The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-08-17
(From Monday DaiIyl

The Kenosha convention of the Wis
consin Retail Grocers and General Mer-
chants Association promises to origi-
nate the biggest movement in the his
tory of merchandising in the state and
one that is going to meet with a hearty
appeal from every place where goods are
bought and sold. The movement is one
for the enactment Of legislation to pro-
vide for Wisconsin State Trade Com
mission. This commission as worked out
by leaders among the merchants of the
state who are in attendance at the Ke-
along the lines of the Federal Trade
Commission. The only difference that
is being suggested is the fact that it IS
authority would be intra state for Wis
consin while that Of the Federal Com
mission is inter state for the nation Tt
is planned to have the present conven-
tion of the Retailers endorse bill for
the creation of such a commission in
Wisconsin. The legislature has not been
approached with such bill in the past
and it will of course meet with some OPP
position but it is declared that the
strength of the merchants of the state
will be put behind it. "Of course we
have laws and food commissions, - said
one Of the leaders Of the state associa-
tion this morning, "and these are more
or less protective Of the retail trade
hut Wisconsin is noted for it IS commits
sions and it is admitted that lot of
them have made great progress in the
state. If there was trade commission
it could take up and solve lot of hard
Eproblems now constantly annoying the
retail trade and it would make it pos
sible to get early action in thece mat
tiers. We have been watching legislation
closely for years but our task would be
made little easier if we had this COM
mission formed along the lines of the
Federal trade commission. Tt may be d
new departure for Wisconsin but the
success of the federal commission shows
very clearly what might be done with
just such body working intelligently
Ill w loCOuSlus
The proposition was discussed freely
by early arrivals at the convention Sun
day evening and today and it was evil
dent that there was very strong feel
ing in favor of it.
M. A. Slattery, of Milwaukee, Secre-
tary of the State Association, said: cit
would be one of the biggest steps for
ward for Wisconsin merchants and I
feel certain that the convention will en-
dorse the movement and that the full
strength of organized trade in Wiscon-
sin would be out behind it,
After Trading Stamps Again.
Regulation of the trading stamp and
other premium plans by legislative en-
actment is also going to be proposed
at this session of the convention. There
is some variation of opinion among the
retailers as to the use of trading
stamps. Some of them use them but all
of them are of the opinion that they
should be regulated both for the protec-
tior of the dealers and for the protec-
tion of the people. If this natter gets
to the floor of the convention it is GER
cain to bring one of the most notable
discussions of the week in Kenosha.
Throughout the state there is a demand
fOr regulation of trading stamps and
Wisconsin has been slow to follow the
movements of other states along this
line.
Hit Ad. Fakers Harder.
"One of the real things TO come
before the convention said Secretary
Slattery, sis better laws to hit false
advertising harder" ''You mean fake
advertising, /" was suggested to the Sec
rotary. ''You have the correct name
all right" he responded GA lot of
work along this line has been done but
we are only starting in this fight The
real man who runs real store has long
ago seen that there is no sense in de-
eeiving the people by false advertising
and the merchants of the state are hope
full that the man who adopts this sort
of deceit to sell goods can be driven
out of business in Wisconsin. The fake
advertiser is the greatest enemy to the
retail trade in Wisconsin cities ''A
Several suggestions have been made
for amendment of laws to make the
fake advertising thing of the past
and it is pretty certain that these sug-
gestions will be endorsed by the conven-
ton.
Old Propositions on Program.
A lot of things which have been be-