The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-12-11


Ogden B. F. Luke of Emery county. VII,
liam Roylance of Provo and Joseph odeii
of Logan.
The committee on plan OF permanent
organization, comprised OF one ueiesaeo
from each county represented; "as Sc
| iected as follows: John S. White OF Ia
Tis county. l. G. Moore Of Emery couiiIy
l. w Jones of Iron county -, 70. n: ";
Morgan county, w. E. WhIte OF ,i,.a 1.e
county, Willis johnson of SEWER county,
Joseph T. Farrer of Utah county 5e9rsS
j. Kelly of Weber county, F. A; Mltcheli
Iooele county, Anthony MedcaII oI S Sui.
pete county and Or. F. f. Straup OF Sait
Lake county Fisher Harris was haoe
ex oTflciO member of the commune
The contest for the selection OF tne , oait
Lake county member of this committee
was spirited one. Fand several coiifer-
Dr. f. f. Straup won out. The report OF
the committee on credentials WIS then
read by II. S. Joseph and accepted
The Mail Order Evil.
Lon J. Haddock read the first paper OF
the afternoon on 1.-THE Mail Order EVIL IN
Otah and Some Suggestions toT tJs Oor-
ree.ion- His paper was as IoiiI S'an ~
Among other matters that Snah DC
cupy the attention of the Titan DeVelop-
ment league. that Of the practice OF max
ing retail purchases through the medium
OF the mails. commonly called tne man ma
-.
sideration, and it is upon this topic that
l shall treat briefly at this time
First. to the extent TO Whicn the
mail order evil is affecting Utah To-Day.
From the best Information obtainable.
approximately $500 900 are being sent out
of the state annually in retail purchases
made through the medium of the mans
Consider what khe withdrawal of such an
amount means to every county, every
city. every citizen and every interest OF
the state, If the mail order evil in Utah
were suppressed for but one year the
sum saved to the state would be SUI
ficient to pay the cost of erecting a
suitable building. with enough left over
to build modern highway from Logan
to st. George. And this drain upon the
finances of the state has not been gong
on for one year only but for many years.
In return for which Utah gets absolutely
nothing For the mail order house pays
no taxes into the local city, county or
state treasures maintains no store,
warehouse or factory on which to pay
rent or insurance. and employs no local
people. It's function seems to be to sap
the life's blood out of the community.
and in return give nothing.
Causes of the Evil.
Now, as to the causes that have con-
tributed to the growth of the mail order
evil. While there may be many minor
causes, all conspiring to bring about the
condition of things as they are today,
still the two most potent factors are, first.
the local merchant; second. the local peo-
pie. If in the past the local merchant has
imposed upon the friendship of his Gus
TONER'S betraying their confidence by
charging them ALI the trade would stand
or by making fish of one and fowl of an
other through failing to maintain
standard of prices alike to all, he has
thereby opened the way TO the mail order
house. Let the local merchant ask HIM
self If. in some cases, at least. he has
not been deceived, through the represen-
4atf mis- ,4,ff Of
distant jobber, into holding up the price
on some articles in order to protect the
jobber, under the delusion that by so do
ing he was contributing to the future
success of his own business.
rs it to be supposed that an establish
ment operating far from its base; doing
business with strangers; selling it's goods
from pictures; demanding cash in ad-
vance on all purchases; and shipping its
items one at time. by express or freight
can compete with any degree of success
with the local merchant? Consider the
advantage of the latter's position; To-
Gated in the midst. of his friends and
neighbors; acquainted with their wants
and circumstances; in a position to ex-
tend them credit in time of need; carry
ing an assortment of goods from which
his customers may make their selection.
Are we not safe in assuming that he has
failed TO appreciate fully the advantage
of his position?
ITO my mind. the success of the mail
law of demand and supply, and it is his
failure to appreciate this fact in time for
which our home man is paying today.
Local Buyers Snap Bait.
Local people too often are deceived by
the one or two leaders put forth as
bait by the mail order house, into send
ing to them for many other articles that
could be purchased to better advantage
from the local store.
ssThe local mail order patron falls to an
preciate the reduction in price made pos
Sible to the home merchant when cash in
advance is paid for goods. He fails to
appreciate the value to the community
of the local store, in the increased valu-
alton of his own home. or farm, or in the
enlargement of his professional practice
Here enters the work of the Utah De-
velopment league-a work of education.
Get the local people and the local bust
nessman together. Urge loyalty and the
principle of the square deal upon the
people. pointing out where the conserva-
ton of the resources is mutually bene-
fetal TO all parties concerned Get the