The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-03-19
PATRIOTISM AND NEWSPAPER
ADVERTISING FORM KEYNOTE
ADDRESSES FOR MERCHANTS

4 Ilefe MI. F1OHIldHH UTleuy stated
the provisions of the proposed amend
ment. stating that it provided for an
| extraordinary tax on automobiles for
the purpose of building over seven
| thousand miles of hard surfaced roads
! throughout the state. This tax only
effects the automobile owner, and does
| not in any way interfere with present
| funds OF lateral roads. which can be
I built to connect up with the hard sur
faced trunk lines of the state While
[ The auto owner will be the greatest
| benefited, very one will receive his
share from the proposed Improvement
If the amendment passes.
/ F. NJ. Currier in few brief words
called the attention of the business
| men to the proposed tax on gross
sales OF one percent. He just wished
TO bring the matter up for the bust
ness men TO bring home with them
for consideration.
! George NJ. Palmer. another of the
three minute speakers, called atten-
tion to the splendid banquet served
recently to the Southern Minnesota
Credit men at Lake Crystal. He said
that the ladies here did. not secure
turkey like the ladies of Lake Crystal,
but he hoped that it would be salts
factory. He said that it is up to the
business men of this state to brine
about many much needed reforms
The task ahead is big one.
Mann On "Better Merchandising"
: Mr.. Fred Mann of Devils Lake. n .
D., who has made a decided success
in business through a thorough sys-
TEN OF advertising. gave the business
men assembled last night one of the
ablest talks on Better Merchandise
/ ing" ever heard in this city.
! In launching into the subject OF
good advertising, and the credit sys-
TEN, Nh Mann said that the open
book accounts must go. and if merch-
ants wish to succeed. they must re-
sort to the cash basis of conductins
their business. With this plan of cred
it, must go hand in hand a strong
system of newspaper advertising.
You can put anything behind
your business that will lend more
force than good newspaper advertis
ing" said Mr.. Mann, ''for it is the
newspaper advertising alter all builds
UP ones trade"
| Mr.. Mann said that he has thanked
his stars a thousand times over for
taking the advice of a newspaper man
in Devils Lake when he first started
in business for himself. This news
paper man came to him and said:
"You will have to tell the people fire.
quently what you have to sell, and the
best way to do this is through the
medium of the press" These words
were only too true, and Mr.. Mann has
never los. an opportunity to inform
the public through the press of just
what he has to offer in the way OF
merchandise. 1t has always brought
, good results.
Mr.. Mann devoted a great deal
| space TO the fact that the catalogue
, houses had carried off at least one
! third of the business in North Dakota.
The only way ID combat this is to
meet those houses with plan OF ad-
| vertising just as attractive as they
nut out, and also to meet them in
. competition One reason for the cat
alogue houses making a success, is
that they leave no stone unturned in
!, the way of good advertising. The best
way to combat the influence of this
kind of advertising. is to use the
newspapers, and following this up
| with personal letters, pamphlets and
other attractive reading matter, put
above all liberal newspaper adver
Using, which is the most forceable
way of putting the qualities Of goods
before the public. :,
! Mr.. Mann attributed at least hall
| of the great unrest i'll the state OIL
North Dakota to the propaganda oil
| the catalogue houses which even went
50 far as to send out steroptyped
stuff TO be used by the boys and girls
| in delivering speeches against the
local merchants. who were styled as
robbers. and every thing else on the
calendar.
Jobber Should Be Educator.
If the merchant does not understand
the advertising game, it is up TO the
iobber to educate him along those
lines.
| Mr.. Mann said that he could esti'
mate the progress of city by look
ino over the files of it's newspapers
In looking over The Free Press ns
came to the conclusion that It Is no
Getting the proper support from th'
merchants in the way Of advertising
"A newspaper is one of the creates
assets to a community, but to be suen
m,,st receive the hearty support OF IT.
business men in the way OF advertls
inc. The advertising in this city shouls
he increased at least seventy-five pc
cent. Mr.. Mann said, before the great
4 est efficiency has been reached.
was riaht here that Mr.. Mann SAT-
4 that the advice of a newspaper mar
70 him to continually let the peop''
know what he had to dispose o., tina
had led to his success in the mer
chantile business in Devils lake
Some of the merchants in Devils Lax
had not advertised. He kept right OF
and has prospered. He Is now spend
ina at least $4,000 a year IN adver
J jtisjno. Two percent Of the sales
. busines is not too much to spend u
advertising each year.
Mr.. Mann said that he was becom
ing disgusted with the credit system
and advocated the strictly thirty ia
! basis, and if obligations are not ne
then. place the customers on the !
q. D. list. The open book account !
tbinp of the past. The merchan
to make success of business toua
has to adopt that system, and oac
mn the plan with intelligent adyertis
ing ,.;
,I,o tho sneaker devoted a cOnSld