The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-10
RET ALL DRUGGISTS
NOT IN TRUST
THOMAS vOEGELI CRITICISEs
ATTY. GEMS STATEMENTS.
President of Retail Druggists Associa~
tion Says that Retailers Have No Re-
lation to Proprietary and Wholesale
Associations Now Defendants in Gov
eminent Suit. ....

Minn enao Retailers 'es association and
of the Minneapolis Retail Druggists,
and formerly member of the execu-
tive committee of the National Associa-
ton of Retail Druggists, takes excep-
been made by Attorney General, Moody
in connection with the suits against the
socalled "drug trust" filed in Indiana
Yesterday. He takes exception espe-
cially to that part Of Mr.. Moody s state
ment relating to the National Associa-
tion of Retail Druggists.
''The attorney general statement
would tend to represent, 'says Mr.. Woe
geli, "that the Retail Druggists asso-
Citations mentioned in the Moody petit
ton, namely, the Proprietary Associa..
ton of America and the National
Wholesale Druggists ,, association. This
is not the case. The retail association
is entirely Independent and composed Of
local associations in all parts Of the
United States. Furthermore, we Of the
retail association are often at war with
the others and have had several hard
battles with them. :-~-
...., Local Associations Object. go
"The object of the local associations
VI IcCd1lcISi GudG COlupi1SS CuS
association is to establish uniformly
safe trade relations and the prevention
Of foolish local fights, such as, in the
case of Minneapolis, for instance, have
caused the failure Of many retailers.
On some classes Of goods, notably pro-
prietary medicines, we are absolutely at
the mercy of the manufacturers. Some
manufacturers have established serial
number contract plans and established
fixed price on their goods. In this
they have been upheld by the courts.
"Jobbers in order to handle these ar
ticles must contract to sell at tho es-
tablished prices only, and must sell only
to those retailers who will do the same.
In signing this agreement the. retailer
does not become a member of the re-
tail association nor must he be a mem
Der Of the association in order to Sc
cure the goods. This contract plan is
not confined to medicines and drugs,
but is used also by certain makers Of
hats and gloves, shoes, etc. If the re-
taller refuses to sign the price contract
he cannot secure the contract goods, and
| if he breaks the contract and cuts
Moody charges. We as retailers would
| gladly break away if we could. In
most cases we would not handle the
stuff at all were it not for the demand
of the trade, which compels us to keep
these articles in stock. On goods other
that contract we frequently allow cuts
below the manufacturer list, fixing a
price that will no more than cover the
cost Of the articles and the necessary
operating percentage.
! 81, Retailers Independent. %5
1.-THE practices are forced on all re
- hall =
not. The National Association of Re
tail Druggists is independent of the
two associations forming the trust, and
as l have said, frequently fights them
Our purpose is legitimate, and the same
in vogue among other lines of business
We try to keep everybody in line TO,
reasonable and safe business methods
Mr.: Moody's charges apply higher III
and not to the retailers who, standing
next to the public as they do, are in
terested in many of the same thing.
that the public isl g.. ,... 49,. ~. 2