The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-19
ST. PAUL UNION CALLS THE At
TENTION OF JODBERS TO IN
DISCRIMINATE RETAILING.
SAY 1T DEM0RALIZES TRADE.
SECRETARY NASH PREPARES A
LETTER TO BE SENT TO EA-
PREss COMPANIES
ASKING FOR LOWER CHARGES.
Claim the Rates Now in Force Are
Ex0rbitant-Other Matters Con-
sidered Last Night.

The meeting Of the st. Paul Retail
ers' union at the Commercial club last
night was not largely attended, but
considerable business was disposed Of.
On motion Of Emil Geist the secretary
was instructed to communicate with
Secretary Beck, Of the Jobbers' union,
requesting him to bring the subject OF
indiscriminate retailing by the jobbers
before that body, "as 1t creates havoc
with the bona fida retailers business
without any real corresponding bene-
fit to the jobber, as it demoralizes trace
in general by creating vast amount
Of comment among the purchasing pub
lie, as those favored by the jobbels
make 1t a point to eIcqua1nt their
friends with the fact"
Secretary Nash announced that, In
accordance with the direction of the
executive committee, he had prepared
a letter to be sent to the local express
companies asking for a reduction or
the express rates. The communication
drafted by Mr.. Nash is as follows:
A careful and painstaking canvass OF the
members of the association demonstrated con,
cusively that the merchants Of St. Paul feei
that they are placed at a great disadvantage
in the field of commercial competition, owing
to the eXOrDlCduL eApIeSS ShoA 6Oo A0'ASo
against them by the various companies con-
ducting business at this point. AS the sue
cess Of the express companies depenas upon
the development of our mercantile ana NOUS
trial resources which development is being
retarded at the present writing, owing to the
excessive cost of transportation, we trust
that you will place this appeal before the
proper authorities, in the hope that some
measures will be taken in the near future to
so reduce express charges as will give our
members chance to conduct their respective
undertakings with some assurance OF sue,
cess. Awaiting your reply, which l trust VIII
reach US before the 31st in order that may
place 1t before the next meeting OF the asso-
citation, am etc.
On motion of c. w. Hall. the secre-
tary was instructed to mail duplicates
of the foregoing to every local express
company.
The secretary was also instructed to
write a. letter to the Modern Woodmen
Of America, which will meet In annual
convention in Dubuque on June 1, IN
viting the society to hold it's 1898 con-
vention in ST. Paul.
One matter that occupied large
share of attention was the publication
in the daily newspapers Of st. Paul OF
certain advertisements that refer to the
st. Paul Retailers union as a defunct
institution.
T. B. Myers objected to these publ
cations, and thought they ought not to
be permitted.
Emil Geist took a different view. He
called the attention of the union to the
right Of the advertiser to write his own
announcements and to have them pub
lished if he paid for them.
But Mr. Myers did not agree with MT.
Geist, and he thereupon offered a reso-
luton, wherein the Retailers union ex-
pressed its disapprovd. Mr.. Geist OPP
posed it, but it finally passed, with
scme amendments
The coming Fourth Of July falls on
Sunday, and there was some discussion
over the advisability Of closing the
retail stores on Saturday, the Sd. All
present favored closing at 1920 p. m.
Friday night and remaining closed un-
til Monday morning. In this connec-
ton Secretary Nash was instructed to
call on the mayor and ascertain which
day the city government intended to
observe, Saturday or Monday, and to
ask his honor to name Saturday, II no
decision has yet been reached.
The union adopted a resolution de-
claring it to be the sense of the union
that the members Of the st. Paul Re-
tsilers' union demand st. Paul-made
beer and cigars upon all occasions and
request the dealers they patronize to
handle ST. Paul goods.