Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-07
HOW 10 Bent the Jobbers.

SILVER CREEK, Neb Sept. 2-To the
Retail Merchants of the State of Ne
braska: l see by the newspapers that you
are soon to have a meeting at Fremont,
one of the chief purposes Of which is. as
understand, TO consider how you may
protect your trade from the encroachments
of the mail order or catalogue houses.
In this connection have an idea which
wish to present for your consideration.
You may think II very egotistical, or even
presumptuous, in me- plain. every day
farmer. who never, even directly or In
directly, was engaged In any mercantile
pursuit, TO assume to advise you in
matter of this kind. But when you recall
as possibly you may do that, while in the
legislature of 1887 I told you that the then
proposed exposition at Omaha would result
in very serious injury to your trade, which
admonition you treated with indifference
or contempt and afterward were kicking
yourselves while your customers were
spending their money at the department
stores in Omaha and your clerks stood idly
behind your counters, you may now be
disposed at least TO give me an attentive
ear.
II is often said that you can sell to the
farmers and others cheap as the mail
order houses But that. you know. is not
true. lou not only 10 not 10 InlSs Out
you cannot do It. And for a very good
reason. You buy your goods OF the whole
saler, while the mail order houses buy
their goods of the manufacturer or buy
bankrupt stocks and job lots at even less
than the cost OF manufacture. 80 that
they are able TO sell, and at a profit, for
even less than you can buy. They there
fore have you at disadvantage and the
hue and cry you raise against them only
serves TO advertise them and increase their
sales, while Il eorrespondingly lessons
yours. II is useless for you to protest and
make your appeals to the consumer. They
are engaged in a perfectly legitimate bust
ness. and, doubt not. are as honorable In
the conduct OF their business as are you
yourselves in the conduct of your business
They are not to be blamed. In lighting the
mail order houses you are barking UP the
wrong tree.
1t is, rather to the wholesale houses
you should turn your attention. You are
doubtless aware that their profits are
several times greater than yours, whereas,
in all reason and fairness, their profits
ought TO be several times smaller than
yours. 1t IL not right that they should
make more in selling barrel than you
make in selling out that same barrel by
the pound. II you could buy of the manu-
IalluTeF At the same price the WnOles
saler does then you would save his enor-
nous profits and be able to sell to the
consumer at even lower prices than the
mail-order. houses are now doing and
still make more money than you now do
But how are you to get around that
'tfr' Very easily / think. All you have
to do Is to establish a wholesale house
of your own to supply your own needs
Easier said than DONE" you may say
But why not? For that purpose organize
company among yourselves, requiring
each one to take stock say according to
his commercial rating. Your house would
be operated by salaried employees under
board of directors. Being able TO pay
cash your house could most assuredlv
buy and the wholesalers could not prevent
t. II they should be driven out OF bust
ness they would probably be able fairly
to support their families on their mill
lions already acquired. II the mail-order
houses were thereby limited to their local
trade you would not lament, and IL the
farmers and others should be able TO buy
for 10 cents what formerly cost them 81
they would not lament
will not attempt to 20 into the de-
tails or this scheme. I am not competsnt
but you are II IL feasible Work A
cut ana put Il In operation and the peo
pie OF the state will rise up and call Won
blessed, but they will not call Won
blessed for railing At others who can and
do undersell you.
A'u CHARLES WOOSTER.