The San Francisco call., 1897-12-11
The Merchants and Importers
League Gladly Met by
the Interior.
Some Benefits That Have Accrued.
Prospects of Even Greater
Success.


come from far and near, and their pres
ence has been the source of much reioic-
ing by business firms, hotels and kindred
enterprises. They were brought here
largely by the energy and management
of the Merchants and Importers League,
ali annex movement of the Manufactur-
ers' and Producers Association. in the
Mills building.
j 1Ae league Is now settling up the affairs
o. ne experiment so satisfactorily com
pleted and laying plans for a broader and
more general movement in the coming
splng- 1t has been demonstrated beyond
q doubt that the retail merchants of this
ana other States, accustomed to buy from
Eastern houses, may be persuaded to deal
with the commercial firms of San Fran
cisco, by a iudicious offer of saving in
trans spOrtatiOn cost.
The league was the result of d esire
upon the part of some of tho leading
members of the Manufacturers and Pro-
ducers' Association to emulate the ex-
ample OF Eastern cities and its work was
patterned some what after the plan in
vogue IN New York.
The association, of which it is a branch,
Is composed OF over 600 manufacturers
and producers in thi, State. but has Il OF
been interested before directly in the
benefting the merchants and iobbers of
the cay, except IN its general furtherance
OF The good of the mercantile community.
This extension OF its usefulness was not
joined IN by all its mem bers, but owed its
success to the untiring labor of a commit
tee consisting OF Charles r. Allen, presi-
dent OF the Plttsburg Coal Mining Com
pany; w. +. Bowers, president of the
Bowers Rubber Com pany, and Edward
Everett OF the Tubbs Cordage Company.
besides Z. W. Keeier, special representa-
tive OF the association, who has conducted
the active work OF the league in an able
manner.
Preparations were made last Septem Der.
when circulars were sent out 10 thou
sand Of the jobbers and wholesalers of the
city, presenting the scheme for their at
tentlon and asking their cooperation. 1t
had been decided that ii fifty mem bers
might be obtained the league would be
starred. EigHty-four signatures are on
the books Of the league to-day.
Each member was given an allotment of
Ocular offers to be sent to customers
(stating the objects OF the league as far as
their patrons were concerned. These
offers announced that the receiver would
os entitled to d return ticket 10 his start
ing point from San Francisco il he OBJ
served the conditions named. He must
have the railroad or steamship agent
stamp and sign the offer when purchasing
his ticket, which must be hrst-ciass one;
the offer must be returned to the league
office when the holder applied for mis- re-
turn ticket; he must report the amount
} OF his purchases from league mem bers
and must have bought twenty times the
cost OF his ticket from members. Upon
arrival in San Francisco he must register
his name, address, business etc, with the
league.
Thirty thousand of these offers were ap-
piled for by mem bers, and when sent out
each one WAS accompanied by letter from
the sending firm, explaining the methods
of the league and asking tn patronage OF
the receiver. The area covered by these
novel advertisements OF San Francisco s
advantages was only limited by the trans
portation facilities of the league.
Arrangements had beer made, after
much discussion, with tbs Southern
Pacific and all its branches west OF Ell
Paso and Ogden, the San Francisco and
San Joaquin Valley Railway Company and
the Pacific Coast steamship line to allow
the league excursion rates for the buyers
brought here through its efforts. This
made the burden upon the mem bers
much lighter than if full fare had 10 be
paid, ana allowed the railroad and steam
ship companies a fair division. Their
courtesy and promptness in forwarding
the movement aided greatly.
The special representative of the asso-
eiaIion. Z. w. Keeler, who has been in
charge OF the league offices, found IL a
difficult task to persuade merchants to
become members, many arguing that il
was purely experiment ial, and that they
preferred to let others prove the value oi
the plan. However, the mlnim um of fifty
aimed at was soon reached and a score o1
others followed, ten more coming in al
the matter progressed and the benefits be-
calhe more PLAIN.
- - Of ha NM a q o n a in a
TO San Francisco was limited TO the five
weeks between October % and Eovem be
25. and the latest date of leaving this city
bomeward was set az November 90
The lime chosen vas not aus plCious fol
a strong showing, as the majority of mer-
h chants in the smaller cities had made
their larger purchases weeks ago, ana
came only to fill out broken stocks and tC
buv the smaller and cheaper sorts o.
Christmas goods and other special lines
for the holiday and early spring trade.
The buyers began TO come into the office
of the League on the nrst dav on which
t5e offer took effect. Few grasped exactly
the id ca of the offer, but all were unanlm ous
IN their praise for the enterprise OF the
mem bers making it, and many gave e1
celIeDt reasons for its continuance.
The register upon which each one In
dexed his name, place OF llVlng, business
time of arrival and departure, date OF last
visit and purchases is a valua bic record OF
statistical inform alton for future guidance.
A mum Der OF buyers had never been IN
San Francisco before, and their coming
here had opened their eyes to the magnl-
fude of the city's business and the ability
of its firms 10 compete IN pr.ce ana quar-
itv with Eastern houses.
Charles Jordan, jeweler OF Sanger
though only 221 miles away. mac haa ne, nevel sl
set foot in the Creates city on the racine
Cooqt The brothers Vucovich came to
buv an entire stock OF liquors for the II
establishment in Hanford, and confessed
that it was their first visit. CIitt Cramer'
who has barness-shop in Reno. Nevada
failed himself OF the chance to see Ibe Ibe
Aty after thirty years OF eppecua.I0TMi paen Mann.
faSturing Company, of Burke. Idaho SEM
a bSyer here, it being his initiation into
the beauties OF the town.
]. W. Puett, dealer IN general merchan-
disc in CarIin, New, had bought entlreIy
from Eastern firms, and had not been mere eI
Tor three wears, until ten days ago. ne
said that he found he could do better mere
and would give his orders here IN future;