The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-19
SOME ABUSES THAT
TROUBLE STATE
MERCHANTS
Short Weight Package Diff
Guilty Denounced at the
Mankato Convention =
Committee Reports on
Pure Food. Mutual Insur-
ance, Arbitration, Etc.
Special to The Globe.

special to The Globe.
MANKATO, Mimi Feb 18-The
Minnesota Retail Grocers' and General
Merchants associations convention
continued today. A committee report
read by Fred Lorenz, of Minneapolis,
showed total receipts for the year to
have been $4,706.05. Secretary and
Organizer Fred Mason was given COM
pensation Of $4,000. All other bills
having been paid, there remains in the
treasury $329.S4. In its report the COM
mlttee on trade abuses, read by Chair
man John ]. Thomson, of Minneapolis,
faYors legitimate advertising and con-
siders fake advertising a misdemeanor.
Short weight packages the report
says, rs contemplate trade abuse.
The deception may be small one, but
1t is a species of robbery that is intol-
erapIe. Retail men are imposed upon
by greedy, unscrupulous manufacturers
and in turn customers are victinlized.
General decentralization ensues, cutting
prices. In all the association work and
life there has not been encountered a
more Vexattous trade abuse than this.
Happily the result of organization has
been to relieve the situation to a large
extent, and If nothing else had been
accomplished through this auxiliary of
commercial operations, that alone is
compensation and sufficient proof of
the Importance and necessity Of har-
mony among tradesmen. The trading
stamp craze is a costly trade abuse
that cannot be too severely condemned.
Legislation should be enacted against
it."
What the Resolutions Say.
The report Of the committee on res
olutions was read by Richard Dinham
ana was adopted. The resolutions
thank the state board Of control for
giving SO large share of business to
the wholesale grocers Of our state the
past year, and claim that this business
IS que our wholesalers, as they are
among the large taxpayers of the state.
The two bills now before the legtsIa-
ture favoring the law abolishing pre-
mlumS and trading stamps and a bet
ter garntshment law were indorsed
unanimously.
U. H. Tenvoorde, of st. Paul, secre-
tary of the Minnesota Retail Mer-
chants Mutual Fire Insurance COM
pany, presented the report of that or
ganization. He explained the system Of
insurance followed by his company.
Expenses are kept down as low as pos
s1ple. The aim is to deal in absolute
good faith with members, returning
the unused premiums to them. No
disputes have yet occurred in settling
nre losses. The expense ratio is 26 2-3
per cent, as against 43 per cent with a
stock company. Each policyholder ia
liable for twice the amount of his
premium. For every $10O of insurance
there is sos of assets that can be used
IN paying losses, which is a large pro-
portion. The company since organic
Ing has paid losses to the amount of
S11,SSo: Ine amount of insurance in
force Dec. 81, 1902, was $2,O15,731,
Pure Food Crusade.
George d. Dingman, of Minneapolis,
assistant state dairy and food commits
S1oner, presented the report of the com
mittee on pure food. He reviewed tba
work that has been done by the de-
partment and the good that has been
accomplished. He compared Minne-
sofa With Iowa, which has no pure food
law. He said that Commissioner Nc
ConnelI is warm supporter of the as
ISOLATION.
The report of the committee on arbi-
tratfon, submitted by J. G. Robb, of
Minneapolis, and read by w. E. Davis.
related that only one case had arisen
curing the year requiring action. and
thls was one from Minneapolis regard
ing trading stamps. The report an
proved the principle of arbitration.
ionlgnt the delegates were enter
tanned at smoke given by the Man
kato Retail Grocers' association at
annette hall. There were many prom
lnent speakers. There is q lively con-
test on for president. P. ]. Hanson, of
minneapolis, is receptive candidate.
Tor ne has held the Office ever since
the association was organized seven
years ago. Herman J. Dahn, formerly
president Of the MINNEAPOLIS Retail
Grocers association, has announced his
candidacy. Among the delegates from
OUTSIDE the Twin Cities there is much
sentiment favoring Simon Clark. of
Duluth, who has been vice president of
association six years. Crookston viii
probably be decided on as the next
convention city, although other cities
are mentioned.
The North Dakota Conventions,
FARGO, N. D., Feb. 18.-In annual
convention today the State Retail
Grocers' association adopted resolu-
lions urging the passage by the Iegis-
Iature or an amended pure food law.
strengthening the present law, and the
appointment of a food commissioner
closing all stores on SUNDAY. urgine
the passage by the United States sem
ate or the Hepburn pure food law. adj
Vocat1ng steps by the National asso-
clatlon TO secure curtailment by manu-
facturers of illegitinate methods of
supply houses. The sitting officers
were sre-elected,
The North Dakota Retail Hardware
association convened in sixth annual
session today with an unprecedentedlv
large attendance. Important papers on
topics OF trade interest were read and
discussed.