The Washington times., 1910-08-19
CAPITAL MAY GRAB.
RICH RETAIL FIELD
Baltimore Merchants Are
Forced Out of Territory
BY Own Acts.

BALTIMORE, Nd. Aug ia sItua-
ton Of considerable interest TO the re-
tail merchants OF Washington was dis
closed here today in the discovery that
through the acts Of Baltimore mer-
chants themselves the whole territory
tributary to the two cities, for whose
trade there has been keen rivalry be-
tween Baltimore and Washington, has
been abandoned by the retail merchants
Of Baltimore
II the newly organized Retail Mer-
chants Association OF the washington
Chamber Of Commerce decides TO cult
vate the country trade around the two
cities, or 10 run out-of-toyvn shopping
excursions 10 the Capital City, no or
ganized opposition from the Baltimore
merchants VIII be met. as has been the
case In the past. WASHINGTON has z
clear field for, so far as the retail trade
IS concerned. her only rival, Baltimore.
has been eliminated.
"Gentlemen's Agreement"
The elimination OF the Baltimore
retail merchant from the out-of-tovvn
market is not generally known. and
some Of the merchants themselves
yesterday were not aware OF the fact.
Tor -dhe "Sentlemen's agreement" by
which II was accomplished. has been
kent secret as far as possibI.
ow the retail men came 10 enter
mo an agreement which meant to
them the certain loss Of a -rear vol
IIne OF country trade. and the open
ING - the entire field 20 their rival
I NJ l9nJs IN Washington. was out
AAec by the head Of a prominent
lliLi. VINO is FESTIVE under the re-
SLTalHL- Yet sees no way ont A.
corning TO this merchant. the retail
lyeholnS territory were sacrificed 20
&c stronger wholesale interests un-
DER Inr.-#t Of l1imicaI legislation
The Merchants auI Manufz~+7rrsye'
Association has a retail trade brsrcE
or committee, though the Interests
81 il-e ASSOCIATION are DTepOuderat-
~ FiL Jnose OF the numerous whole
sale houses OF the city.
DTummeTs Protest.
Drummers Of the wholesalers in
the country towns around Baltimore
and Washington protested that the
etoTts OF Baltimore retail merchants
IN Inducing the country shopper
10 Baltimore by paying his rail-
way fare TO this city and return
resulted in iHjurins the business Of
The rural storekeeper. II the rural
storekeeper could not SUNNY the
people OF his own town ne would not
buy his goods from the Baltimore
wholesale house It became. then
clear issue between the wholesaler
and the retailer
In order 10 make their protest eFec-
tive, the wholesalers. IL is said framed
lJD oil which was designed To read
Just the mercantile tax Of MARYLAND
The law IS an old one and the merchant
oL ne 1ltE who carries big stock Of
GOODS does not have 10 nav IT mercau-
tile taxes much more than the little feI-
Tow IN the country with q stock 2 tenth
or huudrclth part as large The bill
.Fopesel by the wholesale men. II en-
aC-e1 INTO law hE the state LEGISLATURE
would very greatly increase The taxes OF
the biz city retail merchants who were
gong after -he country trade
The Price Of Peace.
a special meeting OF the retail branch
Of the association was called and its
members we're told Of the proposed leg
isla-ion. and that there vas danger Of
tho bin being introduced at once one
merchant arose and asked what could
be done TO prevent the introduction of
the bin. and was told that IN imuedi-
ATE agreement on the rart Of the retail
merchants not TO continue their fare
refund campaign for cut-of-tOwn trade
vas the price Of peace The roll was
called and the merchants present en-
lt.LH tLat EalL--alA ne Dill 0lGU-
How well the retail merchants sue
Ceeded in lu-i1E the country. shopper to
their stores In Baltimore and getting
them 10 buy IS disclosed by the figures
Of the last campaign. which have never
before been published
Record of Campaign.
A total Of 1897 purchasers bought So
so worth Of goods from the Baltimore
stores and the Baltimore retail mer-|
.zs-r1 IN
these buyers from the country a total
of $3.50 Il. This did not include the
purchasers from Washington. Washing
ton sent about 500 additional buyers 10
Baltimore, all Of whose fares were paid
by the merchants
All of this business is now open to
seizure by the Retail Merchants ASSO-
citation Of the Washington Chamber of
Commerce, without Interference from
Baltimore. The III wind which swept
away RaItimcre'S business has blown
good 10 washington.