The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-01-26
A HEART TO HEART TALK
Business Men Had 1t in the Mitchell
Club Rooms Wednesday Even

Club Rooms Wednesday Even
ing-Were Enthusiastic.
The Wednesday evening meeting
of the Merchants convention was
held i'm the rooms Of the Mitchell
Club, a%diourning. from the city hall.
This nov was made so that an ex-
ecutive session could be held, wher e
as the secretary expressed it, the
visitors could open their hearts to
each other and try aud find out
what was the matter With the bust
ness situation i'm the state.
The discussion and talks that
flowed freely certainly showed a dis
position to arrive at ONE conclusion
to plan whereby the retailers OF this
state could improve the onerous cor
ditions which exist with reference to
the Invasion of their territory by
the catalogue houses of the east.
An enthusiasm prevailed throughout
the whole evening that portended an
awakening which has not been known
in the meetings OF the association
since 1T was organized ten years ago.
The merchants. as. the sentiment
was expressed, have been attending
the meetings year i'm and year out
discussing this problem without
having found a solution to it, but as.
the years go by and the evidence is
accnmulating that the catalogue
houses are making greater inIoads
on the business of the country, the
merchants are coming to a realiza-
tion of what will become Of them and
their business If it is not stopped.
The opportunity was given for
every business man fttJ9t had a griev-
ance to give unlimited oppression to
it, and quite a number took advan-
tage of the opportunity. Among the
first speakers was S. B. Nelson, of
Luverne. Mimi, the. proprietor Of
one Of the largest department stores
outside Of the twin cities. Mr.. Nell
son talked to some extent on the
catalogue house proposition, aud be-
lieved that a mistake was made when
the merchant is everlastingly pound.
ing away at ttat..-institution, for it
was N Of the means of advertising
that concern, and then again he did
not think it good policy to criticize
your competitor for vt always raised
him in the estimation of the buyer
and you will be the loser by 1T. Mr..
Nelson's speech offered some sugget-
tions concerning the conduct OF a
store in the way of keeping accounts
having the store appear neat and
tidy, ETC., that inspires the conf
dence Of the customer.
j. r. Barlow, of Plankinton, Secre-
tary Tyler. Presldet Grimm, and
others were enthusiastic takers con-
cernlng tbs vital question. Mr.. Bar
tow urged a greater organization Of
TIE business men so that the 1900 of
the state could be banded together
in u common purpose, and with
such an reorganization he said he would
guarantee to 20 into the market with
a purchasing power where a whole
saler would be glad indeed to listen
to the retailer than to sell to the
catalogue house. The railroad rates
he said on a proposition of that char
acter would be greatly reduced and
would serve as a better profit j n the
business, and lower prices could be
given the farmers and city poeople.
Mr.. Tyler presented some thoughts
along the same line. President
Grimm referred to an occasion when
he was in consultation with one of
the jObbers in Chicago, and he quoted
the lobher as saying that he had
never been requested by. the retailers
to give up selling to tile catalogue
houses, and Mr.. Grimm urged the
delegates to take a stand at this time
which would indicate TO the jobbers
that it was against the interests OF
tile retailer to sell to the catalogue
house. He believed that within five
years time, ii this evil was not par
italy eradicated, that there would not
be a business man left i%n.".towns OF
2, ZOO ana less population.
Ex-Governor Andy Lee. Of Vermil-
lion, thought that we have worked
too hard to build up political parties
in the past and he expressed the
opinion that it was about time for
the merchant to do something for
himself. The ex-governor is
thoroughly in sympathy with the
idea.
L. N. Grill, of Union county,
brought out the liveliest discussion
when he presented the proposition
of increasing the membership fee
from % to $40, his idea being to raise