The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-18
RETAIL TRADE MONOPOLY.
MONEY TRUST NOW TRYING no
CONTROL ANOTHER FIELD.
Sensational Statements Made IN Cham.
her OF Commerce of the United
states-Financial Interests Striving
20 do Retail Busincss-what The,
Have Accomplished In Industrial
lanes.

Warrington, Feb. la.--Having con-
Gusred the Industrial field. the great
financial interests are now striving for
monopolies In the retail business Of
the nation, William II. Insersoll, q
New York merchant. told the dele.
gates TO tho meeting OF the Cham
Der OF Commerce Of the United States
here today.
he made his assertions concerning
retail monopoly In the course OF a
speech advocating n law permitting
makers OF trademark article 70
dictate the price OF RESALE 10 the re-
taller. Price cutting OF well known
brands is one OF the principal weap-
ons now in the hands OF the great re-
tail monopoIist. he argued.
The process used by certain class
es OF retailers. not only threatens the
existence OF the brands themselves,
but tends to divert trade from the 10.
cal centers to the great stores OF the
great cities oppresses the thousands
of small merchants In cities and small.
er towns and 10 bringing about tha,
same concentration OF business in the
retail neld which has thrust upon
the American people the trust prob
lem. which they have had such diff
nculty In wrestling with. In the indus
trial held." said Mr.. Ingersoil. 1T
not only hurts business In the small
or centers but by lessening the oppor-
tunity for the young people growing
up there. contributes to the depopu-
lation OF the towns. sending them to
the cities in search or opportunity.
whether In Boston. New York OF
san Francisco. or almost any city In
between them, you will find tha,
within the last dozen years, the drup
business and tho cigar business hs.
been largely brought within the con-
troll OF single companies operating
chain stores; In fact. the cigar bust.
ness from coast to coast Is In nc
small degree In the hands OF q well
known chain store system with III
thousand branch establishments;
while the president OF this same
company 10 reported recently to have
acquired control of the largest chain
store system OF drug stores. with the
probability OF similar nation wide ex-
tension. In Philadelphia. 1t In .e-
ported. that within five years over
haif the grocery stores have been pu:
out OF business by chain stores. and
chains OF grocery stores on a nation.
wide scale are getting their hold on
the market. one system now having
some 500 branches
mot only do we find the DEPART
ment stores as units. but now these
mammoth institutions are being them
selves combined into a great chain,
which already has control OF the lead
Ing establishments In nearly SO of the
principal trading centers of America.
This company Is understood TO be
closely affiliated with the largest
wholesale business In America, owning
factories and having control OF many
subsidiary businesses from pianos 20
hsberdashery. Smaller chains Of de-
partment stores are numerous. and
Boyd's lists. offer TO furnish the names
and addresses of 10000 separate
chain store systems In this country.
All sections are affected and the
smaller links are being rapidly merg-
ed into greater chains.
The present unscientifc. unfair
scale OF quantity discounts allowed
generally To- large buyers In turning
tho retail business into one. not OF
merchandising. but of financial man.
ipuiation TO combine outlets so as to
gain buying power and be able TO
under-buy the general run NJ NOR.
chants
a premium Ia out upon mere size
permitting wastofulness OF MANAGE
ment through unearnsd buying adj
vantage. penglizing tho small indie.
pendent dealer. closing the wav of
the new conner and making 1t lmpos.
sible for the individual retailer 10
compete regardless of how capable he
may be. Even our newsu,ners
through their Advertising disco,n,s
practically close their columns to IT,.
small advertiser. Quantity discounts
should be reduced to a scientific scale
or abolished 80 rebates for quantity
freight shipments have been abolished
under the law"