The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-02-20
secretary was instructed to return the
greetings.
To Meet at Crookston.

greetings.
To Meet at Crookston.
Allen G.. Clausen of Crookston invited
the association to hold its next annual
meeting there. A motion to hold the
meeting there was carried unanimously.
Resolutions were adopted, asking the
secretary to take up the matter with the
Continental Tobacco Co. of spacing the
plug tobacco boxes into five and six as
formerly; also extending thanks to the
press, speakers, National Cash Register
company, local grocers' association, citi-
zens, driving club, etc.
John Krost thanked the convention
and hoped the delegates would take
away pleasant recollections.
The convention closed at 3:45 p. m.
by singing America" The special
train over the Great Western left at 5
p m.
Interesting Papers Read.
The session yesterday afternoon w.
opened by paper on "The Wholesale
Grocers of Minnesota" by E. L. Patte.-
son of this city. Mr.. Patterson welcomed
the retail grocers to the city and invited
them to visit the local jobbing houses.
The country jobber is now found in the
smaller cities of the state, said he, where
as a few years ago such houses were
all located in the twin cities. Through
perseverance and the intense loyalty of
the retail dealers, Southern Minnesota
jobbers have been enabled to compete
with Chicago, and are now holding Their
own. The reputation which MINES Jts
jobbers have acquired with the manufac-
turers is an enviable one Mr.. Patterson
advocated the formation of local associa-
lions of retail grocers. He complimentcd
the state association for its selection of
Mr.. Mason as secretary. The appearance
of the store, the quantity of goods EAR
ried and the treatment of patrons are
given too little attention by store keep.
ers. Prices should not be cut because
somebody else does it. The matter should
be referred to the local association for
adjustment
Minneapolis Retail Grocers' Associa.
tom was the subject of a paper by its
president, John Powell. He said that
fourteen years ago Minneapolis was a
hotbed of eutthroat competition. 1t was
not question of profit but Of how
long anybody could remain in the bust
ness there. Mr.. Powell explained tile
and work of the local asso-
citation. The latter has engendered good
will and friendship among the grocers,
and has prevented dead beats from liv.
ing off of the profits of the business.
Evils that cannot be remedied by indi-
vidual effort can be easily attended to by
effort. If the spirit of love and
is carried into our lives and |
business there will be no stronger power
to upbuild us.
John W. Lux, president of the st. Paul
Retail Rrocers' association, gave an ad-
dress, in whice he reviewed what had
been accomplished in the past year.
The troubles of the grocers have been
by organized effort. There was
cutting and slashing and gro
GERS were considered small fry, but this
is no longer so. The trading stamp is the
most serious evil and should be stamp
ed out. The man who devotes part of
his profits to help out somebody else is
not good business man. The state
dairy and food department has helped to
see that the law has been enforced. The
food matter has been overdone the past
two years, by too many breakfast foods
coming into the market. Grocers carry
too many makes on their shelves. Price
cutting has been stopped in st. Paul, the
credit system curtailed, and the trading
stamp evil nearly rooted out. Grocers
and their families should get together So
cially more than they do. Becauseyour
is enterprising does not indi-
cate that he is your enemy.
NJ. H. Sherad of st. Paul, assistant Sc
cretary, read paper on 'Our First Coun-
ty Association" written by John F. Nan
gle, president of the Otter Tail acounty
who was sick and unable to
be present. The writer referred to OBJ
stacles Of the grocery business and said
that they could be overcome by organic
ed effort. Merchants cut into their pro-
fits by overstocking. One who does $685.
900 business in year need not carry
more than $1,000 stock, and should not
extend credit for more than the value of
the stock. A prudent grocer should
as the situation in the grocery
line is very fattering at present.
Richard Dinham of Duluth read pa
per on "The Duluth Retail Grocers' AS
ISOLATION" He spoke of the credit sys-
tenn followed there and the help the gro
GERS are to each other. Trading stamps |
have been abolished, although it cost $3.50
in attorneys fees to do it. Prices are no
longer slashed. Travelling statesmen have
helped the organization very materially.
Benefit of Organization as Seen by
an Attorney was the subject of pa
per by Allen G. Clausen, attorney and
secretary of the Crookston association,
who is also official stenographer of the
state association, at Crookston, "the
breadbasket of the world and queen city
of the prairie" Other merchants had been