The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-05
President Mvton's Address.

C<NtCAANAl46 SActllIB 10 the QelGBdLeS. SAD
! 1t is intended and expected that this
association viii bring the dealers of the
southern Kansas and Oklahoma into
closer relatiOnship-that we may get bet
ter acquainted, that we may discuss the
topics that are of mutual interest. that
we may learn from each other the best
way TO conduct our business and to fur
nish ty our combined efforts a protec-
( ton, that as individuals We could not
! hope to Go. We are to he as the hives
I containing working bees, disturb one,
and the whole hive is moved tc action.
THE interests of Oklahoma and south
/ err Kansas are identical. We are 50
+ linked together in our interests, that
what concerns one, is bound to interest
the other. Our creates complaint at
present. is the transportation rates: this
in most cases. is a burden to both the
seller and to the buyer. In this many Of
the members of our parent association.
in northern Kansas and Missouri, have
no interest. as they POW have tariff rates
as low as they could hope or expect
when we talk to railroad men they
say: You are toe far from the border
to get border rates" And that we have
no great commercial city or distributing
point to command concession. If this be
! true, why not create and build up a com
mercial city within our own borders7
{ others outside, when it is manifestly
against our own interests7 Kansas will
have distributing point and we, as rep
resentatives of Kansas. should work for
that end. Let us be loyal TO ourselves
and to our own people.
Not many years ago We handled our
corn and apples from Missouri. It seemed
that we always would, but our farmers
have, in a short time, changed all this
and now. if the people of Missouri want
something good. in the way of apples or
corn, they can come 20 US and get them.
Can we as merchants, not change our
commercial status. by producing here
implements and machinery so far super
ior to those used a the present, as to
bring the eastern states to us for what
they want. instead of us going TO them
This is not impossible
one among us, not above the average.
invented and perfected a grain drill that
has rcvolutionized the entire grain drill
interests of the world. If this state had
p distributing point of any consequence.
this drill would have been produced i'm
Kansas. Today it is being manufactured
by Kansas people IN another state.
MANY other inventions have been
made I'm Kansas, some as important as
this drill that are now lost to the state
because We have no commercial point
where people go to buy goods, and so it
viii continue as long as we, ourselves are
attracted to other points to make our
purchases. This is not the right thing
TO do. The wealth resulting from the
manufacturing and handling of these
goods, should remain in our own state;
so. yOu can in some masure, see the inn
portaEce Of this organization. Kansas /
win have a good distributing point, and
il is with us to say whether or not we
will nelp. If we by combined effort /
take mold of this matter. it viii be a
great surprise TO many to see how soon |
this VIII all change.
I'VE cannot AFFORD to drive from our
state those things ard lose the benefits /
and results Of our own inventive genius. I
And 10 YOU. gentlemen, who have not /
as vet given your names ana influence /
TO this association. I ask. can We con-
TIME 10 contribute 10 the benefit of
OTHERS to orr own damage and disad- /.
vantage2 Give us your name and your /.
Influence. We will do YOU good Let us (
be brothers and friends. Life is too short /
TO waste in an individual, selfish strug- /
gle. Let us stand by each other for home /
and home interest. We can help YOU de 1
feHd your rights. Join our association .
and keep step to the music Of advance /
ment This movement IS TO lie perma-
nent. We are The center Of the country .
that uses implements ard We win shirl1 .
no effort TO establish and maintain this .
association
i do not know what figure the nipple +
ment dealers of southern Kansas and +
Oklahoma would cut as inventors and I
manufacturers. but 7 do know that they
are the most persistent and hardest .
working set Of merchants on earth We 4
should be honest and truthful. especially
with each other. So much SO. that were
env )ne telling of his large sales-how
many cars OF buCgies drills. wagons.
etc. that he mad sold. If YOU should think I
il too large. ask him if he is a member (
of the Southern Kansas * Oklahoma /
Implement and Hardware Dealers Asso-
citation, and if ne should say be Is. have
him repeat his account OF sales and what
he then says -oU VIII. .unccr the rules.
he compelled 10 believe.
In al matters Of vital importance 10 !
the association. think IL should be
adopted by q roll call as many members
not voting. DO not feel bcund rs this ac-
ton Of the convention
There is no Important movement that
does not haze some reversss. the