The Washington times., 1906-07-24
Mr.. SemneS' Novel Plan
to Win Jobbing Trade
For the National
Capital.
IMPRESS MERCHANTS
AND RAILROADS, TOO
Get Big Orders and Make
Quick Shipments in
Wholesale Lots,
His Idea.

The descent of a party of Wash
ington travelling mea, representing
jobbing houses of tie city, in full
force upon the aame town, on the
same day, is tie newest plan for
transforming the Iream of Greater
Washington into a reality.
The plan originate with Charles
W Semmes, president II the Semmes-
Kelly Company 4lr. Semmes has
thought it oUt carefully, and the
more he has though. the more
deeply he nss fallen t.. love with
his creation. Ee believes it viii
secure for Washington a degree of
attention from retailers in territory
Washington has a sight to claim,
and an amount # business from
these retailers impossible Of attain
ment in any other ws,
Think what enthusiasm and in
terest would be e&cited in any
town." said Mr.. Semues. "by the
arrival there of ten or a dozen
knights of the griP. brimming over
with enthusiasm for their home
city and determined 10 make record
sales. Everv one Of them couIt aud
would help every otIer. Every enc
of them would be compss~..t, if ne
is fit to hold his job, 70 tell the IN
quiring merchant just why he should
buy MS stock in yazhir .on.
Make Joint Shipments.
IF there were any question Of prompt
deliveries. the travelling men of the
party would be able 10 say that this Is
just what they have come to correct
In every town the members OF the
party. representing half a dozen lines Of
business. would be able 10 sell car
load OF goods at leas Their orders
would reach their home Offices at the
same time joint arrangem m-nJs would
be made with the rail- Dads 10 furnish
a car. all the orders would be put 'Hay
in that car and that car would 60
through without any delay.
''There would be a practical demon
stTatiCn Of the fact that Washington
jobbers can handle the 'rade Of Her-
chants and give prompt delivery OF
shipments. The problem Of interesting
merchants in Washington and inducing
them to buy their goods here would be
solved The ice would be broken. If
afterward the merchants of the city
cannot ref5in the trade they have won,
il will be their own fault and the move
ment that has baen started and that has
progressed so fdvCrably, deserves -
fail and viii fail Of its own weakness.
Like TIiumrhaI Progress.
"The tour # the Washington travel
/ ing men. in my firm conviction. would
be like a trium0haI progress. There is
no other method that could be devised
that would so open the eyes of mer-
chants to Washington's advantages as
d jobbing center. Lots Of buyers would
give orders because Of the novelty OF
the proposition with which they are pre-
seuted.
1T is possible that from a strict
standpoint Of dollars and cents the trip
would not be Immediately profitable 10
the houses sending their representatives.
but it would be a great thing for Wash
ingt0n and in the end largely profitable
to those who take part in the exhibition.
into the scheme at any time. We viii
bring our men in from the road. in or
der TO send them along. / am just as
willing TO have our competitors along
as the Representatives of firms handling
other lines of business.
Matter to Be Taken Up.
It is very probable that the matter
viii be taken Ip by the Jobbers and
Shippers Association. but If it Is not
Mr.. Semmes viii take il UP himself
with other jobbers. lie looks for big
results
Mr. Semmes is not one of those who
lay Washington's trouble with freight
facilities at the feet of the Pennsylvania
railroad. There have been many delays
in shipments South, but Mr.. Semmes'
experience and Investigations do not
bear out the charge. which has been
frequently made, that the Pennsylvania
is responsible. On the contrary. he
places the blame on the railroads that
take the shipments at Alexandria.
Il have made d personal investigation
of this matter" said Mr.. Semmes. I
am convinced that when a carload ship
ment is delivered 10 the Pennsylvania
before 40 O'Clock in the afternoon II
gets out of Washington and is deiiv-
cred to the connecting line that night
My own experience is the same with
smaller shipments. IL is in Alexandria
that the DELAYS occur.
However this nay be. one thing Is
certain. We cannot expect the fal.-
roads to pay the same attention % 0sr