The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-16
DISCUSS The TRADE
RETAIL GROCERs AND GENERAL
MERCHANTS HEAR SOME VAL
UABLE PAPERs
SECOND DAY OF THE MEETING
Two Hundred Minneapolis City
Statesmen I'm Attendance Yester-
day-Simon Clark, of Duluth,
Delivers an Address ON ..Sc.emes
Against Honest Merit In Selling
Merchandise"


Merchandise"
Numbering some 500 or more, the Re-
| tail Grocers and General Merchants
association convened at Market hall
yesterday morning for the work of
their second day. As none of the mem
bers of the enrolment committee were
present, there was no roll call, but the
audience showed swelling over yes
terday's attendance of some 300
The assembly represented delegates
from all over the state, as we'll as a
large delegation from the local organi-
cations of Minneapolis and Duluth. In
the morning five chartered cars arriv-
ed from Minneapolis with about 200
members of the City Statesmen and
Merchants association. They were es
| corted by brass band, and each mem
Der was decorated with large ban
ner pinned to his back, bearing the
words in big glazing letters, Going
to the Business Mems Convention at
ST. Paul"
When all were assembled the band
struck up the national air. and all
joined in with their voices Then some
| one yelled Three cheers for Mime
apolis." A great demonstration of lung
power followed, and not until three
cheers had been heartily given for st.
Paul, Duluth and many other places
cid the -assemblage quiet itself.
MR.. CLARK, OF DULUTH.
The president called the-meeting to
order and introduced Simon Clark. of
Duluth
Mr. Clark had prepared a paper on
Schemes Against Honest Merit in
Selling Merchandise" and in printing
the programme it had been omitted so
his address came as a surprise, as was
demonstrated by the hearty applause
that greeted the speaker both before
and after the address.
MI Clark dwelt mainly On the mat
ter of advertising fakes and schemes.
| especially trading stamps" and the
giving away of premiums Quoting
him, he said: The tendency to intro
duce and put into practice the vari-
Gus schemes now before the CONNER
cial world exists among the wholesalers
even to a greater. extent than among
the retailers, and from the large whole
sale houses that put these into prac-
tice must we look for the remedy With
their cooperation we could return to
the good old plan of selling every arti-
Gle on its merit
Mr.. Clark then made reference to
several houses who were using this
method of advertising their goods, most
prominent of which were tea and cot
fee houses. The speaker stated that
the use of premiums was the greatest
evil existing in the commercial world.
and that the consumer did not only
pay a good sum for the premium but
most always paid a larger price for
the aNicle purchased, as it was in
variably of inferior quality. Continu-
ing the speech, he said:
The old adage that rich gifts we're moor
when givers unkind''- is clearly demonstrate
ed, as the givers of the premiums were
largely represented by the large trusts and
wealthy companies which gave the premiums
not TO enrich the receiver, but to influence
trade their way
iii fares the land to fastening Ills prey.
Where wealth accumulates and men decay"
is an indirect way the churches showing
a tendency to encourage this system of
premium giving, raising money to pay off
their Indebtedness by doing a retail soap
business, discriminating against. the retail
dealers; certain soap manufacturers have
shown disposition to- do what is right
but having all orders go through the retail
dealers; others sell direct to the churches
and some OF our eminent divines preach
| from the text, Purify your sould with soap;
it floats and removes all our floating in
fes in the sight of both God and man If
your sins be red as scarlet. the soap sold
through the influence of the church will
in blowing up soap bubbles to the seven
winds of heaven and thereby demonstrate
the fine qualities of our SOAP
Let US now consider the coupon system so
much in vogue all over the country We all
know it costs money to operate a grocery
store, just as surely does it cost money to
operate the counon system: yet the gentle
men engaged along this line would have
US believe that no more legitimate or bene-
fetal plan for increasing our business can
be found than by adopting their system.
But 1t IS all a fake, and results only in the
benefit to the coupon man. I firmly believe
that it is within our power to do away with
nearly all the schemes in operation In con-
nection with the grocery business in this
state.
When Mr.. Clark had finished a reso-
luton was passed thanking him for his
kind advice. and his paper was turned
over to the committee on resolutions
to be further acted upon.
RELIABLE COMMISSION HOUSES.
Coming next on the programme was
Secretary Tenvoorde's address on Re
liable Commission Houses" About the
doing away with such firms he says:
The question of what has been done under
the circumstances is what this association
should decide upon. There is no use in a
shipper sending produce to an unknown COM
mission merchant before having looked them
up. We have plenty Of good reliable COM
mission merchants that the shipper can con
sign to. A difference of opinion as to the
quality and value of the consignment often
exists, and it Is this difference in opinion. Or
the consignment by the consignor, that
causes him to consign to a firm Of whom. h.
knows nothing, but who have been sending
him quotations conforming more with his
ideas of the value of the goods consigned
and prices realized on a former shipment He
makes a trial shipment, and buys a report
on the standing of this to him, unknown COM
mission merchant, cost of Information
consignment.
Many of us are inclined to reason briefly
on matters Of Importance, which is some
times mistake, especially in matters which
are not only important, but vital and this
question is vital one It should be the
duty of the secretary to be in touch with
the shipper and report upon the standing
of all commission merchants. and all unre-
liable ones. after thorough investigation,
should be published as being unworthy of
confidence. The best method OF publishing
should be decided upon by the executive
board.
In cases where the commission merchant
claims that the consignment is not as repre-
sented by shipper, the secretary should be
called in by the commission merchant for
ing quality as claimed By shipper and actua,
conditions upon arrival. After examination.
the secretary to make a true report to ship
per; request for an examination to be made
when the condition of the consigned goods
does not in the opinion of the cornmissio,
merchant, conform with the conditio and
quality as represented In the letter of advice
accompanied by shipment.
Much money is lost annually through un-
reliable commission houses, and I believe
the expense OF maintaining a secretary who
would protect the rights of the consignor,
would be 1ustfable expenditure.
PAPER ON COMPETITION.
Following Mr., Tenvoorde's address
came one by ]. j. Rebb. His subject
Competition was well handled and
in part he stated: