The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-10-23

Heller on the st. Louis Meet
ing.
Charles Heller. president of the Min
EesOta State Pharmaceutical associa-
ton, returned yesterday from st. Louis,
where he sattended the first annual
meeting of the National Association of
Retail Druggists, which was held Oct.
II to 20.
Accompanying Presi EFT Heller at the
st. Louis meeting, were A. H. Reitzke
OF St Paul; A. J. Eckstein, of New
Ulm and DR.. j. w. Harrah, of Mime
apOliS.
The convention. which was the first
of its kind, was called by a special
committee on national organization
appointed at the last annual meeting
OF the Chicago Retail Druggists as
ISOLATION for the purpose of perfect
ing an organization among the retail
druggists Of the United States for the
protection of the trade
The retail drug trade has been dis
eliminated against in many cases, and
1t is claimed that, perhaps more than
any other line of retail business more
hardShlpS have been imposed by the
manufacturers. The organization of the
national association was stimulated
by the action Of the manufacturers Of
ing upon the retailer, not alone the war
tax but an increase in addition of from
20 to IS cents per dozen on patent medi-
cines.
President Heller said yesterday, in
discussing the convention:
THE convention was very successful
and will doubtless result in a much
better feeling among the retail trade,
as conference was held with a COM
nIittee of jObbers, and they agreed to
enQeaVOr to secure restoration by the
manufacturer of the former scale Of
prices. 1t is a matter in which the
druggists have no recourse, except
through an organization of this kind,
as the additional price is charged to
the jObber, who in turn lays it on to the
retailer. 1t is impossible for the re-
taller to advance the price of standard
dollar bottles to $1.05 or $1.10, which
would about cover the advance made in
prices and the war tax.
"At the next session of congress an
effort will be made by the association
to secure repeal Of the statute which
imposes q war tax on the druggist, The
drug trade is the only retail trade
which has had to stand the burden of
the war tax. Groceries, hardware or
dry goods, none Of them are taxed in
the least, and it is certainly an injus-
tice to single out the druggist and tax
him for every bottle Of standard prep
aratiOn sold, which comprises a large
percentage Of the trade.
when the war tax was first imposed
on proprietary preparations the manu-
facturers increa sed the price of their
product from SO cents to $1.25 per dozen,
when 80 cents per dozen or 21a cents
per bottle would have covered the cost
of the revenue stamps.
cit is against this imposition that the
druggists all over the country have en-
tered a protest, and through the new
organization we expect to secure
restoration Of the old prices. One hun
dred and seVenty-fiVe delegates attend
ed the gathering. representing sixteen
states. Protests have also been entered
by local state organizations all over
the country, who are thoroughly in
sympathy with the national organiza-
ton. The association fully appreciates
the gravity Of the conditions created
by the multiplying influences calculated
to work disOrganization in the retail
drug business, and it is with a view
to rectifying the evils which now i'm
pose unjust burdens on the retailers
and desire to aid in the promotion of
measures for the general welfare of
the trade, that the national association
was organized last week.
Neither the war tax nor the increase
in price of patent medicines is put on
the public. The public is free from
any burden whatever in the matter.
Had the manufacturer merely shifted
the burden of the tax upon the drug
gist there would have been less COM
plant. but the big fellows took advan-
tage Of the situation and tackled on
an advance in price at the same time"