The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-12-18
WORK OF DEALERS
Thsrsday Afternoon Developed Some
Inferesting Matters Concerning
Implement Trade.

Dealers Association, President Nc
Dougall read the names of c. v.
Johnson OF Salem and NJ. d. Thorn
son Of yermillton, who will fill the
vacancies in the resolutions com
mittee appointed in the forenoon.
w. l.. Taylor of Alexandria gave
the address on Cost of doing bust
ness" which vas scheduled to be
given by w. s. Hill. The address
is published in full elsewhere.
The question of cost OF doing bust
ness was discussed to some extent
after Mr.. Taylor had concluded his
address. One of those who particle
pated in the discussion stated that
the average cost of conducting his
business was 13 percent, that it yari-
ed from 10 to is percent.
F. j. vetch, of Sioux City, Iowa.
then was introduced and addressed
the convention as the representative
association.
Report of National Federation.
President McDougall, who was the
delegate of the association at the
last convention Of the National Fed
Grafton, made a report of the meet
ing for the benefit of the members
Of the association. He was enthus-
iastic In his praise of what the Fed
Grafton is accomplishing for the re-
tail dealers Of the country and that
1t was well worth the hearty support
Of every dealer and of every state
association. The Federation, he
stated, is closely in touch with the
interests of the dealers and at all
times stands to right any wrongs of
which the dealers are the victims If
1t is within It's power to do so. He
detailed various matters in which the
Federation had been able to accom-
plish great good for the association
and It's members.
When Mr.. McDougall had com
pleted his report a message was read
from the Wisconsin dealers, in ses-
sion at the time at Milwaukee, in
which greetings and best wishes were
extended to the South Dakota asso-
citation. On motion Secretary Bar
ton was instructed to send a suit
able reply.
A telegram from Secretary Hodge,
Of the National Federation also was
read, in which he urged that the
South Dakota association %incorpo-
rate in its platform a plank endors-
ing the Federation's demand that a
conference be called for the purpose
Of discussing the n spreader
trade, which is in a deplorable con-
dition.
b. G.. Watson, OF Chamberlain,
vice-president of the association, who
was scheduled to make an address on
Advertising" owing to sickness was
unable to attend the convention, but
he forwarded his paper to w. S. Hill.
who read It to the convention. The
address will be found in full else
where. .
Following the reading of the ad-
dress of Mr.. Watson there was dis
cussion of the subject of advertising.
p. J. Mannix. of Sioux Falls, editor
of the Commercial News, was called
upon to present his views. Editor
Mannix stated that he, being a news
paper m himself, naturally be-
lieved lin newspaper advertising.
He also expressed himself in
favor Of prices being quot
ed in advertisements, as this
feature of an advertisement will
catch the eye quicker than anything
else. The best advertising he stated
vas that in a good live newspaper.
Circular letters he thought were
good. but they must be prepared in
such a manner as to attract inn
mediate attention or they will find
their way into the stove.
A number of other dealers dis
cussed advertising. A favorite prac-
tice with many of the dealers out
side of their regular newspaper adj
vertising Is to mail circulars to all
their customers in the winter before
the spring purchasing season opens,
and follow this up with timely adver-
Using In the newspapers at about the
time the q is to open.
Discussion Of Various Topics.
The remainder of the afternoon
session was taken up with the dis
cussion Of various topics, among
them being catalogue house compe-
tition, the retail trade for the retail
dealer. the proposed shortening of
terms, and other topics of interest
to the dealers.
An interesting fact brought out
during the discussion was that in
many localities catalogue house COM
petition 20 far as goods handled by
Farm machinerv and vehicle mon &c