The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1903-03-18
THE YAKIMA HERALD.
WEDNESDAY. MARCH Is, 1902.
The Retail Grocers' Association

The West Coast Trade of Tacoma is
taking great interest in the develop
ment of North Yakima's institutions,
and in speaking of the Retail Grocers'
Association here says:
Another organization that has recent
~ been promoted to foster and improve
trade conditions is the North Yakima
Retail Grocers' Associa ton Its MEM
bership of course, is limited to those
merchants engaged in selling groceries
in North Yakima, and numbers as its
members, with but single exception,
every retail grocer in that city. Its
officers are: Frank NJ. Spain of the
Greene Mercantile company, president (;
Stanley Coffin of Coffin Bros, vice. presi-
dent; J. A. Kleis of kleis & Sinema,
secretary; A. B. Pearson, treasurer. At
its organization it at once allied itself
with the state association by attaining
membership therein and proposes to be-
come an important factor in strengthen
ing the protective features of the associ-
alton, whether state or local. Its officers
are energetic, wide awake business men
and its members are enthusiastic over
the results already accomplished and
are taking an active interest in promot-
ing the mutual interests of the associa-
ton.
With respect to its organization and
policy, President Spain said: North
Yakima is peculiarly situated from a
commercial standpoint as the nearest
point which can in any way be consid-
cred competitive is 40 miles distant, yet
owing to the fact that it is so widely and
favorably advertised we are constantly
brought in competition with the Sound
markets by people from those cities, who
are ignorant of the fact that the excess
on freight rates makes those prices pro-
hibitive in our city. Again, we are in
receipt OF that clas- of people who travel
from one place to another, usually re-
naming long enough to victimize every
credulous grocer who can be worked for
credit This condition left us no alter
native but to organize for mutual pro-
lection and the results thus far prove
the wisdom OF such move. Contrary to
public expectation, prices have not
gone up, but they have been equalized
and the price of staple articles is uni
form in all the stores of the city. The
grocers in the small outlying towns have
been invited to become members OF the
association and some of them have
already accepted. We believe it will be
to their advantage, as many OF their
customers will now purchase of them
instead of coming to town to look for the
"price cutter" We believe, also that
the public will receive benefit, as by CO.
operation we can now purchase many
goods in carload lots and thus be en-
abled to sell cheaper. We now propose
to cut out the "deadbeat," and the Gus
toner who pays will not have to make
up for the losses incurred by selling to
the man who never pays. How do we
expect to prevent such customers from
beating us? Well, hardly think that
a question to be answered in so public
manner, but l don't mind telling you
that we sometimes discuss things other
than prices and freight rates, and the
man who owes A for groceries will find
it advisable to paw before asking b for
credit. We propose to thoroughly
acquaint ourselves with the laws per-
tanning to our business and will have no
steps to make backwards. OF one thing
you can be assured-that is, the associ-
alton is composed OF men who are work
ing together and who believe in organ
/ ization,"