The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-17

During the last three days the grocers
and allied tradesmen of the state, have
been holding high carnival at Market
hall. But, yesterday, terminated their
three days convention, which has prov
ed the most successful one since the
formation of the new association, three
years ago. The majority of the dele
gates return today to their respective
homes about the state, carrying with
them much good sound advice regard
ing business affairs, and feelings of
good will towards their hosts.
secretary Dlngman opened the morn
ing meeting by reading the questions
that had been deposited in the question
box. These involved such subjects, as:
Discounting bills and other ms and
cuts of value to the commercial world
These questions were answered from
the audience, and elected much praise
worthy comment.
The auditing committee reported they
had examined the books of the state
association, and had found them cor
rect, showing total receipts for the
past year Of 81, 513.25; expenditures, ST.
455.61, leaving a balance now on hand
of s7758. This, combined with the
1922 voluntarily subscribed by whole
saiers and friends of the association,
makes a very encouraging amount to-
wards paying expenses of the coming
year, as so much earnest work is con-
templated, that it will require a consid-
cradle amount of money to carry on
this future work.
RESOLUTIONS PASSED.
This report was followed by the read
ing Of the resolutions. all of which
were favorably passed upon. They
We're:
Resolved. That the association tender its
thanks to the ladies' auxiliary for their kind
of the association. and for their work in
decorating the hall so tastefu.ly.
Resolved. That the association tender its
sincere thanks to the representatives of The
G o b e, Pioneer Press Dispatch and the
Times for their conscientious attention given
to reporting the details of this convention.
hearty thanks to S. F. Bowser Co and
their representatives, Messrs. Foss and Bate,
for the service of their kindly typewriter.
Resolved, That thanks be rendered to the
city Of st. Paul for their hospitality in en-
tertainment to the association during this
convention.
Resolved, That the country members of the
association give more attention to the work
of organizing, and hope they will be of more
service to the association by adding new mem
bers and helping financially.
Resolved, That the association be recog-
niZed for its good work along the line of SCI
curing the cooperation of their brother asso-
in 1900
Resolved, That the iobbers should be mott
fed to instruct their statesmen to advocate
the cause Of the association to their custom
erS.
FAKE ADVERTISING.
After these resolutions had been laid
aside, the president introduced Mr.. T.
7. Bachelor, of the Commercial Bulle-
tin, Minneapolis, who delivered an ad-
dress on advertising Fakes from
which the following is taken:
The term fake Advertising is suggestive
OF fact and condition formerly unheard
Of and not easily treated of by those who
deprecate its existence. That fact and that
condition are comprehensively included in the
modern methods of merchandising attract
Ing buyers by a grand system Of bargain
sales, made known to the public through
by derivation the act of "turn1ng-to'' wares
displayed for sale, the clerk or salesman
ts supposed to do, in describing their good
points and comparative merits. This was for
merry done to but small extent outside Of
the store or place Of sale. In defining adver-
Using, Webster says:
ITO give public notice of. or to describe with
view to sale" etc
In our day the general custom of securing
publicity through the medium of modern
newspapers Of general circulation may be
said to represent the art and practice Of adj
vertising.
But what is fake advertising?" This is
certainly descriptive word brought into
vocabulary to meet the requirements of nine
teenth century progress, to express ways
that are dark and tricks that are vain''-so
far as the purchaser is affected Our fore
only to let people know in plain, unvarnished
tale. the scope and variety Of the goods they
handed. No attempt was generally made at
display greater than given by single line
of capitals of the same sized type used
in the body of the paper. The wares and
commodities were cata'ogued without order, in
cr1a ,ffrcf min Inc
something ike this:
Soap, twine shoe pegs, sugar rum, cod
fish, rope, nails, cowbells, catgut. snuff, pig
tail tobacco, pins, tar, treacle, Cody books
and gimlets.''
Somehow, in some way, we must get rid
Of fake goods, and fake advertising will quick
work your association IS engaged in. And
really, gentlemen. IN the matter of fake ad-
vertising, the grocers, and large proportion
of country merchants, have but very little
to plead guilty to- So far as you have
occasionally taken hand at the practice, we
feel sure it was only in self-defense. You
were the innocent victims of circumstances
you did not create. I am glad to say from
observation, based upon more experience in
grocery buying than some bachelors can
boast, that nine-tenths OF all the fraud in
the direction treated Of. is perpetrated by the
other fellows. And yet 1 would not say a
word to quiet any consciences whose quick
this matter I would say as the old Quaker did
to his faithful wife: Il think almost every
body is queer, except thee and me; and
sometimes l think thee Is a little queer"
The reading of Mr.. Bachelors speech
wound I'd the affairs for the morning.
THE COMMERCIAL TRAVELLER.
At . D. M. the association convened
for their final session.
Mr.. ". l.. Foss was introduced by the
president.
Mr.. Foss is of S. F. Bowser &
Co. His address, 1.-The Commercial
traveller himself. and is very enthu-
programme of the day. Mr.. Foss Is
Traveller himself, and is very enthu-
siastic regarding the idea Of the state
association af1liating with the travel
ers. Among other things Mr.. Foss said:
The commercial traveller is direct and
necessary medium between the producer and
consumer between the manufacturer and the
retail merchant. He might be termed the
true missionary of trade, or as your esteemed
secretary Of the Minneapolis association has
SO aptly SAID your letter Of credit, whereby
you may ascertain at once and accurately
every change which takes place in the pulse
of the business world
That your success and that of the firm
he represents are Identical. he does not fail
to recognize and he. therefore. desires that
you shall pursue those methods in business
which he knows have proved beneficial In
the case OF others with whom he has had
constant dealings. No one has had better op-
portunity than he for observing the unpleas-
ant and usually disastrous results Of an
indiscriminate outing OF prices. and no one
has been able to note more clearly than he
the benefits Of organization and right here
come to- perhaps the leading point SSS.ch
desire to make concerning the commercial
traveller and the value which he may be to
you as member Of your association. His
strength as an organizer rests not alone on
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