Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-21
IOWA HARDWARE DEALEHs 40.
vIsEp 70 FIGHT MAIL ORDER
HOUSES WITH ADVERTISING.
s, n, MILES, OF ST. LOUIS,
ADDRESSES RETAIL DEALERS
Would Fiaht Big Concerns With Their
Own Weapon - President Abbott,
Of Hardware Insurance Company,
Speaks On Parcels Post-Hardwars
E.h;s;. Record Breaker.
Special to Times Republican.

Des Moines, Feb. 21.-S. r. Miles, of
ST. Louis, addressing the State Assoc
citation OF Hardware Men today, ad-
vised them to fight the mail order
houses with their own weapons a1d 20
beat them in advertising locally. He
declared that if retail dealers will do
this they can get and hold the bust
ness for themselves.
Abbott Addresses Convention.
Newspapers in the future won
devote so much space to the opposition
Of the hardware men to the parcels
post and the mail order houses, &C
eording to L. c. Abbott, of Marshall
town, member Of the board of direc-
tors and president OF the Iowa Mutual
Hardware insurance Company, Tor the
reason the big thing in the way OF the
success Of the retailer is not these
things, but the mastery of local condi-
tons Each merchant must make his
own conditions and is responsible Tor
his success or failure.
And then the retailer must buy his
goods at better prices says Mr.. Alb
bott The ability 10 make the best
Of opportunities in - ing goods is be-
coming a big question with the retail
men.
Hardware is the cheapest in years
as far as staple articles are con-
cerned,' declared Mr.. Abbott. Nails.
bolts. and the staple articles used in
building are cheaper than l nave
known them to DE in years. do not
expect them TO go any higher TINS
year. tho the market fluctuates some
~; inn
building homes hasn't added much TO
the cost of living
Exhibits Break Records.
Over 100 exhibitors are represent
ed at this years convention. This is the
largest and most com plete exhibition o.
hardware ever seen in Iowa, according
to hardware dealers. This year IN in
noyation in the way of handling the
exhibition is being tried out and is
meeting with much success. Only
morning p1ograms are 20 be given.
while the afternoons ana evenings ara
given over TO thu exhibitors. In the
nas. the exhibitors have had only 4
limited time in the afternoon in which
70 attract The attention Of the buyers.
as the asso.iat,o? held morning and
afternoon sessions.
pes Moines After Convention.
Because Of the fact that Des MONIES
can offer the use Of the coliseum. which
is especially needed for the hardware
exhibition. it is probable that no ditfi-
Guilty will be experienced In landing
the fifteenth convention. as none OF
the other cities can offer as good &c
comm odations for the exhibition. which
has become a prominent feature OF the
conventions.
A big delegation of Sioux City Com
merciai Club -aen is due today II an
effort TO secure the hardware dealers
for their ciry. Davenport yesterday ne-
.,ama a prominent bidder for the con-
,cntion, wiring an invitation for the
retail men TO meet there hext year.
what steps viii he taken TO follow up
is invitation are not known here.
aaar Rapids has invited the dealers 70
meet there, but has taken 70 action %
create sentiment in that direction as