Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-22

JACOB RAMSER.
Restricted Prices on Sterling Silver
and on Other Lines in the Jewelry Bus
iness?" and the greater number of the
jewellers seemed to believe that moth
ing definite could be decided on this |
question, as no common basis could be |
reached Two phases enter into this !
questionable cost Of doing business, |
and whether or not a sufficient margin |
of profit would be realized on the min |
imum cost agreed upon. The follow
ing papers were read: Things That |
Ought TO Interest the Retail Jeweler,"
by Newton Dextor; Keeping Trade at
Home" by w. S. Asby; Which Is Bet
ter, Time Guarantees or a Guarantee
as 70 Quality" by W. D. Turner;
How Should Platinum Be STAMPEDE"
| by H. c. Stern. Adjournment was TAX
en- for lunch at l O'Clock, and this af-
/ tonoon the visitors inspected the
| Watch Tower, the government island,
and other points of interest through
out the tri-cities. Special street cars
were engaged and a number made the
trip in automobiles.
1t has been planned to have a group
photograph taken of the delegates this
afternoon, but because of the high
wind it was decided to postpone action
along this line until tomorrow.
Tonight the annual banquet will be
held at the New Harper Tomorrow
morning an excursion down the river
has been arranged for, the boat leav-
ing this city at o'clock. and the clos
ing business session being held in the
afternoon. The special train for Chi
cago will leave at 6 o'clock.
PROTEST AGAINST BILLS.
Action to defeat bills now pending
in the house and senate which pre-
vent the fixed selling price of pat
ented and other articles was taken by
the ILLINOIS jewellers yesterday after
r loon and kilograms sent TO Congress-
man w. b. Mckinney and Senators
Shelby NJ. Cullom and William Lori
mer urging them TO use their infiu-
enCe to defeat these bills. In the past
patented article has been protected
not only from infringement but a GER
tain price has also been maintained,
and a cut in the selling price of the
article has been akin TO an infringe
ment. If the new law goes into eff
feet, however, a manufacturer who
has produced an article, which he has
patented and for which he has spent
a small fortune in advertising, has no
protection, and the article may be
sold by the retailer at any price which
he may see fit, thus giving rise to
cutthroat competition and price cut
: ting. On this account, the jewelers.
are fighting these bills for their own
protection.
The kilograms sent are as follows:
I'VE, the Retail jewelers. associa.
ton of Illinois, assembled in conven.
ton at Rock Island. Ill, unanimous
~ request that you use your infu-
ence to defeat senate bill 6273, which
prevents the fixed selling price of pat.
ented and other articles. Please
make this action known to the Hi.
nois delegation"
VISITORS ENTHUSIASTIC.
The greater portion the dele
safes arrived on the CL-,ago specia
train at 1885 and after receiving pro
grams and badges and registering
gathered in the ball room of the New
Harper where the meeting was called
to order by President T. II. Craig
AS the former officers and prominent
men mounted to the platform the!
: were greeted with rounds of ap
plause. \ big delegation of tn,
ladies was present and the fair Sci
took an active interest in every poin
OF procedure. Letters were reat
from the president and secretary o
the national body, urging coopera
ton and loyalty on the part of tn,
Illinois organization, and making
strong appeal for a large attendant,
: at the national convention TO be hell
: at Kansas City Aug. 9. After the re
= ports of the secretary, treasurer AM
standing committees had been receiv
Il ed and temporary committees ha,
i been named, T. H. Craig delivered
y the annual presidents address, advO
! eating many reforms. He said il
3 part:
d There are many things which
le trust the association will accomplish
q in the near future in the way OF bot
- state and hytionsl laws for the pro
d lection of both the buying public an
Is the retail jeweler. We should hav
a fraudulent advertising law and
D. state stamping law. ! should like L
II see a law enacted governing the dis
As position Of articles left for repairs an
Of lot called for. There is now such
e law framed and awaiting presentatio
re 10 the legislature in one Of our neaI
by states and its progress will
RS watched in Illinois with great inter
e est.
"A clearing house has been advo