The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-22
CRUSH Them OUT.
Kansas Merchants Take Up
Fight on Mail Order Houses.
They Cripple Legitimate Bust
ness in Kansas.
MIR. ATWOOD SPEAKS.
Makes an Assault on Proposed
Parcels Post.
MIR. ATWOOD SPEAKS.
He Discusses the Advantages of
Organization.

|
pressed at the opening sessions of the
| Kansas State Retailers association
yesterday afternoon and last night
crystallizes into some definite action,
then the mail order houses which are
! now doing considerable business with
Kansas people will be forced to pack
up their business in this state and
| leave. The session opened in Topeka
Tuesday afternoon with a large at
| tendance and much larger interest.
J. w. Robinson, of Topeka, who is
| president of the association, called the
meeting to order.
AT the opening session several
speakers spoke enthusiastically
against the mail order business and
even suggested means of putting them
concerned. The proposed parcels
post also called for bitter denur cia-
lions as 1t was claimed that this will
give the mail order houses greater
facilities for reaching the smaller
places and eventually drive the small
Ter towns and the merchants in the
smaller towns to the walls.
John H. Atwood Of Leavenworth, a
leading Democratic lawyer and ora
tor of the state, who spoke on
Organization last night gave the
parcels post system q generous rap.
1.-The danger of the smart merchant"
Mr.. Atwood said, 'is from that device
known as the parcels post, by means
Of which, under cheap transportation,
mail order house may take your
business away from you. IN Germany,
we are told, where formerly there
were in the villages stores for the sale
of this or that, these villages have
ceased to be, except as places where
people live. And the merchandise
ing is done almost entirely through
the parcels post.
your motive in opposing the mail
order house and the parcels post is not
entirely selfish. 1t is better for the
customer to meet face to face the
man from whom he is buying, But,
of course, as you know, the human
race-and it seems to be true with all
of us-is always trying to get some
thing for nothing And the mail or
der houses play upon this, with de-
struction to the small merchant as the
result There is measure upon this
subject pending before congress, and
if you, through your organization,
speak to your senators and congress
men, you will be given consideration"
In his remarks bearing directly on
the subject of Organization" Mr.. At
wood gave an eloquent and historical
account Of how organization had
triumphed all through history and that
unity and organization had alone
worker out very serious problems. He
cited the illustration of the Missouri
river shippers. He also crred the Woe
full lack of organization among the
members of latter day traders and
advised speedy work along this line.
E. S. Purdy of Kansas City, Mo-, one
of the principal speakers at the after
noon session was the first to mention
the mail order business. He pointed out
the fact that it is of vital Importance
to fight the mail order houses If the
smaller merchants wish to have their
business conserved for them Fight
these mail order houses said Mr..
Purdv. they don't help pay your taxes,
build your roads nor keep UP your
schools. Fight them.
Aside from his bitter attack on the
mail order. business, Mr.. Purdy gave
several valuable pointers on other
to consider. He advised the merchants
to be more than mere merchants and
to take some leading part in the life
of their respective towns, to make
their towns attractive, to help build up
the town. He also pointed out the ad-
vantages to be derived by holding
up the surrounding country, such as
improving the roads. He advised more
careful business practices in order to
attain best results. 1.-THE financial
furry" continued Mr.. Purdy, 'is a
thing of the past"
One of the most scathing attacks on
the mail order business was delivered
by Paul Expert of Kansas City, who
represents the Home Trade league of
Kansas City, an organization whose
business it is to combat the mail order
business wherever possible. ''The great
mail order houses" said Mr.. Expert,
ARE the enemies of the nations COM
merce. If any of the parcels post bills
go through congress the mail order bus
mess will receive big boost. Our
business is to try to educate the coun
try buyers to the great evils of the
mail order business and to save the
towns for those who have helped to
build them. We are against the social
istic tendency in commerce which is
exerted by these houses, who demand
everything and give nothing In return.
H A Rose, of Leavenworth, secre-
tary of the association, was also very
radical in his statements against the
mail order houses. Mr.. Rose told of
the work of the association during the
past year and the efforts which have
been made towards eradicating the in
fiuence of the mail order houses. He
told of the campaign made by the as
ISOLATION against the business by fur
nishing matter for the country newspa-
pers to use and that great strides had
been made by the enlistment of the
country editors in the work.
In his presidents address J. w. Rob
inson pointed out the need of county
and district organization in order to
secure legislation favorable to their in
terests.
The session opened with an address
of welcome by Mayor Green, a retail
merchant. President ]. W. Robinson
responded in an appropriate manner.
DR.. S. ]. Crumbine of the state board
! of health conducted a query box which
| was responsible for many questions
and interesting discussions. E A. Tyler
| of Topeka talked on Mental Insur-
| ance." o. NJ. Babcock of Atchison had
| a very interesting paper on The Re
taller and the Politician" Mr.. Babcock
was heartily in favor of the merchants
| of the state interesting themselves in
politics and advised business men to
| support the right kind of men for the
| legislature as he intimated that at least
L..