The Washington herald., 1908-06-28
WASHINGTON WHOLESALE MERCHANTS
SHOULD CAPTURE SOUTHERN TRADE
Baltimore, by Rebate System, Hopes to Bring 1000
Buyers This Year to lis Jobbing Houses

going TO produce effective work. but that
is the way trade is captured. held. and
expanded in these modern days.
II has been said that Washington lacks
the transportation facilities and banking
and other commercial arrangements for
the proper handling OF a large wholesale
and jObbing trade, such as is carried on
in Baltimore. Such lack. II IL exists,
consists in never having utilized the IA
cilities which Washington has for that
specific purpose. No one can success
fully maintain an argument that with
the new railroad facilities that have been
created in Washington in the past seven
years the Capital has not the requisite
transportation equipment TO conduct a
volume OF trade sufficient 20 supply the
commercial needs Of the territory reached
by the trade of Baltimore. Ii may never
have been used out of Washington to the
extent of such trade. but that il could be
so used is as plain as a pikestaf
Banks Equal To the Task.
As 10 banking facilities, our national
banks and other financial institutions are
equal TO any calls which may be put
upon them by the exigeucics Of trade.
whether it be in the handling OF COM
mercial paper or the extension Of credit
10 large wholesale houses with good
standing in the commercial world.
There Is admittedly some advantage in
/ business acquaintance and the frequent
passing Of checks, notes, and other forms
of credit used i'm a large wholesale and
I icSbing trade, but it is not impossible.
! even I'm business life, 90 make new ac-
Quaintances and establish new avenues OF
trade and new financial connections. and
/ IL frequently happens that changes of
/ this kind rebound 10 the advantage of
| the man who makes them.
We should Have This Trade.
/ In the last analysis there is no good
/ reason why Washington should not com
mand a large part Of this Southern trade.
unless it be lack Of concerted effort and
/ the timidity OF the local jobbers and mer-
chants. The Washington Herald believes
I that an energetic and persistent campaign
should be started to divert the tide Of
| trade which viii be running into Balti-
more during the next four months, and
/ bring IL 10 this city
/ The first efforts might be small I'm re-
suits and the growth Of wholesale busi-
ness here may he SLOW. but that should
] not be dscouragng.- Baltimore has been
working for fifty years for the trade il
/ has The Monumental City has appealed
/ to every reason, sentiment and passion
of man in building Up this business For
! a long time after the civil war the South
was led thither on the ground that Baltl-
l more remained I'm thought and feeling q
/ southern city, and that by trading in
: Baltimore Southerners were aniUat!ug
with their own people Every concession
was made 10 the Southern people TO en-
courage their coming 90 Baltimore.
] About fifteen years ago New York
caught on 20 the enterprise OF Baltimore,
and by Offering better inducements I'm the
way Of credits. sightseeing. &c. wrested
| away good part of its VINO esal1 trade.
| The Baltimore merchants we've alarmed
and went TO work again TO save the trade
they had, and to get more. The rebate
system was put into operation. and vari-
/ Gus devices reso-ted t.. and the diverting
OF business TO New York was stopped
after a portion Of il was irretriavably iosL
Capital should Have Its own.
Washington has better right Ecograph-
ically and from every point oC view 70
this trade than either Baltimore or New
York II is In position excelled hy no
other city 10 command the patriotic and
sentimental adhesion Of merchants I'm the
South and the nearby states Il ought
60 nave this tiade, and one OF :he helGs
Of work which promise the best results
for the activities Of the Chamber Of Com
merce is 20 go about getting IL by the
pursuit OF wise persistent, and honorable
effort.
The Capital merchants will he only
gathering n what belongs &C. them. md
the future well being Of the city depends
much upon how soon and how success
fully this diversion of trade to the banks
Of the Potomac is carried on.