Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-24
Looker-On In Iona
.eia, to rtmes-Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Webster City. Dec. 24.-The follow
ing letter was recently received by an
Iowa merchant from one Of the big Job
bling houses OF Chicago. Presumably
this letter was sent to all OF their GUS
toners in Iowa and elsewhere:
Extraordinary conditions have en-
abled US to make lower prices on GER
tain lines OF goods.
II we have an order from you for
future delivery that was taken at
higher prices the goods will be shipped
at the lower prices,
We believe that the new values are
established and merchants may now
cover their wants with confidence.
Two differences may be drawn One
is that the big war in Europe while
making hard times for the southern
cotton planter. is helping the consumer
OF cotton goods the country over for
prices on cotton goods of all descrip-
tons are much reduced. The other il
fully as suggestive. Here's big job
bling house having sold thousands OF
dollars worth OF goods at certain prices.
voluntarily fills the orders at less hg-
ures II suggests the corporations
really have souls and do the square
thing, or is 1t as one travelling man
saws. this big concern is afraid OF the
other jobbing houseg, now offering such
goods at much lower prices. The Pc
culiar thing about the whole business
is that IL prices had gone up, the Iowa
merchant would have insisted on his
order being filed at the price he bought
of the travelling agent or quoted when
the order was given. 1t is said some OF
| the big mail order houses lost thou
sands of dollars when the war broke
: out, by filing orders for sugar at prices
! quoted In circulars, the sugar market
| showing In some cases 50 a sack loss ON
orders filed that day. 1t Is also re-
ported that some mail order houses re-
fused to fill orders for sugar at prices
quoted in circulars. and returned the
money to their customers. And this
again suggests another query are the
Chicago mail order houses, filing ord
iers on certain kinds Of dry goods at less
than prices quoted and paid for cash in
advance.
A prominent politician OF Iowa.
whose name II given here would add
weight to what follows, thinks Iowa
has a fair show of securing the presi-
/ dency OF the United States by getting
together and securing the nomination
| Of Senator Cummins on the republican
national ticket. He says that practical
ly our wing fight is over, the last
election returns showing such re.
suit. Furthermore he knows that out
| side of Iowa there is stronger candi-
date than Cummins. He fills the bill
for a man needed at this time. He IL
4 Ix,,A nn< NJ n.
nom Penrosce stripe. He is progress
siye. but not extreme as Roosevelt
Pfnchot, ct al. All of which will sound
good to many OF the T.-R. readers.
The movies" can be credited with
something new in the way Of shows
and iii aaivvsT advertising stunt. There's q
man--an advance agent Of his show
now on the road working this deal. HI
comes to town and makes the pro-
posal to the merchants to give hrs
class vaudeville and moving picture
show In the opera house on a certain
date, provided he can sell said mer-
chants a certain number OF tickets, ant
here IN the point, they are to give. no
sell, these tickets Of admission to thei
customers. Furthermore said mer.
chants are not to pay Tor .he ticket
till after the show IL given and ev
erything IL satisfactory. And tn
scheme works for several reasons
First because the Snowman 10 sure o
, 4 good paying house. because he vii
: not come to town unless he has con
: tracted for enough tickets Secondl,
: he he can get "the leading merchant
: to go In on the deal. others have to, 70
Il will not do for the big merchant I
]. | give tickets TO . show unless "a
~ ssnaIlAr r,afchanta eivoe some 70 III