The record-union., 1897-05-08

eral days ago. No doubt he meant
to be fair in his presentation of his
side of the case and | have endeaVored
to treat him with equal fairness, in
sisting, however, in pointing out what
appears to me to be defective in his
argument.
Live and let live" is principle
which does not find its way into the
department stores Their policy is to
crush out competition wherever possi-
bic, regardless of the greatest good
to the greatest number, as is their
boast
For some time past one of these es-
Establishments has been carrying on
purchasing and distributing department
in wines and liquors. am relapIy
informed, and I presume 1t is question
of a very short time, when an open
business in this line Will be added, ana
the liquor dealers be made to feel the
aggression. A cafe is maintained Dy
one of these stores. and here its en-
ployes are served with the midday
meal for a trihe and thus remaining
within the great building from the
time they enter early in the morning
until they leave at the end OF their
days work.
The small restaurant keepers in the
immediate vicinity of the store are al
ready experiencing a curtailment IN
revenues. for many of the employees OF
the great store were their patrons prior
to the opening of the cafe in the base
ment of the magnificent structure.
Here in Sacramento some firms have
felt it necessary to cOnsplcuouSly ad-
vertise the fact that they do not carry
department store goods. Articles of
quality cannot be sold at ridicuously
low figures; it is only those of inferior
ity, manufactured expressly for "spe-
cial sales in department stores, that
find their way to the purchaser for a
mere song.
AS yet the department stores in Sac
ramento are in their infancy, although
they are at this time a dangerous ele-
ment in the commercial life OF this
city AS they thrive they will become
all the more dangerous.
In many of the Eastern cities there
are numerous stores having meat mar
kets, grocery stalls, wood, coal and feed
yards, barber shops and what not.
Many of them maintain employment
offices where a purchaser, free of cost,
may secure any help desired. They also
employ physicians with whom custom
ers may consult without any charge
and also employ lawyers who give ad-
vice to patrons without fee.
l refer to such establishments as are
conducted by the Siegel-Cooper Com
pany, Chicago; Macey's of New York,
and John Wanamaker of Philadelphia.
There are many others in addition to
those l have named.
1t is only question of time when the
| department stores in Sacramento will
do likewise, if they are foStered. Proba-
bly, only lack of room forbids it now.
These "benefactors" are often to the
front in aiding charity, but it is not
| charity which prompts them to extend
aid Whenever a sum of money is
given to assist any worthy cause an
inspection of the books of the depart
ment store making the contribution will
reveal the fact that it has been charged
to the advertising account. But they
make the most of the opportunity and
lead the public to believe that the do
nation has been made with no thought
of selfish interest
WISH 10 DIIeIy punt Out 10 the
small householder the ultimate result
to him Of patronizing the department
store. Misled by flashy advertisements
and the wrong impression that he can
purchase from it with profit to himself.
he is assisting in a movement that will
inevitably end in financial distress to
him.
With the vacating of stores in this
city will come a depreciation in real
estate values and which will lower the
assessment roll Of this city and county
But the cost of maintaining the diff
ferent branches of government will not
decrease with the depreciation in real
estate values. Taxes will be Just as
high and the laborer, the artisan or
whoever he may be will have to bear
his additional burden in making up the
deficit.
The shopman who by years of toll has
managed to build a home will feel the
reaction as well as others, and will find
| that it was shOrtsighted economy to
patronize the department stores
/ trust l have avoided all sem nblance
of personality in the discussion of this
important matter, endeavoring to bear
in mind the impersonal manner in
which it was treated by the gentleman
who attempted to controvert statments
and charges previously made by me-
G. WILSON F'RANKEI,