Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-09-05
LINTON MERCHANT HAS IDEA
AS TO COMPETITION WITH
CHAIN STORES.

Bismarck Tribune: A new form of
attack is to be launched on the Town
ley Chain Stores by j. j. Kramer
manager of the Broadway Mercantile
Co. of Linton who was at the capits
today looking up articles Of incorpor-
alton of the Townley concern which
on a capitalization of $4,000 has col
lected from North Dakota farmers
in the neighborhood of s2.000.000.
"The Townley organization plans
putting in stores at Linton Hazelton
and elsewhere in my territory" said
Mr.. Kramer. 1.-THE fact that the far
mers are subscribing to his scheme
convinces me that they want an inter-
est in the stores and ] intend to give
the same opportunity. But ! am go
ing to 60 Mr.. Townley one better.
I will give the farmer actual stock
IN exchange for his 800; will agree
to undersell for cash the Townley
stores and if the farmer hasn't the
cash will loan it to him; will pay
the farmer good interest on his invest
ment; ]. will share profits with him
at the end of each business year and
I will give shareholders a special dis
count until the 500 which they have
paid for stock has been returned to
them. They will still remain stock
holders and profit sharers in the
store.
"By placing my business on cash
basis believe can do business for
20 per cent less than it is now gensr-
ally costing. am confident that l
can duplicate any order that is now
going to tie mail order houses and l
know l can do business on a closer
margin than the Townley stores
with hired man in charge. We are
prepared to put in dollar for dollar
of our own money with the farmer.
We are building a large new store
building and will have something like
$4,000 invested. We're going to in
vite the farmer to go in with US and
become shareholder in the business
''In the Townley chain stores the
farmer is offered no chance of getting
his money back unless the store goes
out of business inside of ten years and
then only a portion Of the invest
ment is returned. In the Townley
scheme not over $4,000 is invested in
the local store no matter how much
is subscribed as l understand it. In
my plan every penny will be invested
in the store. believe the Emmons
county farmer is good enough bus.
mess man to recognize tho difference
between being stockholder and a
rertifcate-holder and intend to meet
Mr.. Townlev on his own pround.
In talking with my farmer custom
ers I fino chat they generally regard
the Towniey chain stores as cooper
ative proposition like their farmers
elevators. AS l understand it this is
not the case. The certificate, which
each member receives in exchange fol
his s1Q0 gives him the privilege Of
trading at the Townley store but il
does not entitle him to any share ir
the business nor to any portion of the
profits if / understand the PROPOSE.
tion correctly. It is a different thing
from farmers elevator where con.
troll is retained in the farmers hands
and where if there are anv profits
they are pro-rated among the farm
ers.
'T intend to draw up my plan care
fully and will enter into straight
agreement with the farmer pledgine
him interest on his investment share
in the profits and absolute rock