The age-herald., 1901-05-14
THE CUT PRICES
 ARE PERMANENT
A Trenchant Interview With E, B. Norton, the Druggist.
 Significant Utterahces

No one of the greater merchants of Birmingham has been more in the public eye during the past few years, especially the past two years, than E. B. Norton, the druggist famous throughout this val ley as the genuine cutter. When he op- ened his drug store here ten years ago he soon won a reputation not only for integrity and business-like habits, but for uncommon energy and pluck. He is known as an essentially up-to-date man. His business has always prospered and will always prosper.
 But what has made Norton conspicuous recently is the aggressive and successful way in which he is now leading the cut rate movement and making war to the knife on what he terms the drug trust" The situation is peculiar. When cut prices were inaugurated by the drug trade of Birmingham two years ago Norton joined in and followed in earnest and spent big money in printers ink; and he has kept his pace, or rather has quick ened it, ever since. All the other drug gists moved along with more or less spirit, but as Norton was working on
  the public as the cutter par excellence.
 Cut prices were first announced. 1t seems. for the purpose of heading off new concern that was coming to engage in the cut price drug business. A local association was afterwards formed, but Norton was not invited to join it, not withstanding the fact that all the mem bers of the association were selling their proprietary goods at cut prices. Norton claims to have been absolutely ignored, but he does not in the least regret 1t, being well satisfied with things as they are and intending that they shall remain as they stand.
 Norton is boycotted by the manufac- turers; that Is, they refuse to sell to him. The local association Is said to be working against him with all its might It Is trying, he says, to make the poy- colt more bothersome to him.
 The object of the association IS, so Norton alleges, to drive him out of the field in order that old prices may be re- stored But drive him out, Norton says the association can never dol
 The boycott does not balk Norton, for he keeps up his stock all the same. lie carries full line of everything.
 The Alabama Pharmaceutical Associa- ton, of which the Birmingham Assoc1a- ton Is a part, meets in Montgomery to- morrow. This state body is a branch of the national organization whose business it is to maintain high rices and boycott those who cut What action, If any, the Birmingham men will urge in the cut price matter has not been disclosed. How ever. with the characteristic fearlessness of an aggressive cutter Norton Is thor oughly indifferent to what the associa- tion may do, for he Is equal to every emergency.
 'eYes, I am the genuine cutter, but not the original-bear that in mind" said MT Norton to the reporter yesterday. T never was so well satisfied with my bus mess in all the years have been here as am at present. Instead of becoming less aggressive will be found more az gressive from this time on And why shouldn't be aggressive in this cut price business? I went into 1t on principle and now I find 1t pays.
 'True, I have to work harder than for merly, for where profits are so small the volume of business has to be correspond ingly increased. But I enjoy work. l thrive on it. If were to sit down quietly and wait for trade would be left-badly left. That is the matter with many men in the drug business. They do not bestr themselves and consequently do not suc- ceed ''
 "But do you not think it would be better for the drug trade in general if the old prices were restored?" asked the reporter
 No: decidedly no! With old prices re- stored, there would be a general falling off in business. It is this way: The pub lie has been educated to low prices. Our customers wouldn't stand a return to the old lists-they just wouldn't"
 Then you think it wasted energy in your rivals scheming for a return to former prices?" observed the reporter.
 .'C ertainly But no matter what others may feel or do. I wish to say to the read CTS of the Age-Herald that l. E. B. Nor ton, am here at the corner of Second av- enue and Twentieth street, the same gen. uine cutter that was two years ago. and that here and in this enterprise will re- main. Like the public, I am thoroughly educated to the low prices and honestly rejoice in the new era. Verify, it is a great era It means hustle, defiance and blows. this fight against the trust; but the peo- pie get the benefit and the hustler and genuine cutter goes to bed every night 1a,a