The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-02-11
MAN OF The GRIP
AS He IS TODAY
WHAT A DULUTH NEWSPAPER
SAYS OF THE COMMERCIAL
TRAVELER-HE NEVER EXIST
ED AS HE is DEPICTED ON THE
STAGE AND FUNNY PAPERS.


The Fargo Council of the United
Commercial Travellers will have their
big ball on SstuI day evening, Feb.
IS, and the money that will be raised
by the event will be used in helping
to defray the expenses of the big
June convention that is to be held
in this city, and one Of the biggest
times on record Is expected to take
place on that evening.
And this makes a few remarks re-
gar6ing the travelling statesmen Of
Fargo most timely. To no class of
men does the city owe more. They
are the best real boosters the city has
They are boosting all the time, and
boost where boosts help. They are
loyal to Fargo because 1t is their ma
ture to be loyal. Day after day, week
after week. month after month, they
make their rounds, calling at every
city, village, hamlet and crossroads
store to be found in the vast territory
tributary to Fargo in commercial
sense, carrying a message OF good
cheer, announcement, and making the
future look brighter.
And in addition TO what they do for
Fargo as boosters while on their ira
wells, they form most derisable class
Of citizens when at home. They are
the foremost supporters Of schools and
churches and are always to be found
ready and willing to dc their full share,
end generally more than their share,
toward advancing any good cause.
They pay their bills, are among the
very best patrons the business houses
OF the city have, are progressive along
all lines, and in the highest and best
sense of the word are desirable citi-
zens.
And, not least of all they are CON-
panionable. Unless they are keen, alert,
reliable men, they cannot hold their
POSITIONS in the sharp competition It
today. AS a consequence they are IL
avs in close touch with conditions
reliable business barometers' as it
were, and withal, while their Juds-
rnent is sound, they are always the
first to note the silver lining OF any
clou6s that may appear
Fargo owes them great deal. and
should make a great effort to show
appreciation for what they have done,
are doing and will do in the future.
Nole interest should be taken in Ill
their doings, and the Commercial club
should and is in the closest possible
touch with them.
The travelling salesman of today Is
rs far as the antipodes from the popu-
lar conception of the old time drum
rner." for such a man never really eH-
:sted as has been pictured in play and
Joke. In the connection an editorial
published in The Duluth Herald some
time last December, is not amiss, and
following are a few extracts from 1t.
"Behold the drummer"
''He is hail fellow we'll met, ready
for a high time at any time with
anyone. He has a girl in every vii
lsge on his route. He is expected to
,ntertain his customers at night after
the store closes, ana to induce them
to buy his goods by first getting them
.oyouslv 'soused,' so that strong drink
will drown their better judgment. His
life Is one continuous round of pleasure
and his pathway is lined with bottles
and bouquets.
"Rot! the man so pictured never
existed, save in the minds OF crude
and witless jokers. If anybody at al
like him ever did exist, he went out
of style years ago.
''Behold the travelling salesman!
"He is a man Of character, person
ality and substance. His address II
pleasing, his manners courteous an'
kind. his habits correct and gentleman
" He is as far removed from the old
time conception Of drummer as day
| light from dark. The agent OF tn
wholesaler, he is the friend and advls
| err of the retailer. His aim to sci
| goods, he knows that honesty is tn
best business policy, and he would n
more think of giving his custome
| wrong advice in order To sell bill o
goods. than he would think of forg
1 ing the firms name. On the road he i
a gentleman and credit to the com
munity from which he comes. He is
good fellow but not the kind of goo
fellow that a lying tradition mad
him out to be. His best hours ar
those spent with wife and children Il
the home to which his thoughts al
WAYS turn when he is on the road, an
to which he hastens back, with clear
soul and clean mind and clean heart
at every opportunity.
The modern commercial traveller
a. power in the land, a builder of bust
1 ness for his firm and for his custom
ers, and a builder Of prosperity for hi
] home community.
"They are good citizens, doing ;
good work in the world. They are ;
picked band, winnowed out of tn
mass of inferior material by the sharl
competition of modern business.
More power them May thei
New Year be the rosiest Of their com
merciaI careers, and may prosperit.
and good cheer go with them whel
they bid goodbye to their families ant
fare forth upon the road once more.