The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1899-10-13
AN ANTIDOTE FOR RATE WARS
Our Merchants Have II In Their
Owe Power TO Stop The Drain
on Astoria.

He was bald-headed drummer, and
hadn't been long in town. He was dis
appointed and triAe savage. His AS
toria orders were not as large as he had
expected, and being a bright business
man. he was not satisfied with simply
realizing the fact. He wanted to know
the reason.
Well explained merchant, there
is no use buying more goods than we
can SELL"
Very evident" responded the drum
mer, but why should there be any
contraction In your sales? Are not
times good? Isn't money easy? Hasn't
Astoria as many people as formerly?
Don't they dress as well and live as
welI?"
Il answer yes TO all your interroga-
tions, replied the merchant, but so
many Astor1ans do not trade in Asto-
ria. Every train from Portland brings
back Astoria people with their arms
full Of dry goods, groceries and hard
ware. Why, 1t is getting so that when
an Astorian wants more than two
drinks he goes to Portland to spend his
money"
why do they do that?" asked the
commercial traveller.
cheap fares, cut rates" answered
the Astorian, shortly.
why don't you stop it?" was the
next question.
! The merchant looked at the drummer
with contemptuous pity for the lat
ter's simplicity. There was sharpness
in his voice when he replied, for he did
not like the cross-examination. Stop
II! Stop Old Nick! We don't run the
people. Preach town loyalty to them
through the newspapers, talk 1t on the
streets. They may feel uncomfortable
for a minute or two They may say,
Yes, that is true, but they will go to
Portland on the very next train, at an
expense Of two or three dollars for fare
aud incidentals to buy hat for $S thai
they could get here for $3.50. 1t is the
nature Of the animal-you can't stop
It,"
Human nature?" answered the man
OF samples; mo. And you don't want
TO stop human nature. It is the So
called rate war you ought to end. Oh,
yes, know you do not own the trans
portation companies. and all that but
YOU merchants do own most OF the
frelgh: they handle. You observe that
the war doesn't extend to freight tar
IFS. The alleged bitterness existing
between the transportation companies
has a controllable stage. You Astoria
merchants catch 1t going but you
dent catch 1t coming Now If 1t were
crowd Of drummers getting hurt that
way we would combine, no matter what
our other conflicting interests and
, agree to give all our business and all
other we could control to the. company
that would raise and maintain passen-
ger rates at their normal figure. These
companies do not live on wind. They dc
not control the Astoria carrying busi-
ness. You can. II you manage It right
" and work together. Mere COM
planning Of yours doesn't affeet the boai
or railroad men. Your loss Of business
does not bother them, but you strike al
their business and It is different mat
ter You have to go after them rough
shod. you know the old school-readei
rhyme.
"'Tender- hearted pluck a nettle
And 1t stings you for your pains,
Pluck 1t like a man Of metal
And 1t soft as silk remains
''The transportation companies are
doing all they can, apparently, to spoi
your business. You have the whip
hand and can force them to protect
you. vet you do nothing but watch the
dollars get away from you. Do you
think you deserve any more business
than you get?"
The drummer went to pack his grip
and the merchant still is thinking.