The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-01-26
The
CATALOGUE HOUSE
An Afternoon of Candid Discussio,
Among Merchants on Plans
to Meet Them.

to Meet Them.
The method OF meeting the COM
petition of the city catalogue houses
was the prevailing Thought anA idea
which governed the N citing of the
merchants convention Wednesday
afternoon, and in the discussions
that we're listened to the feeling Of
animosily against this usilrper OF
the retailers rights ran pretty high.
If in the past years there has seemed
to be a lack Of enthusiasm On the
part Of the merchants in respect to
the catalogue houses it was awakened
| to the highest possible degree on this
occasion. Perhaps some of the meI-
chants had not gwen the question
sesious thought, but they were made
cognizant of the e"ncroachments OF
the catalogue house by thoes. who
have made some investigations.
The entire afternoon was devoted
to the reading of papers and the dis
cussion of the features. o. L..
Schultz, representing the Commercial
Bulletin and Northwest Trade, OF
Minneapolis, presented a paper that
embraced the ideas of w. q Jones,
OF the same paper, and G. L. Brod-
er, of Minneapolis, on advertising,
the latter gentlemen being unable to
be present. Mr.. Schultz confined his
paper principally to advertising by
the retail merchant. which he char
acterized as only another art of sales
manship. One reason I find, said
Mr.. Schultz, why some retailers claim
advertising does not pay, is because
they have never given it a fair trial.
They look upon newspaper and other
classes OF advertising as an expense.
but o Of Minnesota's most success
full retailers told me he considered
it nothing more than an investment,
and cftentimes a mighty good n at
that. Yoa buy space in your local
newspaper as an Investment, the
same IS you hire a clerk or salesman
as an investment. Mr.. Schultz gave
an Interesting explanation OF the
advertising methods OF the catalogue
house, and other business enterprises.
and he left some strong in IDEAS for
the business men to think over after
they get home.
W. f. Enright, of st. Paul, repre-
senting the South Dakota Travelling
Mems Association, spoke on the
sCo-operation OF the Travelling Man
and the Retailer with the Travelling.
Mems Association with the Retail
Merchants Association" MI. En-
rights subject was handled in a very
thorough manner and his suggestions
for stronger relation between these
business factors were we'll presented.
After presenting his paper Mr.. En-
right asked that two delegates be APP
pointed or elected to attend the sum-
mer meeting Of the travelling men at
Aberdeen, and the convention named
President Grimm and Secretary,
Tyler. /.
One OF the interesting subjects dis
cussed at tile Merchants c%onventlon
Wednesday afternoon was National
Pure Foods" py George Z. Dingman,
of Minneapolis, who was for four
years pure food commissioner OF Min
nesota. Mr.. Dingman argued on the
broader ground than for state laws
and believed that the time has come
when national legislation should be
invoked, the benefits of which will
commence at the honest manufacture.
er, and it will be equally beneficial
to the wholesaler, the retailer and
the consumer. The weakness OF
the state pure food laws lies in the
fact that their execution ends at the
boundary OF the state, and there are
only a few states that have we'll de-
fined and we'll enforced pure food
laws. The difference in the laws
works an Injustice in many instances,
in that the standards of the different
states varies and what would he con-,
sidered pure in M state would Ee
impure In another, where the stand
ards r different. As an example,
full cream cheese must contain 30
per cent fat in California 10 per cent
In Indiana, as per cent in Minnesota,
Is per cent in Oregon, and As per
cent in South Dakota. Authorizations
and what constitutes authorizations
should be clearly defined. The
ana labelling should be
stated in plain terms and concise
form, aud many jobbers are unwitt-
ing ~yiolators Of the pure food law by
reason of the variance. Preservatiyes,
necessary or unnecessary. in any food
products, should receive the closest
attention. This. Of course, will be
one Of the serious problems to solve.
Medical opinion varying SO widely
huc carcod Mr. Wilpv tO "a 1lv ov.