The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-10
Kansas Retailers Against News
paper Premiums.
Denounce System Practiced by
Capper Publications.
BELIEVE IN FAIR COMPETITION
But Merchants Can't Swallow
Subscription Bait.


Salina, Kan, Sept. 10.-Policies OF
newspapers giving pewter dinner sets,
tin loving cups and calico kimonos az
subscription bait to the unwary is in
competition with the local merchants
who are the life and backbone of To-
cal publications. Such was the reso-
luton adopted today at the annual
convention of the KAncas Retailers
association when it's members openly
denounced the policy Of the Capper
publications as directly competing
with local merchants in all localities
where subscription rewards" are dis
tributed.
The action Of the Kansas retailers
Is broad I'D general in its wording.
But II there was doubt in the minds
Of a retail merchant rs to the evil
which the association sought to cure.
that doubt was removed in the general
discussion Of the resolutions offered on
tho floor Of the convention. It was
the first Official action taken by the
state retailers to discourage the policy
Of distributing merchandise az an in
ducement to read a publication.
Kansas merchants made clear in
their discussion of the resolutions.
however, that they were not striving
to escape fair and honest competition.
In fact a dozen merchants made clear
that they ere willing to meet all fair
competition in their trade districts.
But they made clear their opinions
that 1t was unfair for a paper to So
licit advertising matter from a local
merchant and give as a reward FOR
reading the paper perhaps the same
articles the merchant advertises or Of
fers for sale. Neither is 1t consistent,
the Kansas retailers pointed out, for
a state wide or district publication to
offer subscription premiums Tor a pa
per that caters to mail order adver-
Using and for the editor at the same
time to claim friendship for the city
and small town merchants.
Mail-Order Advertising.
Alleged inconsistencies OF Arthur
Capper in this regard were pointed out
by E. H. Fisher of Wamego. Discuss
ing the resolutions before the conven-
ton, Fisher produced circular from
the Topeka publisher in which he told
Of his love, admiration and friendship
for the Kansas retailer. 1t was after
reading this circular that Fisher called
attention to the mail order advertising
in the Capper publications and the Of
fers of hardware. furniture. books.
queensware. jewelry and a general
stock of merchandise offered by the pa
pers as subscription bait. Fisher told
the convention he was willing to sur
render his share. of this brand OF
Never since the organization of the
state retailers association has similar
action been taken by the organization.
Both Republicans, Democrats and Pro-
gressives were in attendance at the
convention and voted for the section Of
the resolutions which read:
I'VE condemn the policy Of publica-
tions directly and unfairly competing
with retail local merchants through the
policy of giving merchandise as pre-
miums in circulation building cam
paigns."
Resolutions commencing the state
legislature for the enactment Of the
10 per cent garnishment act. were
adopted. The convention also voted to
stand by the present law and to oppose
any effort to secure its repeal. In the
course of the discussion Of garnish-
ment act, editorials were read from
Capper's publications condemning the
legislature and the state administration
for the passage Of the law