The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-03-08
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Daily.
At the annual meeting of the Equity
Warehouse company, early in Febru-
airy, committee was appointed to
meet the merchants of the city. The
aim of the meeting was to obtain ac-
lion on the cash and carry proDo-
sition. Soon after that the matter
was jointly discussed by farmers and
merchants. Although fine spirit
prevailed at the meeting the mer-
chants seemed conservative, and one
would begin to think by now that
the question had died in commit
tee"
But the fairness of this proposition
appeals 10 so many that it demands
further consideration and action.
Many people in the city could as well
carry their groceries as can the far
mers Those who still require the
delivery of their goods should bear
the entire expense instead of placing
it upon those who carry their own
goods. Think Of the equipment used.
are not asked to make less profit on
their goods. 1t would seem that a
request so just, made by the majority,
, should be granted
Was Patriotic Duty.
Moreover, patriotic duty conipels q
speedy conclusion of this problem. In
this, the greatest of all democracies
in history, the common people are TO
be given fair consideration, both po-
litical and economic. At this time,
therefore, all alike are aiding in the
war against the foe of this govern
mental system of common rights. In
this war conservation is a word that
means victory. Consider the vast
number of noys and men delivering
goods. Think Of tn equipment used.
The thinking men of this age are con
WINGED that the system entails an
endless waste Of energy This sea-
son every available man and boy
should be employed in the production
Of wheat Why not release these
hands and help win the war? IF ali
deliveries may not be discontinued
let the merchants have common
delivery system, employing only as
many men Or boys as are necessary. In
an effort TO further the winning of
| the war the government has request
led the merchants to act on this prob
| lem. A. ID. Wilson, federal food ad-
ministfator for Minnesota, has per-
sonally urged it, Mr.. Hoover has urg-
ed the people to take up these prob
lens ard aid the administration in
| adjuSting these questions.
| Herewith is attached a personal let
ter from Mr.. Wilson which covers
| the case and is self explanatory
Frank E. Watts.
Mr.. Wilson'S Letter.
est Paul, February %, 1919-Mr.
! Frank e. Watts, Mankato, MINI. Dear
Sir: We have your letter of recent
date and note that you are trying tC
get the merchants of Mankato TO GO
on a cash and-carry basis, or at least
to give the people who come to the
store and pay cash and carry the
groceries away with them, a discount
I'VE realize that this is very
much disputed question, but oul
SympathieS are quite with the grOul
who advocate the cash and carry ba
sis as a basis for making prices. Be-
lieve this is eminently fair to every
| one. Doubt very much if we are
ready to dispense with system o.
delivery or q system of giving credit
There are certain advantages in this
for many people who are willing t.
pay for it, but at the same time i
seems to us that when man goes tt
a store and pays cash. ard takes his
goods away that he really should no
have 20 pay for the delivery charges
and the cost of keeping accounts fol
Iother patrons of the store.
! "Thc food administration at Wash.
ington, while not insisting on this
System Of selling groceries, is strong
ly advocating it, believing it to be
fair method of handling goods. We
would really like to see the system
fairly tried out and given a far
chance to win
"Xerxa Brothers, Minneapolis, Mimi
one of the big downtown stores, ar
getting away with the proposition il
. fine shape, and believe they recent,
disposed of a dozen or fifteen deliver,
, rigs and they seem to be gettin,
along splendidly. As rule, the down
town merchant, who has large trad
throughout a city, is likely to be op
: posed to this method. He assume
that il they all went on a cash and
Ctity UdolS, lie WOulu Stdhu niue SNOW
With the house lying near local gro
Gerry stores. However, Mr.. Xerxa i
iGetting away with it in fine shape
Il Cash and Garry Basis.
| Another Minneapolis merchan.
, Mr.. Mcbride, who has a dozen, or fif
teen or mere, local stores, and he i
running on a strictly easn 3'ul Corr
basis, and he. too, has made exceed
|, inslv well on this PROPOSE III Ne
turally the cost Of delivery will vary
! Have Before us bulletin fror
the bureau of business research O
Harvard university, in VII: i he
show that the cost of delivery is com
monty about three per cent of tn
net sales of the store, and that TIL
, gross margin taken by merchan
for all of his expenses amounts t
about twenty-one per cent. On thi
basis a delivery would reprasen
about fifteen per cent of the cost t
t the seller, of handling goods. II ap
I pears to us that modification of tn
: absolute cash -and-carry basis woul
be NEST likely to work out satisfac
tcrily to all concerned 1t would wor
something like this:
r "A merchant would have his price
e on cash and-carry. Then if Gus