Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-21
PRODUCT SHOWS REAL vALUI

for consideration al the regular meeting OF
the Manufacturers Association last night,
one was the matter of obtaining a menu
bership In the Kansas City transportation
bureau, and the other was the advisability
of establishing 4 permanent home product
show. This last was argued Interestingly
by r. w. Hilliker, in an able paper. and the
first was finally given into the charge OF
the transportation committee OF the asso-
citation to raise the necessary fund FOR the
purpose by subscriptions among the mem>
bers.
There was very good attendance when
President Dickey called the meeting to or
der. A letter was read by Secretary Wins.
borough from "A Wife, asking that the
wives and daughters of the city be adj
mitted to the card and catalogue socials
which are given by the association. The
matter was laid over for future action.
George b. Peck, of the Doggett Dry Goods
Company, was then introduced. MIR. Peck
made an address upon the benefit OF re-
tail stores to the manufacturing interests
of the city. His remarks. which were
largely extemporaneous, pointed out some
telling defects in the methods pursued by
the association in advertising their wares.
You must come in close touch with the re-
tail people," said Mr.. Peck. You may de-
pend upon it that Kansas City people will
uphold the Kansas City manufacturers, but
they want to know what you are making.
Let the home goods be labeled. Bring that
label more to the front. The people do not
ask foc homemade goods because they do
not know of them. That is the one radical
fault in spreading the sale and consump-
ton of your manufactures.
Il think that it would be a good idea
for you to offer prizes to purchasers who
have the greatest number of Made in X.
c.. Z. s. A. labels. Do something to let
the local people know what to buy and
give them an incentive for buying 1t. I
think that the investment would pay
Home Products show.
Mr.. r. w. Hilliker was then introduced
and talked earnestly upon the needs and
hibttion. He said:
The card, catalogue and sample socials
have fully demonstrated the wisdom of the
move. They combined business with pleas
ure. by making not only the manufacture
ers better acquainted with each other, and
with their products, but they brought to-
gether a large number not members. who
became acquainted with many members
Of the association. and with a good many
articles made by them. These meetings
have done more than any other one thing
to educate the public in reference to what
Is manufactured in Kansas City, and they
have shown more fully than ever the abb
solute necessity Of establishing a perma-
nent place to exhibit Kansas City made
goods, where not only the people of the
city can familiarize themselves with what
Is manufactured in Kansas City but a
place where every delegation or body of
men, or visitors. no matter where they
come from, can visit and take in at
glance the magnitude and excellence of the
goods manufactured here.
Such an institution, with the hearty
support / am sure the entire Kansas City
press would give 1t. accompanied with. say.
quarterly card. catalogue and sample So
cials. would create an enthusiasm among
the whole people of Kansas City and vi
cinity equal to the home products show.
and cause demand for Kansas City made
goods such as is not now even dreamed Of.
What the manufacturers Of Kansas City
most desire. and what they must have be-
fore they can fully succeed, is a demand
for Kansas City made goods, like that en-
joyed by the packing houses. and few
Of the larger and older institutions.
When such demand is created for all
the goods and commodities made in Kansas
City. then Kansas City will take her place
in the front rank with other large manu-
ceive of any other way to so speedily
create this public demand for Kansas City
made goods as by an exhibition of the goods
made. As not one man or woman in "A
thousand who live in Kansa. City has any
knowledge Of what Is made here, and not
one III ten thousand from the country trb-
utary to this point has the slightest idea
of what a variety and quantity Of manu-
featuring is done In Kansas City.
Who could estimate the benefits that
woull accrue to the manufacturers Of this
city, to every member of this association
who had samples Of what they ma aufacture
on exhibition? In this way the public
thing added to the exhibit. which would
be a daily occurrence. Nor woull this in
lorna ton step here. 1t would go to every
state in the Union and reach far into foreign
as manufacturing center which would
induce new establishments to locate here
thus increasing our population I'D giving
employment to our lab0ring men,
with such an exhibit as above outlined.
1t would be an easy matter for anyone to
hnd out and examine the kind Of goods
made by each manufacturer ard decide
just where TO go to get anything they
wholesale and retail dealers handled the
line Of goods desired. Just imagine a
stranger in the city starting out to locate
only six of the most prominent manufac-
turing estabiishmeats. other than the pack
ing houses. For example. the " s. Dick
ey Clay Manufacturing Company, the Kan
sas City Milling Company the Colsoida ted
Box Company the Eagle Mant factur ng
Company. the Weber Gas and Gasoline En-
gine Company. and the Kansas City Basket
company-ali located in six extreme cor
ners of the two Kansas Citys."
Atter Mr.. Hiiliker had concluded. f. J.