Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-12
DRUMMBRS In CONVENTION.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

! 40Sh111s Ill
coined by the churches OF whatever
town he may find himself In. Many
travelling saiesmen men are members OF the
makes q special provision for their
comfort in most Of the cities.
A religious association composed en-
tirely of commercial travellers is called
THE Gideons."
Put Bibles in It's shibboleth Is:
Rooms at Hotels. but ut to persuade
others to live right" The practical
object is q distribution OF Bibles. The
Gideons' Association is now twelve
years old, and its membership approx
mates 1000. During the last year 1t
has distributed 5000 Bibles. placing
them In the rooms OF hotels in various
parts of the country. and giving them
to any person likely to read them. All
Gideons.' and tho opportunity for good
work given the members Of this or
ganiaation covers a broader Held than
one city.
The commercial travellers are a jolly lot
and have many semi-secret organizations.
which are social, beneficial and pro-
unique names, and their officers have gran
eloquent titles that appeal strongly to the
sisibilities Of the members. The Imperial
Guild Of the Ancient and Mysterious Order
Of Bagmen Of Basdad." The Most
Worthy and Exalted Army Of Soldiers Of
the Grip" and THE Royal United Fellow
ship OF Promoters Of Commerce" are few
Of the names which the travelling men roll
from their tongues for the benefit of their
smoking room audiences.
The increase in the number of COM
mercial travellers has had an appreciable
effect on many railroad provisions. which
apply to the entire travelling public. 1t
is said that the mileage book and It's re-
cured but for the influence Of the drum
mers. and these men are still at work
trying to secure rates that are uniform.
absolutely interchangeable mileage books,
better service and better train schedules
and many other advantages which will
benefit all classes Of travellers.
The travelling men also have done more
than any other class of people to raise the
stan lard Of
Have Raised hotels, especially
Hotel Standards. towns Tho .an,-
tary movement for longer sheets on hotel
OF the country, and the Oklahoma law
requiring sheets to be of sufficient
length to enable them to be turned down
at the top. thus protecting the sleeper from
coming in contact with a blanket or COM
o.. H.. Go he
beginning Of reform which the drum
mers hope TO extend to every state in
the Union. These gentlemen also object
to short beds. bad springs, hard mat
tresses. unclean bedding and similar
hardships often inflicted upon travellers
by penurious hotel managers. The in
fiuence of the various organizations of
mercial travellers enables them to
bring about a degree Of reform in these
matters which could not be secured by
any other class of people.
The roller towel in the country hotel Is
one of the latest evils to receive the at
tention of the drummer, and through his
influence the abolition of this abomina-
ton already Is in sight The state board
with a committee Of travelling men on
this subject, and q bill making 1t a mis-
demeanor for any hotel proprietor to Ike ep
q towel in the Mushroom for use ind )
Cflmlnately DIV al cldSSoS OIL p6OplS W III
be presented to the legislature OF that
state at It's next session. In a number
Of western cities the abolition Of the
roller towel has been brought about by
the agreement Of travelling statesmen to
boycott the hotels in which IT is in use.
The substitution OF individual paper
towels In the public washrooms of hotels
soon will become universal.
Last year the proprietor Of California
hotel charged a travelling salesman 81
day for a room he was supposed to have
for 81. because at that time convention
in the town made an extra demand upon
the hotels The salesman promptly put
himself In touch with some real estate
agents and purchased the hotel outright
BY noon the following day the hotel pro-
prietor was notified that the house had
changed ownership and the rent would
be doubled at the expiration of thirty
days.
For some time the drummer turned
deaf ear to the pleadings OF the hotel
man. but finally q compromise was reach
ed by which the hotel man was compelled
to nav only a slight advance In rent, with
the distinct proviso that In the future
travelling men always should be given &C.
commodat at their regular discounts.
M matter how great the demand for
rooms. This hotel is still owned by this
traveller, who gives 1t rigid inspection
each time his duties take him to that
city. and II is now a better paying invest
xhnn hafnY0