Evening journal., 1904-11-26
To WAGE WAR ON
TRADING STAMPS
Mercantile Association Has
Warm Discussion on Sub
ject of Premiums
NEW CAMPAIGN WAS ADOPTED

The Mercantile Association is going to
fight trading stamps. This time it's go-
ing to fight to a finish, and from present
indications it looks as IL the association
would win out. 1t is proposed to have
the merchants drop trading stamps,
coupons, checks and every other sort of
premium. February 1st Is the time
formally agreed upon for giving up the
stamps.
The association held largely attend
ed meeting last night in Eden Hall and
thrashed over the matter from Begin
ming to end. When the move was first
started several months ago November
lst was selected as the day for giving
up the stamps, but this did not prove
feasible. owing to the rather short no
tice given to the merchants, and It was
decided to extend the time.
From the expressions Of opinion at
the meeting last night the merchants
are very much in earnest over their
present fight Incidents were related
which showed in what strong grip the
trading stamp companies held the
smaller retail merchants One mer-
chant declared that the stamp COM
panies had threatened, if he did not
keep on buying stamps from them, to
give away stamps to all his competitors
in the immediate neighborhood so as to
take his trade away from him.
A new plan of campaign is being
adopted. When the attempt was made
before to drop the stamps it was the
aim Of those in charge of the matter to
get practically all merchants I'm town
to agree to stop on November 1st The
present plan is to get as many mer-
chants as will to stop regardless Of
what others do. The merchants say
that it is impossible that three trading
stamp companies can exist in the town
IL two-thirds of the trade is taken away
from them at one time. An active cam
paign of trading stamp education is
planned, and the merchants are very
confident Of winning out. The associa-
ton has a large membership and there
are great many merchants not mem-
bers who are in sympathy with the
work to abolish the stamps.
1t was a very noticeable fact at the
meeting last night that merchants who
were afraid to give up the stamps on
the 1st of November are becoming
more and more anxious to get rid Of
them. Two of the most influential mer-
chants in the city say that they are
going to drop trading stamps on Feb
ruary 1st whether any other firm in
town does it or not.
II. e. Thomas called the attention of
the association to the fact that some
/ of the local theatres, on Saturday
nights, distribute bill boards through
the streets and allow them to remain
there until Sunday. These boards are
placed in store doors and on the steps
of buildings and as they are considered
dangerous it is probable that the asso-
ciation may take some measures to
have the practice stopped.
The Improved Order of Red Men in
tend to start a paper for lodge purposes
and they asked the approval of the as
ISOLATION in soliciting advertising. The
matter was referred to the board of di-
rectors.
Several members gave notice OF i'm
portant business that is to be brought
to the attention of the association at
the next meeting and all the members
are requested to attend.