The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-02-01
TO JOIN NATIONAL BODY
Strong Local Organization to Be Effect.
ed with Plan of Getting Better Re
suits From Collections and to Secure
Better Legislation for Retailers.

A movement for the organization of
all men connected with retail trades in
Kenosha from the bankers to the black
smiths was inaugurated at the audi
forum of the Y NJ. c. A. on Wednes-
day evening, when dozen of the lead
ing merchants, representing many lines
lof business, gathered to talk over the
matter with Secretary Jacobsen of the
National Retailers association. The
merchants present signed the roll as
charter members of the new organiza-
tion, but it will not be formally launch
ed until other meetings have been held.
Secretary Jacobsen came to Kenosha on
Wednesday and took the matter up
with many of the retail dealers and
late in the afternoon it was decided to
call the meeting for organization of
the Kenosha association, to be connect
ed with the state and national organi-
cations. On account of the short time
fgiven after the call of the meeting
many of the merchants found it ilnpos-
sible to be present, but many of these
are said to be heartily in favor of the
proposed movement.
The organizations have been spread
+, ing like wild fire throughout this and
other states and it is declared that they
are proving of great value to the re-
tailers. The plans for the organization
include many features. The first and
most important deals with the credit
| business and it plans for the prepare
tion of a list which will show unworthy
creditors. Local men will have little to
do with the making up of this list more
than the forwarding of copies of their
bad accounts to the general offices cf
the association. In addition it is plan
ned to have the associations here and
in other parts of the state take up i'm
portant problems of legislation which
are demanded for the retail trade. This
matter is regarded as very important
and it is declared that the few organi-
cations now existing in the state have
done much for the advancement of gem
eral business conditions through work
done in Madison in showing members
Of the Legislature the need of new laws
for the regulation of weights and meas
ures and their proper inspection.
The proposed organization is in no
way antagonistlc to the law, but seeks
to make the observance of state and
national laws easier for the retailers.
At the same time it is declared that
the organization may aid a little in
promoting home trading. During the
past few days agents Of the National
Rating association have been busy in
Kenosha rating every man and woman
in the city with view of furnishing
a rating to nail order houses, who, it is
declared are planning to go into the
credit business in WiscVEsin. Such
move on the part of the mail order
houses is regarded as a menace to the
healthy development of local trade.
Leading retailers declare that they do
not object to competition, but that the
mail order house does not offer a prop
er competition, as inferior articles are
supplied to the trade at prices which
indicate that the legitimate business
Of the retailer is conducted on scale
of too much profit. Kenosha retail
stores are claimed to be run on closer
margins than stores in other cities and
it is declared that reliable goods can
be secured of these stores at rate
just as low as from the mail order
houses.