Rock Island Argus., 1904-04-01

shippers to unload the cars they are
using.
Greetings From Moline.
c. +. Dewend. president of the Mo-
line Merchants association, suggest
ed that the associations of both
towns, and when Davenport organized
include that city. get together and
hold joint banquet once a year. 1t
would get the business people better
acquainted, would create good feeling
between the cities and have ten
dency to make fife pleasanter all
around in the business community.
The Moline association had been MAX
ing great strides in membership. There
were now 1913 enrolled. with new
names coming in daily. The rating
book had been adopted after Rock
Island and the merchants of his town
would not be without it for twice.
what it is costing them.
Frank Smith, of Davenport, who is
known as Vinegar" Smith, said the
merchants association was now do
ing for the wholesaler the saRe serv-
ice as was formerly furnished him by
Bradstreet and Dun. protecting him
against the dead beat. If the retailer
was doing business on safe basis
the wholesaler need have no fears
that his accounts would be straighten-
el at the first of every month. Mr..
Smith gave a bit of history relating to
railroad freight rates in Iowa and
Illinois. In his state the rates were
lower because the laws were enforc-
ed. There were laws in Illinois afford
ing the same relief. but through lack
of enforcement the shipper was pay
ing the same rates as he had for
years. and would continue doing so
unless he and his neighbOr got their
heads together and broke the combin-
alton between the railroad trust and
the state Legislature.
John NJ. Colligan responded to the |
toast, The Newspaper and the Mer- |
chant" in which it was shown that |
the press was constantly striving for |
the betterment of the community of |
which il was n part. and was working |
hand in hand with the business man. |
Good Work of Rating Book.
w. {. Maucker, who has succeeded |
10 the position of rating-book secre-
tary. told of the benefits that had
come to the merchant and the honest
consumer as the result of the intro
luction of the system in Rock Island.
Before its advent merchants seemed
possessed of a desire of keeping from
heir neighbOrs' in business the names
IF the persons whose refusal to pay
their honest obligations had nearly
pushed them to the wall. There were
n the city hundreds owing merchants
anywhere from $500 to 81. The busi-
ness man was losing confidence in his
ability to determine between those en-
titled to credit and those not. 1t
worked an injustice to the honest
man, perhaps out of work temporari-
y. Before the adoption of the rating
book Davenport sent over daily wag-
IN loads of merchandise to Rock Isl
md for delivery. Prices were lower
Dn that side. Now as much merchan-
lise is delivered from this side to
Davenport as vice versa. The rating
system had reduced the price of com
nOdities to the consumer. The mer-
chant who was known to have a
rating-book was not approached by
he man who had a poor record in the
book. The honest man. the one who
paid his debts. although at times slow
IN doing so, could always get credit
Mr.. Maucker said the time was not
far distant when there would be a
state rating-book. Then if a man left
one town for another his record
would be in the latter before his ar
rival there.
j. w. Welch spoke on cooperation
among the merchants. and pointed to
he many abuses in the trade. result
ng in losses, that could be remedied
f the business people got closer to-
gether. He said there had not been
enough touching shoulders in the
past. Thirty years ago one merchant
lid not care how his neighbor did
business. But conditions had chang
I'd. Organization was the watchword
-oday. The merchant was no eXcep-
ion. He had to line up with the men
engaged i'm the same line of business
ls he was. 1t was a case of self-de-
'enSe. Then Mr.. Welch thought the
social feature was a nice idea, and
should be practiced more.
CAPT. CUsHMAN REELECTED