Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-25

association, acted as POSTMASTER, and
after Mr.. Kingsbury had addressed the
briefly, the speaker OF the
evening. Mr.. Westerfeld was intro
duced. The first matter touched upon
by the Chicago man was the question
of cash and credit business. The sub
ject was disposed of in this manner:
"A cash customer is everybody's Gus
toner. A credit customer is your Gus
toner" Mr. Westerfeld favored the
credit system where an association,
similar to the local organization, made
it possible to make the proposition a
safe and profitable one to all con-
cerned.
IN regard to advertising. the speaker
advocated that when merchants had
advertising to do, that same be given
TO the local papers. They are more
deserving and will do more for you
than any other agency" was his claim.
Mr. Westerfeld spoke at some length
in regard to the recent fight against
the retail grocers in Chicago as made
By the various woman's clubs IN an eff
tort TO smash" prices. He claimed
that inasmuch as the grocer did not
advertise as extensively as some 9TH
er merchants. that he was invariably
made the goat by the newspapers, as
regards the high cost of living agita-
ton. Cooperative stores cannot sell
goods any cheaper than the retail es-
Adjustments, owing to the fact that,
in addition to the rent, light, heat and
clerk hire items, manager is neces-
sary. who usually demands a higher
salary than the retailer would con-
slider proper for himself.
ACCUSES THE LADIES.
The Ladies' Clean Food club Of Chi
tail grocers OF boosting prices beyond
reason. and decided to sell eggs at a
much lower rate than charged by the
grocers, still leaving fair margin OF
profit. Several carloads of hen fruit
were secured. Church easements and
public halls were obtained as sales
rooms, and the ladies advertised strict
ly fresh eggs at An absurdly low price.
An investigation revealed the fact that
the eggs secured by the Clean Food
club we're in reality storage eggs. and
were being sold at price really high
er than that charged by retailers The
| Chicago merchants asked that the Ia
dies at least be fair in the matter and
refrain from advertising strictly fresh
eggs when their product was in reality
Of the storage variety. The speaker
maintained that even had the prices
made by the ladies been lower thar
those secured by the retailers, the test
would not be a fair one, due to the
fact that the retailer was put to the
expense of rental, beng unable TO Sc
cure church Easements and public halls
free of charge, and also was compelled
to pay clerk hire, no ladies volunteer
ing their services. Items of light, heat
etc, were also included In the retail
er's expense account.
TELLS OF APPLE SALE.
Following the egg sale by the la
dies, the retailers held an apple sale
Wholesalers sold the product to thu
middieman at prices lower than thos,
paid. Retailers sold the fruit at
: price commensurate with the actua
cost of handling. AS a result, Chica
goans were able to secure fine grad
Of apples at 10 pounds for 25 cents. Il
two days wholesale houses moved be
tween $4,000 and 10000 barrels. Du1
ing the time of the sale Mr.. Westel
fields establishment alone disposed Q
: 6S barrels and So boxes of apples. A
l though there was no profit, the retail
ers gained because of the establish
ment OF friendly relations with tn
} trade Other sales will be held in tn
2 near future.
1 GIVES GOOD ADVICE.
The egg sale by the ladies was de-
, ignated as an attempt at coercion
l Cooperation spells success in Roc
> Island. not coercion" continued tn
= speaker. Cooperation may be use
in all lines, and is the foundation upo
which your Rock Island association
: built. To be effective, cooperate
= must exist among all the merchants {
i a community. The merchants who al
doing business in Rock Island shoul
. make their purchases in Rock ISLAM
The welfare and prosperity of you
I neighbor is your own. We cannot a
. ford 10 be independent You have e.
Cellent officers in charge of your ass
citation but in order to be effectiy
e they must have your individual c.
: operation and active support Nor
support Is a good thing, but in to
q many cases it means only acquiescenc
Your association will be just what 20