The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-08-10
MORE AND MORE OF 1T.

MORE AND MORE OF 1T.
Now the Minnesota Wholesaler. Conn
bine to Keep Up Prices of Gro
ceries.
The st. Paul Globe of the 26th inst
says:
No more will the Chicago jobbers ride
rough shOd over the rights of the whole
sale grocers of Minnesota, or of the North
west. The wholesalers have continued to
submit to the exasperating methods en-
ployed by the Chicagoans, in the hope that
the spirit of fairness would finally prompt
the big city people to do them justice, until
patience has ceased to be a virtue. All
other means having failed, there is to be an
organized resistance to such entertainments
from now on.
The Wholesale Grocers' association which
was organized yesterday at a meeting of
representative grocers from the different
cities of the state, in the rooms of the job
bers association, Minneapolis. The Mime
sofa combination will act in concert with
like organization recently formed in Iowa.
and with both associations on the watch for
any further evidence of unfair dealing, it is
probable that the Chicago houses will be
forced to toe the mark hereafter.
George r. Newell, OF the firm of George
r. Newell 4 Co., Minneapolis, was elected
president of the association. James F.
Blaine late of the Anthony Kelly company,
is secretary. The members of the asso-
citation feel particularly gratifed at having
secured for secretary a man thoroughly
familiar from years Of practical experience
with all the details OF the business who will
Re free TO devote his entire time and energy
to the large wolk before him.
h0 nth 0r hn1o oloro IN nff rA01 %ho
meeting were: J. L. Harper, of the Win
stOu. Harrington company, Minneapolis;
Mr.. Slocum, Of Slocum Bergman & Co.,
MinreapC lis; Fred Johnson, of A. C. John
Gen Il Co., Minneapolis; William Hay, of
Anthony Kelly & Co., MINNEAPOLIS; j. w.
Cooper, of Griggs. Cooper 6 Co., St. Paul;
John F. Kelly, Of Foley Brothers & Kelly,
St. Paul; John H. Allen, of John H. Allen
Z Co.. st. Paul: Charming Seabury, of Sea-
bury Co., st. Paul: Mr.. Frederick. of
Frederick & Kenmpe, Redwing; Mr.. Burke
of the Minnesota Merchantile Co., Still
water; F. A. Patrick, of Stone Ordean-
Wells company, Duluth; Edwin Twohy of
Twohy Brothers Mercantile Company
West Superior, Wis; Archie Patterson, of
the Patterson Mercantile company, Man
kato; Mr.. Ransom the Albert Lea grocer,
who had expected to attend the meeting,
was unavoidably detained He sent let
ter pledging himself to abide by whatever
action might be taken. special dispense
Noh was maue TO the superior ffrm, as most
OF its business Is done in Minnesota
The association adopted constitution,
which with the alterations yet to be made,
Will be ready for publication within few
days. The avowed purpose Of the associa-
ton. as set forth in the constitution will
De to prevent the manufacturers from do
Ing business directly with the retailers of
this state and also from dealing with
the wholesalers Of the state individually
BY persistently selling the retailers large
blocks OF stock at bottom prices the man
ufacturers are charged with double dealing
and also with having deprived the whole
Salers. in many instances, Of their legiti-
mate profit. Again, by making rates to
certain wholesalers and at the same time
practicing rank discrimination against
others, ruinous competition has at times
resulted. which has been little short Of de-
moralizing to the business in this state
The wholesalers say that they would not
object so much to the manufacturers doing
business directly with the retailers, if the
latter themselves derived any actual bene-
At thereby. But the small dealers have
In turn. been forced to cut prices to such
an extent that no inconsiderable injury has
been done their business.
I'm fact" said Mr.. Blaine, 1.-The whole
salers. in deciding to band themselves to-
gether have been Influenced largely by
the fact that they have been assured Of the
hearty sympathy and cooperation of the
retailers. 1t will be easy enough to bring
about uniformity in prices and in the
methods of dealing with Minnesota whole
salers The association will have a central
committee. through which the business with
the manufacturers will be transacted. In
stead of fixing things up to suit themselves
with the wholesalers as Individuals the
manufacturers will be forced to negotiate
with the association headquarters"
We object to the wholesale grocers
uniting to form trust, and we especial
ly object to their pretending that they
are doing it for the public good!
It simply means that no citizen of
this state shall buy dollars worth of
groceries without paying commission
to the wholesalers, which Is, of course,
taken out the consumers pockets
1t means that the farmers shall not
buy cheap goods of T. M. Roberts or
any other supply house, but that they
must buy dearer goods of the whole
salers, through the retailers.
It means that the retailers MUST
buy in st. Paul and Minneapolis, and
shall not deal directly with Chicago OF
New York.
It says, in effect, that the people OF
Minnesota are the bond-slaves of a
dozen rich men in the Twin Cities, and
shat; not obtain the necessaries of life
unless they still further enrich them out
of their hard earnings
The combination is to stop competi-
tioE. and is therefore against public
policy.
We call on Attorney General Douglas
who, it is claimed is now after the -four