The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-28

that they have no further use for their
services; never stopping to think what
that order means to the men and the
women who receive it.
Some of us here tonight have received
just such an order. 1 myself have felt
this, and know whereof 1 speak.
Now, gentlemen, We are met here to-
night to take some action, to take some
initatory step towards heading off, as
TAR as may be, some of the effects of
this gigantic evil which is threatening
the business of this country, and the en-
ployment of many thousands of CONNER
cial travellers. l could cite you manv
acts of some of the trusts, but will mere
ly mention the recent action taken bv
the meat trust in reference to the pro
test which is made by the retail butchers
OF the city of New York against some
OF the arbitrary and unbusinesslike meth
eds of the great meat combine of Chi
cago. [ will read a paragraph which 7
chpped from one OF the papers of re-
cent date which will cover the ground
more thoroughly than I can and in fewer
words Along this line 1 cannot refrain
from speaking of the recent advance in
structural steel of S. per ton, made bv
the steer trust, within the last few days;
also of the many heavy advances in the
prices OF lumber, glass and in fact every
thing that is used in the building trades.
and, in fact. | might say in every other
line of work and business in this coun-
try.
Now it seems to me chat the important
question for us to consider is: How do
the trusts affect our occupation or our
business as commercial travellers? If thew
affect our business to our detriment
what steps shall we take to protect orr
selves and our occupations from the evil
effects OF trusts and combines? This is
= hot ic-
deserves your most careful and pains
taking consideration. There are many,
many things which 1 could call your at
tent1on to along these Fines but I will
not detain you tonight with any extended
views OF mine, but am willing and salts
fed to leave the matter as to what is the
proper thing for the travelling men of
the Northwest to do in reference to this
matter entirely to themselves, and that
neaEs you.
NOW there are some suggestions that
nave been made by some of the travelling
men, to have the travelling men. when
calling on their trade, ask their chs
toners to buy non-trust goods, when
prices and styles of goods are about the
same. l, myself, am inclined to think
that this would be one of the most ef-
fective methods for the travelling men
TO pursue, and if carried out logically
would mean, in time, IN some lines the
annihilation of the trusts entirely and
completely. 1 could elaborate on this
phase of the question, but will mere
ly add along this line of thought that
II we can get the retail merchant
into that frame of mind where ha
will say that II don't want 1t. because
II is made by a trust" we have about
done all we can do in that direction. and
also want to call your attention to
what l think is a very important matter
and will be of great assistance to US in
our work in the matter of fighting the
trusts, and that is to get the labor unions
to cooperate with Hs, to the end that
they may influence the members of their
respective organizations to refuse to buv
any goods made by a trust when thew
can buy Just as good goods for the samn
amount of money that are not made or
controlled by trust or combine. This
idea might be carried out, ad infnit,1no
ana l feel satisfied that If the attention
OF the labor unions were called to this
matter they would require very little
urging TO get into line with us and 70
cooperate with US. Now, gentlemen. the
matter is up to you. What is your pleas
! ure?