Omaha daily bee., 1893-05-21

bic way, namely, by commencing at the very
foundation OF oil trade, that II by appealing
directly TO the consumer the man who eats,
drinks and wears the products OF the facttry.
To do this " was necessary first that the
people should be informed as to what kind
OF goods were made in their vicinity and, at
the same time, to hold up to their view the
necessity OF purchasing these goods in pre-
ference 10 others IL they wished to build up
the manufacturing industries OF their city
This was the origin OF the so-called "h0me
patronage movement In Nebraska which
has attracted so much attention and from
which such favorable results have already
been secured.
The first of a long series OF articles, aggre-
eating several hundred columns, was pub
lished on August 16, 1891. ''If you wish your
factories to grow and new ones 10 be started
you must buy their products" said THE BEB.
I'VE believe it," answered the consumer.
but where are the factories and what do
they manufacturer To answer this inquiry
The BEE published from week to week de-
scription of the different factories, taking
them up In order, showing the kind of goods
made by them, comparing quality and price
with similar goods from other states and
showing how the transfer OF the peoples
patronage from distant factories to those
located at home would give employment to
hundreds of additional men, would place
hundreds of thousands OF dollars in circula-
biOH anu duu unuOlu Wcaltn 10 tne
community. with each succeeding
article the interest Of the consumers in
creased and they commenced demanding OF
their dealers home made goods. The rapid
increase in the demand for their products
convinced the manufacturers that the right
chord had been struck, and when The BEB,
IN an article published August, 30, 1891,
called upon them to organize for the purpose
Of stimulating the "home patronage move
ment," they were ready to act on the sug-
ttx,-A e.. - ruxs
tion. Let few enterprising manufac-
owners" said The BEE, and the call was
issued, being signed by w. A. Page Soap
company, Farrell & Co.. Omaha Tin Can
Manufacturing company, Rees Printing COM
pany, Quealey Soap company and Robinson
Notion company.
Manufacturers Meet.
In response to this call $50 manufacturers
met on September 20, 1891, in Omaha, and
took the initial steps for the organization Of
what is now known as "The Manufacturers
and Consumers Association of Nebraska"
A state Institution.
At this meeting Of the manufacturers 1t
was shown that the interests Of the manu-
facturers Of the whole state were identical
and that by all combining they could work
to much better advantage. 1t was argued
that Omaha was sending hundreds of thou
sands of dollars to distant points, when the
money might be kept within the state by
patronizing factories located in the different
Nebraska cities. Accordingly the manu-
facturers organized themselves into a state
association. The object of the association
was stated in article ii of the constitution as
| follows:
The object of this association shall be to
promote home industry by encouraging the
purchase of Nebraska products and manu-
facJures.
In very few weeks the association had
grown to be by far the strongest commercial
organization in the state, position which it
still retains.
The agitation in favor of home patronage
was carried on with vigor by, means of pub
Over 10000 heads Of families were Visited
and induced to sign an agreement to give
| Nebraska goods the preference On May II
| the association opened it's first exposition in
the Coliseum building, and though there
| were plenty who predicted that it would be
| failure it turned out to be the most sue
cessful enterprise of the kind ever held in
| this part of the country. In February last
| the manufacturers held carnival in Lin.
| coin, which gave home patronage great
| boom in that city.
During the past winter the association has
| gained in strength very rapidly and is now
| in the most prosperous condition Of any time
| since its organization.
| The officers of the association at the pres
| ent time are as follows: w. A Page, presi-
| dent l., l.. Z. Stewart, vice president; O. G.
| doimes, secretary; A. j. vlerllng, treasurer
directors: Beatrice, A. r. Dempster; Ere
mont, T. F. Hummels; Lincoln, c. W. Bryan
| II. A. Warren, George d. Camp, G. j. Roman
| w. B. Howard, A. J. Alexander, J. c. Harp
ham; Nebraska City, Theodore Beyschlag
Omaha, NJ. q. Peters, d. Farrell, ir., Samue
Rees, Il. F. Hodgin, Adolf Meyer, M. ]
Coe, George M. Tibbs, 6. ". thompson
Charles Metz, w. r. Drummond, c. B. Ged
ney, Z. p. Davis, A. H. Rawitzer, j. F
Murphy, A. J. Vierling, J. H. Evans, Aaror
| Chadwick, w. w. Cole, H. f. Cady.