The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-01


VIM. B. Geiser, and was as follows:
MR.. FRANKEL'S ADDRESS.
I'm the organization of Business
Mems Association lies the only nope
relief from the present condition OF de-
nression which enthrallS the retail mer-
chant. I do not wish to be understood
as holding that relief will come with
the simple organization of such an as
ISOLATION. for it is known TO us that
after we have perfected organization
there is much to be done, both as an
association and as individuals to insure
the realization of our aims and objects.
Il feel constrained al this time to ad-
dress myself to subject of engrosslng
interest-one that is being discussed not
only in business circles, but in the
house and on the street. L regret that
I have not the time at my disposal TO
enter fully into detail regarding it. [
refer to the department stores, the
maintenance of which is popularity des-
ignated as an evil which threatens
the life of the retail trade. | do not
wish to be understood as inveighins
against the men engaged in conducting
department stores. / shall endeavor to
confine myself to the department stores
themselves. 1t is to the sin and not to
the sinner that l wish to direct your at
tention.
LAS to the prevailing depression in
retail circles, there can be no doubt
The fact that it has existed for some
years past is also true. 1 make bold tC
say that this same depression from
which we are now seeking relief has in
creased with the growth of the depart
ment store.
This octopus has stretched out its
tentacles in every directionZ, graspins
in her Shiny folds the specialist OF
| 'one-line man., and, crushing him, has
drawn him to its capacious NAV to APP
pease an appetite for monopoly that is
apparently Unsuitable.
Il firmly believe that unless some
thing be done, and that quickly, in !
few short years the retail dealer will be
matter of business history only and
where hundreds of small houses in va
rious cities are now doing business
three or four great department stores
viii handle all of the trade.
This is not an idle assertion 1t is
a statement based upon convincing
fact.
'In the city Of Chicago al the present
time there are over $4,000 vacant
I stores. l do not mean by this thai
there are that number of stores which
have never been occupied but I NEAR
/ to say to you that there are now il
that city over %, 600 stores now vacant
every one Of which at some time within
! the past few years housed a special linz
! Of goods. Bear in mind that these va
cant stores are situated along some o
/ Chicago's greatest business thorough
/ fares. Wells, West Madison, North Clarl
and Halstead streets and Cottage Grove
! Blue Island and Milwaukee avenues
/ This startling discovery resulted from
! census taken but recently by the Bust
ness Mems Association of Cook County
and I do not think that anyone viii dis
pute the authenticity or accuracy o
this census.
ut is also in evidence that with tn
vacating of these stores came a fal
in rentals. Stores which formerly rent
ed al 500 per month cannot find a ten
ant now at $2J per month, and so OF
through long list, the depreciation il
rental values corresponding.
Chicago is not the only city that
writing in the grasp of this most dan
gerous of monopolies. st. Louis. Kan
sas City. Denver, Salt Lake and othe
cities, including Sacramento, are bein
made to feel its baneful influence.
But Chicago has grappled with tn
question in heroic manner and tn
indications point to its soon bein
freed from a condition of affairs tina
it's sapping the vitality from it's com
mercial interests. State legislation ha
been invoked as the only means b
which the tyrannizing yoke of oppres
sion can be lifted from the neeks of he
struggling tradesmen. who have bee
made to feel the iron hand of the pro
prietOr of the department store.
Chicago is not alone in the fgh
against the department store. TIL
State of Illinois at large is her ally, fo
many Of the lesser cities of that com
monwealth are struggling against tn
monster which threatens to devou
them.
A bill is pending before the Legisla
ture Of Illinois which, if passed and az
proved, promises to accomplish niue
good. 1t is no less a proposition tina
10 impose license tax upon every dis
tinct line of goods carried by a mel
camille house, and it is hoped in TIL
way TO eQualize measures to some ez
tent at least between the small dealt
who carries a particular line of good
and the great department store whfc
viii sell you anything from a pc
knife TO a cannon.
OH
branch of the Legislature and there
good reason to believe that it will /
, favorably received by the other. The
: is some doubt as to whether Governc
5 Tanner will approve the measure, bl
4 the friends of the bill have Inaugural
= ed a campaign of education {
this subject and feel confdel
e that the Executive will, eve
$ against his own conviction. submit
popular sentiment and attach his sill
nature to it. There has been some d
lay in pushing the bill in the secor
: house, the desire being to secure Il
necessary two-thrds vote to pass
over the Governors veto, should su,
a contingency arise. In the other hou
it passed by more than the two-thir,
vote and this same vote may be reli,
upon to combat the Governor should
= prove unfriendly to the measure.
Missouri and New York are al
looking to the enactment of legislatio
4 as l have already stated, that will
- least give the small dealer a fair chan
with the department store
1T is but a step from Chicago. Ne
!, York, Denver or where you will to Sa
D ramento. Here in this city We find
= growing sentiment against the CONNIE
cial laviathan, which is slowly cry
talizing into a repugnance to a syste