The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-11-23
A MEETING OF MERCHANTS
TRADING STAMPS IND COUPON SYS-
TENS THOROUGHLY DISCUSSED.

TENS THOROUGHLY DISCUSSED.
A Determined Effort to be Made to Abolish
Their Use-Considered as u Pernicious
Business and Blacltmailing scheme-
Resolution Adopted and Committee APP
pointed to Devise Plans.
At q called meeting of the New Ha-
ven Retail Merchants association, held
in the parlors of the Tontine hotel, last
night, for the purpose Of considering
the trading stamp and coupon systems,
the following resolution was adopted
by a ringing vote:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
meeting that the trading stamp and
coupon systems are an unnecessary tax
upon the merchants of this city and
should be discountenanced."
After adopting this resolution it was
voted that a committee Of seven be
appointed to consider the matter and
devise a plan Of ridding the city of the
trading stamp and coupon system.
President Howe then appointed the
following gentlemen on the committee:
S. II. Kirby, J. B. Judson, w. F. Gill
bert, s. Davis, B. Dillon, G. J. Bassett
and E. L Howe. This committee will
have meeting next Friday night and
report at another called meeting to be
held next Monday night.
There was large attendance of the
merchants and many of them gave ex-
cio of ipio of ha or N,
and coupon business in no uncertain
words. That it is the intention Of the
merchants to rid themselves Of what
they termed pernicious and illegiti-
mate scheme, was plainly evidenced by
speeches.
The question of the manner Of crush
ing 1t seemed the hardest to answer
and caused considerable discussion. 1t
seemed the consensus of opinion, how
ever, that the one very effective way of
dispensing with 1t was for those not
giving stamps or coupons to put prices
at such a low figure that those using
them could not make any money, and
consequently would be forced to quit.
1t was also stated that those mer-
chants who give stamps and coupons
ask higher prices for their goods than
those who don't.
During the course of the discussion
one Of the merchants who gives coupons
defended them very vigorously. He de-
nounced the plan of giving 121s per cent.
coop. discount, also prizes, premiums
or anything else of that nature. He
very forcibly intimated that some of
the merchants Of the city were not do
ing business on honest principles. Pres
ident Howe on calling the meeting ITO
order stated that the stamp question
was one which had come to be of much
Importance to the tradesmen of the city
and that in his estimation some very
decided steps should be taken toward
abolishing it.
8. Goodman stated that he had been
forced into the trading coupon business.
He considered it a pernicous business
and that the jeweler, furniture man
and crockery dealers were hit the hard
est
He then offered the following as sug-
gesting plan for running these con.
Germs out of business: ''That the Retail
Merchants association of New Haven
organize an interchangeable credit cou-
pom system whereby coupons issued by
ANY merchant a member of this associ-
alton, may be accepted as cash, in pay
ment for goods purchased from such q
merchant, these coupons, to be obtained
from the association, which is to be
paid for the same as they are issued
and are to be redeemed by the associa-
ton at their face value from the mer-
chants presenting them for redemp.
tion. No action was taken on the mat
ter.
Mr. Davis, the clothier, said that he
believed in fair play He considered
that the method of conducting business
used by the stamp men was conflicting
with the laws of the land.
Mr.. Southard of F. M Brown 81 Co
presented the resolution adopted as
above stated, and made a telling speech
in it's behalf.
Walter Leigh said that he gave NJ
cash discounts, but did give trading
coupons. Frank 3. Hum Of the Bow
ditch Furniture company considered
trading stamp business legitimate, but
was desirous of having the system
abolished.
Harry Leigh, the grocer, said that his
business had increased since he began
giving stamps; that many Of the best
people We're trading with him now fol
the sake of getting the stamps. 'Ii
they thought" he said, that it was
a gambling scheme they surely
wouldn't have anything to do with it.
J. B. Judson, the fruiterer, expressed
himself as believing that the business
was pernicious, void in law, and de-
nnoralizing. Joseph c. johnson offered
to head subscription list for the pur-
pose of fighting the business in a court
of law. He was very much in favor
of Immediately devising a method OF
abolishing the system.
Represented Themselves as Freshmen to
Get Freshmen's Dinner.