The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-17
MUST STAND TOGETHER
Furniture Men Open War on Mail
Order Houses.

About one hundred of the leading
furniture dealers of Kansas are in To-
peka in attendance at the first annual
meeting of the Kansas Retail Furni-
ture Dealers association. These deal
ers come from all sections of the state
and are making plans for perfecting
their organization so that it will en-
brace every furniture retailer in the
state and thus as body they will be
able to meet the competition Of the
mail order houses which seems to be
the greatest obstacle in the pathway
of the retailers of Kansas and other
states as we'll
In his address Wednesday afternoon
President B. F. Bracken of Beloit
sounded the keynote of the meeting
by advocating the cooperation of all
the retailers as the only way to sue
cessfully combat the work of the
catalogue houses octopus and the only
way to stop unjust freight rates and
secure the much needed legislation for
their trade protection.
The secretary of the association, A.
F. Dotson of Great Bend, read his
first annual report and told in a brief
manner the organiza ton of the asso-
citation and pointed out the many
things that yet remained undone to-
wards perfecting the organization.
The chief address was that of w. J.
Pilkington, editor of the Merchants
Trade Journal of Des Moines, Iowa.
Mr.. Pilkington talked of THE Retail
Pilkington is a stem-winder and goes
after the mail order houses in much
the same manner Senator La Toilette
handles the trusts. He pointed out in
his address the ways in which the
mail order houses had the edge on the
retailers and how it was necessary to
organize in order to make any head
way against these companies. The
Mr.. Pilkington, so that legislation
can be secured that will make the re-
tailers less dependent. As it is now
they are in poorer shape than any
other profession to ask legislative aid
because they are poorly organized.
The parcels post law Is also an enemy
of the retailers and should be repeal
ed" Mr.. Pilkington showed how the
retailing of furniture was a profession
and one that should be organized in
order to make a competent retailer.
The speaker scored the retailer who
tries to make an exorbitant profit off
any article and said his place was in
the penitentiary. Good advertising
more than any other act will bring
about the downfall of the mail order
houses and will advance the interests
of the retailer. That is the secret of
the mail order houses
]. H. Banks, secretary. Of the Ne
braska- association was on the pro-
gramme but was unable to be present.
Secretary Dotson and followed in
much the same vein as that of Mr..
]. S. johnson of osawatomie and
L. M. Penwell of Topeka were called
upon for a speech and both re-
sponded.
Under the discussion, Good of the
Association a spirited discussion took
place. C. T. Ackley of Hartford adj
vised the buying of goods direct from
the houses instead of travelling sales
men, thus cutting out the expenses of
the travelling men which were paid by
the retailer as he says. Philip Schott
of Wichita advocated a more thorough
systematizing of business. Others
participating We're: Q. c. Knowles.
Wellington. G. E. Francis, White
shaw. Mcpherson, and d. Colburn of
Howard.
The association was the guest of
the Midwinter last night.
President Bracken appointed the
following committees:
Legislative-J. S. Johnson, Osawato-
mie: william Kiff, Atchison; William
Corners, Topeka; ]. H. Boice, Galena.
and Ira Sterling. Peabody.
sas City; w. E. Saunders, Emporia;
Mrs F. d. Murdoch, Garrett; w. L.
McE1fresh. Usage City. and r. Cal |
Grievance-J. w. Upshaw. McPher-
son; c. E. Hall. Nickerson; P. NJ.
Clark. Galena: Alof Olson, Marquette,
and David Bushman, Hillsboro.
Mem berSh1p-Hnlllp Scott, Wlcnlta'
W. L. Davis. Delphcs; 1. l. Mann.
Lorraine; T. ]. Weber, Ellinwood, and |
c. E. Francis. whitewater.
Code of Ethics-D. r.. Maltby, Nc
Pherson; c. T. Ackley, Hartford. and |
w H. Rutter, Topeka.
New applications for membership |
were made by the following: r. A.
Sterling. Peabody: w. H. Rutter, To-
peka; Emahizer & Spielman. Topeka;
G. T. Ackley. Hartford; D. Ems, In
man; r. Calbeck, Pratt; T. B. Old |
royd, Arkansas City; w. G. Davis. |
Delphos; C. E. Francis, Whitewater; |
Samuel Bros. Emporia; o. E. Nc |
EIfresh & Son. Usage City. and Porter |
NJ Clark, Galena.
Object to Government Hotel.