The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-06-08
THAT LITTLE TAG.
Telephone No. 60.


some weeks ago in favor Of a universal
stamp or tag for labels enclosing Column
bla River salmon have been digested
slowly by the cannerymen along the river
with the result that instead Of being
talked OF as an impossible scheme 1t is
now considered by the majority Of them
as thoroughly feasible and practicable.
With careful reasoning no other conclu-
sion could have been reached The idea
OF brand that shall carry with 1t an
absolute proof Of the genulneness Of
product like the Columbia river salmon,
which is surrounded in every market in
the country with vile limitations | $50
the country with vile limitations, is so
that the only wonder is that such an In
novatlon has not been introduced years
ago.
We understand that the endorsement of
thla idea is weighted down In some quar-
ters with the proviso that things in the
canning line are humming too hard and
devote to the details Of the project till
after the end of the present season. In
this notion there exists no atom of sound
reasoning and we cannot imagine what
Is to be gained by delay. The principal
object to be attained by the tag idea Is
the spontaneous and excellent advertise
ment that 1t will give to the genuine pro-
duct In every city In the United States.
TO postpone action on 1t till the fall will
have the effect OF cutting out whole
winters advertising is to say, It will
delay the beginning OF the education OF
the consumer for that length of time.
If the dilly-dally idea about this matter
Is kept UP, the orders of brokers will be
received for the next seasons pack be-
fore any action Is taken and another |
year will so by-a year In which rival
packers OF inferior goods in Alaska, Cali
fornia. and British Columbia will con-
tinue to take advantage of the apathy
OF our local cannerymen and joyfully
reap another harvest while the MEN In
command Of the Columbia River product
sit Idly by and deplore the fall In prices |
On the other hand. II something be done
immediately, the beginning of next sea-
son will inaugurate a condition of the
market for Chinook salmon that viii
astcnish the most sanguine.
Nobody is more quick to "catch on" to
q novelty in the conduct of a great pro-
ducing business than the man or woman
who buys the product at retail and Gre
ates demand for It. With q stamp
of purity on every can of salmon packed
ON THIS river. and a legitimate and liber,
al plane Of advertising that win call
attention to the fact Of the innovation.
the IMAM that eats it." and the woman
who buys IT. will inside a month have
seen and thought about the matter, and
made up their minds for good ON the
question OF salmon purchasing. They will
have been put In a position to show
their grocer that they, know something
about Il. and to demand OF him goods
with the little tag, or nothing at all.
Even II the results of scheme OF this
character were many years in makina
themselves felt. no long headed business
man should hesitate to take action, but
with the certainty OF an almost imme-
diate outcome. spontaneous burst of
popular approval from every quarter, n
speedy strengthening OF prices, and the
death Of spurious limitations that ia
bound to result. what possible excuse is
there for delay2
There exists among the cannermAn
strange to say an almost universally
wrons estimate of their position with re-
gard to the jobber. They seem 10 think
that he is the man they want to reach
irst last and all the time. and that any
In the business, any preyious-
y untried experiment should be brought
p his attention at first hand. or In othsr
Nords. submitted 20 him for sort OF
approval or disapprobation before fur
her steps are taken. The Jobber is no.
however. in any sense Of he word The
agent Of tho cannerymen. He uses the
packers for his own purposes and is
enient. dsspolic. overbearlng. or beseech-
ng. just as the whim OF tho consumer
''otates. The consumer is his master.
nd he is the agent not Of the Gamer.
'us Of the eater, He holds his job.p
. put 4 vulgarly, simply because ,he
onsumer creates demand Which hc
makes Il his business to supply, and the
lain inference is thar. II the packer de-
Tres 2 effect reformation Of any char
clef whatever in his methods of dis
1nsins ploclsB. he must begin to beat his
lees into ihs head OF the consumer. IN
'-a.+ - sfetflns ~ the rn,aale ma fcav.
9 + st,IoaeI with he consumer or not.