The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-12-11
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
President McDougall Talked Straight
TO the Implement Dealers in An
nual Address.
nual Address.

President j. E. McDougan, of Brit
ton, delivered his annual address this
morning to the assembled delegates
of the Retail Implement Dealers As
ISOLATION. The following is the ad-
dress:
About ten years ago, a few pro-
gressive implement dealers met in
the city of Sioux Falls and formed
an organization which has done more
for the implement dealers of this
section thar time will permit or
words of mine can tell. Fortunately
We have some of these old war
horses with us yet and how we adj
mire them for their untiring efforts
and loyalty to the cause; but, one
by one, they retire from business
II drop out and how we miss them.
But year by year we are adding to
our numbers those who believe in
the betterment of their own condi-
ton as we'll as those of their fellow
men. The implement dealers have
organized in many states and, while
it is true that there is a great anti
pathy shown by some people toward
II organization, ours is not the
kind which Injuries but helps.
cit is not necessary for me to
say that we are living in an G
when it does not seem possible to
conduct any large enterprise without
thorough organization. Hence we
have organizations called trusts"
controlling large amounts of capital
some good and some bad trusts.
We have labor organizations which
have done much to elevate labor and
secure for them shorter hours and
better pay, but the former, in most
cases, is organized to control prices
and the latter, in some cases, are
very unjust in their demands, but
implement dealers associations, and
especially ours, We're organized for
the purpose of the successful handl-
ing. of farm implements.
Here we meet for mutual counsel
with open doors, inviting all who
desire to come and sit with us. We
establish no prices, we pass no radi-
cal resolutions, we do not attempt
to destroy competition, we do not
seek to restrain trade, neither do we
wish to limit the production, but we
believe that to the retailer belongs
the retail trade and we are pleased
that the manufacturers and jobbers
are beginning to agree with us, which
makes the prospects much brighter
for the live implement dealer today
than they have cen for many years.
II am pleased to state that our as
ISOLATION has had a steady growth
the past year, which fact is largely
due to the untiring efforts of our
secretary, Mr.. Barton. 1t is a la
mentable fact, however, that SO
many dealers are SO shortsighted
that they cannot be induced to Join.
l would recommend that a commit
tee on membership be appointed and
that this association maintain head
quarters at our State Fair where
the implement dealers may have a
home, and become better acquainted
with each other and with our organ
ization. Other associations have
adopted this course and it has been
a very successful undertaking, both
from the view point of securing new
members and %arousing interest in
the organization.
II am of the opinion that, in order
to secure the membership that We de-
serve and need, every member must
be active and do much personal work.
We nave in this state about 600 i'm
plement dealers II only about 20
percent are members of this asso-
citation. Why do they not affiliate
with us? They must know hat we
have accomplished a great work,
that we have gained a great Zeal of
knowledge by exchanging ideas, that
we have secured for them the same
benefits that WI enjoy, that we have
placed ourselves on record as opposed
to the manufacturer selling to the
consumer, hat we have brought the
manufacturer and dealer closer to.
gether, that dealers have become
better acquainted, that we have Sc.
cured better discounts. better warran.
ties, better commissions, and man,
things too numerous to mention.
"My Brother Dealer, wherever 70,
10, -
: tunity by not joining our association
t which will improve conditions to suc1
s an extent that the manufacturer will
f be grateful, the implement dealel
r will rejoice, and the sons and daugh
t ters Of your patrons will rise up ant