The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1903-01-30
KANSAS MERCHANTS CONVENE.
C. N. Millisack Represents Good
land Merchants.
Reads Paper on premium Giving Of the
Manufacturers of Goods; How 1t
Affects the 8Ierchant1-CIOse
Organization Formed.


Kansas, which was held at Topeka last
week, G. NJ Millisack read a paper on
aPremium Giving by the Manufacturers
OF Goods; How it Effects the Merchant g
Mr.. MiIlisack says Topeka gave the
merchants a cordial reception and the
convention was a good success. The
sessions were held in the council cham
Der of the new auditorium, and men Of
commercial prominence from near and
far attended the convention.
The merchants effected a permanent
association this year, with F. B. Peck,
Of Ottawa, president, Il. A. Rose, of
LeavenwOrth, secretary, and Thomas
McGanon, of Humbolt, treasurer. A
board OF directors, one chosen from each
congressional district, was established.
Mr.. Millisack is director from the Sixth
congressional district.
The people Of GOodland and Sherman
county will be glad to read what Mr..
Millisack said in his paper on premium
giving, and his paper in full is as fol
lows:
'F'or years have viewed with alarm
the encrOachment into the domain of
the retailer, by the manufacturer and
preparer of the many staple necessaries
and luxuxies OF life, by the extensive Of
ferings of premiums to the consumer to
promote the sale Of their wares through
the mediums Of the retailer.
1.-THE most important goods for the sale
Of which premiums are offered are those
put out by the manufacturers of cereal
foods, tobacco, soap, chewing gum, pack
age coffee, cocoanut and baking powder.
upon reading their lists you will find
they pretty well cover every line and ar
ticle of merchandise carried by the gen
ersl and special dealer In every CON-
munity, city and hamlet-such merch-
andise as dress goods, handkerchiefs,
towels, gloves, parasOls, purses. belts,
ribbons, iaces, rugs, curtains, chairs, bed
steads and baby buggies, stoves, wash
ing machines, coal hods, jack knives. re
volEers, and IN fact any number of
articles carried by you in your general
stores to-day
you can see how seriously this does
effect the dealer in dry goods, notions,
millinery, furniture, hardware, iewelry,
BARRIERS supplies, groceries, harness and
implements, the haberdasher and drug
gist, all Of which dealers are necessary
for the making up of any good town
These schemes do not appear to be
necessary for the manufacturer Of the
premium goods to find sale for them
because they would doubtless sell them
to the jobber or retailer anyway, and if
these premium schemes are necessary
for the manufacturer to find profitable
sales for his wares using the retailer as a
medium to reach the customer, should
we not question the quality of many of
their goods and the relation We sustain
as partners in this scheme?
"DO We get adequate profit from the
sale of these goods? think not in
many instances. Then are we justified
to use our efforts to enhance the bust
ness and financial interests of others to
our sscrifce?
at cannot add to the profit and
wealth of the consumer as he usually
pays the retailer more for the goods and
with the postage, express or freight add
ed he could buy the premiums cheaper
of the local dealer.
ain this connection it is only a simple
matter Of justice to ease the reproach
heaped upon the manufacturer for get
ting out these schemes and the consum-
er for patronizing them, by showing up
the retailer as a promoter of the system
in selling premium goods and the exam
pie he sets by personally patrOnizing the
same scheme gotten up for his special
benefit.
1.-THE merchant or some member Of his
family wants some article he could buy
of the dealer in his town but instead
he buys big batch Of cheap cigars,
worthless spices or perhaps an inferior
quality Of chewing gum. while if he fig
ured the difference in the price he pays
for the goods with the premium and the
lowest wholesale price at which he could
DAg N4CA4 u LIZ dUDU6E htku0uA Ll6 pre-
MUM, he could have bought the article
wanted as cheap or for less money Of the
home merchant dealing in that line OF
goods, so when summed up it is plain
that it menaces and robs every local
dealer of legitimate business Of the sale
Of these goods, and the rightful profits
which in turn robs the town and com
munity of so much wealth and business
enterprise.
'sTo best illustrate the pernicious eff
feet and influence of premium schemes
bring them home, then allow me to cite
that there are no doubt scores Of merch
ants present at this convention who
have experienced the premium and trad
ing stamp mania among the merchants
IN their home towns and have seen the
demoralizing effect upon the business Of
the town without adding any material
profit to their business and then in theil
sheer desperation these business mer
racked their brains TO ind some feasible
plan to put stop to the whole scheme
=, -,.-r.- t-,-v-- tia ,-v-,-v,t- ---~,-4l-