The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-09-22
A USELESS EXPENSE.

"a useless expense"-that is what the
commercial traveller is now. In 1896,
a more representative American citi-
zen could not be found. Under date of
July 16, 1899, the Journal, of Lincoln,
Nebraska, says of the commercial
traveller:
"The man with the sickle is not need
ed now, but he works with some other
implement for better wages. When the
travelling man isn't needed he will find
something else to do at better pay, be-
cause of the removal of q useless ex-
pense between the producer and the
consumer"
In its issue Of October II, 1896, the
Journal reproduced under conspicuous
headlines, the following speech de-
livered by Mr.. Mckinley at his home
in Canton, to the travelling men which
reflected not only the sentiments of the
Journal, but Of the entire Republican
press of the country, as we'll as the then
presidential candidate.
"It gives me great pleasure to well
lCOlllt Illt u lldNeltIS W Illy CITY anu nome,
I do not know where there could be
found anywhere a more representa-
tive body Of American citizens than
among the commercial travellers of the
United States. Their business, possibly
better than any other, registers the
depression or prosperity of the country
Nobody knows sooner than the COM
mercial travellers whether times are
good or bad. (Applause) No class of
men so registers the waves Of business
as the men who stand before me today
You are interested in your occupations
and in having prosperity extend from
one end of the country to the other.
You are interested in having all of our
workshops running, all our mines in
operation, all our wheels in motion and
all our workingmen constantly and
profitably employed. (Cries of good,
good.O You are, therefore, this year,
possibly more than ever before, inter-
ested in the triumph of the political
principles which envelop the we'll being
and highest prosperity of the American
people. You want to stop unsold goods
and unpaid bills. Uaughter.) You
know better than anyone else that you
can't sell goods to your customers un-
(Cries of that's right and great ap-
plause) You know that people cannot
buy goods unless they have something
to do to earn money with which to buy
them. Great cheering) That's what's
the matter with the country today
That's the diagnosis of our condition at
this hour-business has been stopped
the wheels of industry are not running
Idle men are on the streets. CA voice:
thousands of them.D Many of the
manufacturing concerns are closed and
you are not doing so well as you were
in 1892. (Cries of no, sir, we are not }
And the best thing I can wish for each
and everyone of you is the return to the
splendid prosperity Of four years ago.
IT know the value of the commercial
traveller. When he is against you, look
out. (Great laughter.) There is nc
such recruiting officer in the United
States for a political party as one OF
these commercial travellers daughter
and applause.) They go everywhere
and they are good takers as you have
demonstrated by the choice of your
spokesman here today. daughter and
great cheering) / thank you and bid
you all good day."
, What change Of conditions has made
: the commercial traveller of whom Mr.
Mckinley said in 1896, "I know the value
of the commercial traveller" a useless
, expense in 1S99."
, What has changed him from the in
dispensable representative citizen in
1896, to "the man with the sickle" in
{ 1899?