The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1921-01-06
RETAIL BUSINESS
SUPPORTS MANY


The following resolution, adopted at
a recent meeting of the Hood River
Merchants Association, points out how
large a population of the country is
supported by retail business:
Whereas, Because of lack of correct
information and understanding, retail
business men everywhere have been
accused of "profteering" while they
have been generally innocent and
guilty only in exceptional cases, and
Whereas, If the public generally
holds on to this wrong belief that re-
tail business men generally are prof.
teers, the natural and almost inevita-
BILE consequence will be radical and
revolutionary legislation which will
upset business and undermine prosper
ity, therefore be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
meeting of the Hood River Merchants
Association that it is the immediate
and pressing duty of the retail business
men of Oregon to support financially
and with their personal cooperation
wherever called upon, broad and
comprehensive program of statistical
and educational work, the results of
which wouli be to present to news
paper writer's particularly and through
the newspapers to the public generally,
as far as possible real facts and fig
ures concerning retail business in Ore
gon to the end that the antagonistic
feeling which arises from ingorance of
real facts and conditions may be dis
pelled and a more fair and favorable
fOu V1 ROT fol
developed through an honest showing:
Il of the immense Importance to
the community of retail business and
service,
(2) the heavy contributions made to
public taxes by retail BUSINESS,
g the enormous number of men and
women who earn their living-and none
too good living-in the thousands of
retail stores all over Oregon,
(4) that the distribution of merchan-
disc at retail, including the service
which is desired if not demanded by
the American public nowadays, means
a hundred different kinds of expense
making a total of expense much great
er than IS imagined by any one not
actually experienced IN or familiar
with retail business and
(5) that when all this expense is
paid and all the unavoidable risks of
business are considered the average
actual net profits of retailers are very
modest indeed and
(6 that lower prices are welcomed
by retailefs Just as they are welcomed
by the public, but the public must
understand that a constantly declining
market also means greater risks and
difficulties for retail business men as
indicated by the constantly increasing
number of business failures
(O that retail business is so deeply
interviewer with the prosperity of the
community that it is impossible to
injure one without injuring the other
and be it further
Resolved, That our delegates to the
annual convention of the Oregon state
Retail Merchants Association which
will be held in Marshfeld. February z.
8 and 9, be and are hereby authorized
and instructed there to work and vote
for some proper plan for gaining more
liberal financial support from the retail
merchants Of Oregon for organized
activities so necessary as outlined
above, and be it further
Resolved, That our president and
secretary be and are hereby instructed
to participate in Marshfield in a con-
ference of presidents and secretaries
of local associations, which conference
of presidents and secretaries will un-
dertake the particular work at this
convention of considering all plans for
better financing Of organization work
and recommend to the convention its
choice Of all the plans proposed and be
it further
Resolved. That this association
pledges its honest and hearty support
to any such plan that is approved by
that convention and be it further
Resolved, That copies Of this resolu-
tion be sent to retail business men in
our community who are not members
of our association in. the hope that it
will show them that their support of
these proper organizations activities,
financially and personally, is important
if we are to hope for entire success in
defending and preserving the freedom
Of honorable business and the prosper
ity Of our communities.