Evening journal., 1916-02-08
Sees OBSTACLE
TO PROSPERITY
IN LEGISLATION
Confinuod from FIRST Page.

IN nuUlOunILUH
Continued from First Page.
One merchant might have a very large
up-to-date establishment, situated in
one of the principal streets Of the
city. with high rental and large over
head expense. In order TO maintain his
business he would have to get a larger
profit on his sales than a man with
his business situated in a less eXpen-
siye locality, with lower costs for con-
ducting his business. one could af-
ford to take less advance over the
manufacturers price and still make
satisfactory profit
Through the enactment Of such "a
law the public would lose the advan-
tago OF competition between mer-
chants as all would be compelled to
sell az the same price and conseQuent-
ly there would be none Of the COM
petition that now exists the world
over
Opposed to Coupons.
"The so-called proft-sharing cou-
pom or premium-giying practice is
one of the greatest menaces legiti-
mate business has today. Through
such methods the merchant or retail
er actually becomes the agent of the
premium companies When he sells
goods In which such premiums are
packed he cells merchandise, plus
some so-called proiit-sharing scheme,
whose certificates are supposed to
represent other merchandise. On this
merchandise he gets no profit. al
though he is put to as much expense
in selling this class of goods for
others as in selling his own stock
The profit sharing coupon practice
has grown To- such an extent that IL has
I become of national importance and can.
not longer be ignored. This practice ha.
not one element of sound business. II
exists ON tie basis That one mans gain
Is another mans loss. n is acknowl.
edged by some of the profit sharing
/ companies that ii more than 50 per cent
of their coupons and premiums were re-
deemed they would go out of business
N business generally were conducted on
these lines, in few years it would
spell disaster.
"ihe National Retail Dry Goods As.
sociation is actively engaged in com.
batting the adverse legislation ! have
spoken of and unwholcsomc business
methods. and In This cndcavor we feel
We are warranted IN calling ON every
person with a sense of justice and fair.
dealing TO Join with MS. II is only by
cooperation that such efforts as ar,
now being made nv the association can
succeed. Business nowadays is heing
conducted on a higher plane than here
totorc. Tho spirit of fair exchange i.
being more and more lived mp to.
Ideas, like money, in order to have
any value, must be exchanged. Selfish
ness is no more profitable in business
than among individuals"
Another point touched upon i'm Mr.
| Kirhy's talk was the cost of doing
/ business. He said that the ever-in-
creasing demands of the public for
service and the granting OF these un.
reasonable demands was reducing IN,
profits OF the merchants TO such al
extent that radical means should b
taken TO check them.
, Many stores throughout the coun
try, either as individuals or cooper
atine with their neighbors, hav
: brought about satisfactory results II
handling these problems and al
merchants may follow their example
In concluding his address, Nh
Kirby stated that business had ever,
reason to he encouraged Big crops
at high prices, better banking facili
ties, and the desire 10 go ahead spell
| prosperity. The tide of business was
undoubtedly setting in and every
| merchant who trimmed his sails ac.
cordingly and went with the tide, and
steered a straight course, was not
taking a chance, but was grasplng an
opportunity.
Those present at the luncheon were
w. A. Almond. William r. Budd. Johi
Bancroft, E. r. Bye, John $. Brokav
Caleb +. Burchenal and guest Fred
erick Brady, W. ID. Bush, Jr.. $. Il
Baynard. Henry r. Bush. Charles 4
Bamberger, II. A. Casperson. ]. S
Clark, Joshua Conner. II. S. Dohert,
A. Rae duBell. S. II. Durstein. b. dr
Ponb Elwood A. Davis r. b. Ely. G.. A
a, Gewohr. c. ID. Garretson. Charles Y
B. Gooding. n. w. Howell, e. l.. Hayne
= Frank c. Hughes, II. Chalmers Hicl
% man, NJ. d.: Henry r. lsaacs. w. v
B. Knox. George W. Keller. Clarence
y killen. John +. Krauss. John r. LAM
). son, Joseph G.. Lawson. John y
e Loud, j. Wesley Morris. Wa
d ter ID. Mode. W. A. Mod
p Edmund Mitchell Jr., NJ. Matthes. Y
:, A. Morris, Wm. E. Mackenzie Jam,
Meharg. w. j. McCorkindale. Willial
5. G.. Murgatroyd Harry +. Mellon. J. v
Mendihall II. B. McCollum. II. X. Mi
,. Ter, William r. Millikon. J. IL. NiNo
;; J. j. Powell J. Bail Peirce. O.
y Purdy Charles y. Palmer. William
n Robelen. Charles y. Righter. C.. /
Q Smith. Jr. G. n. Spackman, John
Satterthwait Ira G. Tinkham, Il.
Tevis, r. Topkis and guest E.
. Taite. Charles II. TenWeegos, John
/ Thompson. Jr., Peter r. Wright. w. ]
!. H. Willis. II. H. Ward. Henry Wilso
S. II. Wilson, Jr.. Neil b. Sinclair.
NAV DEEED NAMING III