The San Francisco call., 1910-10-16


chants association:
Lindsay. Sept. %.
Mr.. L. NJ King, Secretary the Mer
chants Association of San Fran
cisco. San Francisco, Cal.
Dear Sir: Yours of the 20th, re-
garding trade extension excursion
to this part OF the San Joaquin
valley, is at hand.
The people of Lindsay Will be
glad to meet the businessmen of
your city and will extend to them
the fullest hospitality. We feel
that there should be a closer ac-
ouaintance and relation between
metropolis of the state, and for this
reason are always glad to welcome
visitors from that city.
A great many people here, how
ever, feel that in certain ways San
Francisco has been somewhat dila
tory in cultivating the close ac-
ouaintance with this section which
we think our progress and present
condition of development warrants.
that, except for the goods and
wares she may be able TO sell US.
san Francisco has little interest
in US. Really. many consider
that the attitude of San Fran
TO simply sit in the gates and take
toll from the rest of the state.
This is the impression and the
state Of mind that the people Of
San Francisco will have to correct
II we are to become united more
closely in business and other rela-
tions.
Up to the present time Los An
geles capital has flowed into this
section by the millions. developing
resources, extending improvements
and building UP the country and
towns. while a few thousands of
dollars will cover all the San Fran
cisco capital that is invested here.
Three-fourths of our settlers. al
most. are from southern Califor-
mia and one-fiftieth from north of
Stockton. Hence, most Of the peo-
pie who settle here know and have
q friendly feeling for Los Angeles.
There are the old friends and
neighbors whom they have left be-
hind, the old associations and MEM
ories. all TO remind them of the
Angel City, while we have only the
drummers to bring San Francisco
TO our minds. and these come not
TO help us develop our country. but
70 sell us some goods and get some
OF our good money
Please do not misundeFstand me.
This is not a groWl or crouch,
but a plain statement of the feel
ing Of the people here and the rea-
sons for that feeling. This is a
condition which we are as anxious
10 have remedied as any one can
be and I hope your visit may re-
suit in a better understanding be-
tween this section and your people,
z higher appreciation of our prog
ress and development and our i'm
portance as an integral part of the
greatest state in the union.
Pardon me II I suggest that when
you are here on your excursion,
YOU give us more than two hours
and that You take a little time to
let US show you something Of the
country and its natural resources
upon which all our development is
founded Your drummers have
ably handled the sales part of the
matter, but the relation Of friend
ship and mutual understanding
seems TO have been neglected, sim
ply because the people OF your city
know nothing of us except what
they learn through orders for goods
secured by your travelling sales
men. This real or apparent neglect
has been the natural result of a
lack Of knowledge of conditions as
they exist here and a consequent
failure TO appreciate the almost
eral progress OF the district and its
wonderful natural resources. If
your people will make il a point to
become IN measure acquainted
with the country upon which the
city here and its trade depends, so
that they can form some idea of
its Importance in the very near
future, we can promise you some
of the greatest surprises of your
whole Journey. If your visit is
made with the object of becoming
better acquainted with these
things, and not entirely to talk
goods and wares to our merchants,
we can promise you a delightful
time and show you what YOU will
acknowledge to be the most prom
Using and prosperous district which
you VIII visit during your outing
When yourself and Mr.. Robbins
are here, ] shall insist on showing
YOU something of this district in
the hope of convincing you that a
two hours visit, as now proposed,
VIII be an injustice to US and prac-
tically barren of results.
] hope you will pardon me If |
have seemed brusque or too strong
in my statement of the case. /
have only one object in writing
this, and that is to lead you TO un-
derstand the situation here. When
/ see you We can understand each
other better. Very truly yours.
R. NJ GRAHAM,
President Lindsay Board of Trade.