The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-26
WILL BUCK CHICAGO
TWIN CITY WHOLESALE GROCERs
UNITE FOR sELF-PRo-
& j. LECTION
ORGANIZE AN ASSOCIATION

TO Prevent Manufacturer, If Posi-
bic, From Dealing with Retailers
George r. Newell President of
the New Observation-Disclosures
attnG Methods of the Windy City
People Led to This Move.
NO more will the Chicago jobbers ride
rough shod over the rights of the whole-
sale grocers Of Minnesota. or of the
northwest. The wholesalers have conttn-
ued to submit to the exasperating meth
ods employed by the Chicagoans, in the
hope that the spirit of fairness would
nnaliy prompt the big city people to do
them Justice, until patience has ceased
to be virtue. All other means having
1aiied' there is to be an organized resist
ance to such encroachments from now on.
The Wholesale Grocers' Association of
Minnesota, which was organized yester-
day at meeting Of representative gro
GERS from different cities of the state.
In the rooms Of the Jobbers' association.
Minneapolis. The Minnesota combination
will act in concert with like organ
ization recently formed in Iowa, and with
both associations on the watch for any
further evidences 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 & Co., of Minneapolis, was
elected president of the association.
James F. Blaine, late of the Anthony
Kelly company, is secretary. The mem
bers of the association feel particularly
gratifed at having secured for secretary
man thoroughly familiar from years of
practical experience with all the details
OF the business who will be free to de-
vote his entire time and energy to the
large work before him.
The other wholesalers who attended the
meeting were: ]. L. Harper, of the Win
ston Harrington company, Minneapolis;
Mr.. Stocum, Of Slocum, Bergman & Co.,
Minneapolis; Fred Johnson, of A c.
Johnson & Co., Minneapolis; William
Hay, of Anthony Kelly & Co., Minneapo-
lis; J. w. Cooper, Of Griggs, Cooper &
Co., ST. Paul; John F. Kelley, of Foley
Brothers & Kelley, st. Paul; John H
Allen, of John Fl. Allen & Co, ST Paul;
Charming Seabury, of Seabury & Co., ST.
Paul; Mr.. Frederick, of Frederick &
Kenmpe, Red Wing; Mr.. Burke of the
Minnesota Mercantile company, Stillwa-
ter; 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,
Mankato. Mr.. Ransom, the Albert Lea
grocer, who had expected to attend the
meeting, was unavoidably detained. He
sent letter pledging himself to abide
by whatever action might be taken. A
speciaf dispensation was made to the Su-
orfO firm nf re hI1S 10
done in Minnesota.
The association adopted a constitution,
which, with the alterations yet to be
made, will be ready for publication with
in a few days. The avowed purpose of
the association, as set forth in the con-
stitution, will be to prevent the manu-
facturers from doing business directly
with the retailers of this state, and also
from dealing with the wholesalers of the
state individually. BY persistently sell
ing the retailers large blocks of stock at
bottom prices the manufacturers are
charged with double dealing and also
with having deprived the wholesalers, in
many instances, of their legitimate profit.
Again, by making rates to certain whole
salers and at the same time practicing
rank discrimination against others, a
ruinous competition has at times result
ed, 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 retail
ers, if the latter themselves derived any
actual benefit thereby. But the small
dealers have, in turn, been forced to cut
prices to such an extent that no incon-
siderable injury has been done their bust
ness
I'm fact" said Mr. Blaine, "the whole
saiers 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
wholesalers. The association will have
central committee, through which the
business with the manufacturers will be
transacted. Instead Of fixing things up
to suit themselves with the wholesalers
as individuals, the manufacturers will be
forced to negotiate with the association
headquarters.