Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-06-17
PATRIOTIC DRUMMERs;
THEIR OPPORTUNITIES
News From Pillar to Post Can
Spread Patriotism Everywhere.
COMPARABLE TO MEN IN ARMS
Noted Editor Reads Lecture TO
Drummer Boys and Their En-
ployces-Richmond Roadstcrs, AL
ready Loyal, Will BE Interested.

The travelling statesmen who go out
from the Richmond factories and whole
sale mercantile establishments ar"
patriotic to the core. and are doubt
less doing their whole duty, but lit
tie lecture by Editor Edmonds. of the
| Manufacturers Record as to their op-
porturities in the present cmcrgenc:.
will prove Instructive 10 them and
the Richmond houses they represent.
The editor thinks the travelling sales
men of the whole country have il IN
their power to render service to the
nation comparable to tho work OF the
armies in the field. TO the producers Of
food and to the makers OF munitions
While the farmers are growing food
stuffs and the munition makers are pro-
ducing the things needed for the bat
tie field. the travelling salesman can be
creating Throughout the country 4
spirit OF militant patriotism which will
mean enlarged food production. eu
arEed output OF munitions. the build
ing of more ships, increased coal out
put and the larger sale OF Liberty
bonds of the next issue and continued
and still larger subscriptions 10 the
Red Cross.
All OF these Things. saws Editor Ed
monds. are within the power of thu
travelling salesman. They reach the en-
tire business elcmcr. OF the country,
to the smallest country store at the
crossroads village They mingle with
all the travelling people OF the coun-
try in the smokinE-ca They kn".!
everybody, or practically everybody,
who does business in the territory In
which they travel. The country store
keeper. the town merchant and the
city man ask OF the travelling man con-
stantly. What is the news?" In olden
times the question was often asked
with the hope OF hearing a new joke,
but the time when the salesman made.
his success based on his ability to tell
Jokes and stories has lons since passed
away, and the travelling men OF to-
day are men of intelligence, men who
know the country. and men who sell
goods on merl, and not on jokes
AS these men go over the land from
ono end TO the other they have power
for quickcr;ns the patriotism Of the
nation which has not yet been put into
full effect. No travelling salesman
should ever 60 on the road without
being supplied with literature about
the war. with facts as to the meaning
Of the war and the tremendous I'M
portance of every man and woman in
the country uniting 10 win the war. No
crossroads storekeepcr or country mer-
chant. or city merchant. for that mat
ter should ever be visited without
utilizing the opportunity TO discuss the |
one supreme issue before the world
the issue of saving civilization AMI /.
saving ourselves
II the travelling men oc the nation |
viii thoroughly inform themselves on |
all these questions they can carry 80 /
the people of the country a message /
which Will spread from the storekecper
TO the homes OF every community and |,
FAR back into the country districts
among farmers, mechanics and day la
Norcrs. The power for good in this
respect which is within the grasp OF
the travelling man is SO great that un- |
less utilized to its fullest extent they
would. a class fail to measure I'M |
10 their opportunity.
splendid work doubtless already has
hecn done by the druaImers In many
cases they are known TO have been
Actife and vigorous in preaching pa
triotism and denouncing treason as
expressed b. pro-Gcrmans but il Is
animated that not all of them have
fu!iy Erasped the power that is theirs
nor fully comprehended the RESPONSE
nifty resting upon them.
Editor cdmonds closes his lecture
IS follows:
Ever" business house in the conn
ny should fully appreciate the I'M
P"E'ance Of cooperating with their
Favelins men and arm them with lit
eratE-e about the war, so that wher-
ever they go, whether on the train. in
NC Motel lobby or in the store thcv
may ever be ready TO do their mar,
"ward the winning OF the war. rne
mighty army of travelling men thus
egu.pped for their par, of the conflict
you'd ne a power commensurate with
=" army OF eGh' 81" on the battle |
"tl'', ih"tsd' u! '! result in the
t""H eh'2S OF g. ton nigh, be
eater than II 'h &C AN equal
IFnher Of soldiers"