair. and to be prejudiced
against the really merltorious article.
This practice has gone much further
than people suppose There Is but
one way to deal with it. 1t is to re
fuse to take any but the article ad-
vertised. That may, as a rule, be re-
lied upon. II is not worth while to
spend the large amount oil money re-
urired In general advertising upon any
except materials OF merit; but con-
coctions designed in fraud have prima
facie evidence in themselves that they
are Inferior or worthless. They ought
to be Stunned. and the men who under
take to introduce them should be
viewed with suspicion.