The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-06-08
URGE RETAILERS
TO GET TOGETHER
HEAD OF ASSOCIATED MER-
CHANTS INVITES MEN WHO
TRADE TO BILLINGS.
Tells of Some of the More Import
ant Matters Which VIII Be Con-
sidered at the Annual Meeting of
the Retail Merchants.

THAT not the least valuable serv-
ice rendered by the retailer is that
of discriminating purchasing agent
for his customers, and that he is
charged with the exercise of his best
| judgment, usually based upon years
of experience" declares President o.
F. Tate, sis lesson which the State
Association has, during the past year,
very strongly exercised.
Among other things which indicate
the advanced trend of merchandising
thought is the work of the organiza-
ton along the line of more thorough
cooperation between the wholesaler
and retailer in the improvement of
the present system of distribution.
During the recent legislature, realiz-
ing that certain measures introduced
would prove a hindrance rather than
help in the decreasing of the prices
of certain commodities, the mer-
chants legislative committee very &C
lively opposed certain measures. In
the final analysis, restriction sur
rounding the manufacture of goods
result in increased costs which must
be passed on to the consumer.
Again, in the matter of freight
rates recently, tn Montana Retail
Merchants association was represent
ed by President Tate who made it
plain that the merchants of Montana
were vitality interested in this great
subject. He declared that the freight
tax imposed upon Montana products
very greatly decreased the net cash
received by the producer for his
wares, and that high freight rates
were necessarily factor in fixing the
price of imported goods which the
producer necessarily requires. He
likened it to a double-edged sword
cutting deeply into the prosperity of
Montana in the nature of both an
export and an import duty.
The association of course during
the past year has actively assisted
in the promotion of the work of vari-
Gus local associations. 1t has foster
ed an educational campaign, pointing
out the immortality in the use of the
bankruptcy act. Gin some parts of
the state" said President Tate, sit
has almost become fashionable to
have ones name appear in the bank
ruptcy court. Little regard Is given
to the fundamental principle which
the law involves. Taking advantage
of the privileges of the bankruptcy
act does not pay honest debts. 1t
simply transfers the question of pay
ment from the forum of the law to
the forum of conscience, and in too
many cases those who by perhaps a |
little addition of perseverance, thrift |
and industry might have readily paid |
their obligations, through the un-
sound advice of their friends have at
tempted the cancellation of their OBJ
legations through this process"
The Pittsburg Plus Plan, which the
association has been condemning for
several meetings last passed, is grad
ually being recognized as a most fla
grant violation of every principle of
justice. Montana farmers are penal
lied in the purchase of every pound
Of barbed wire, staples, ana every
pound of steel used by them. The
Driated $4,000 with which to con-
duct a campaign of pitiless publicity
against this unfair practice which
imposes penalty of approximately
5 90 upon the purchaser of a single +;
binder. If this were direct tax, the
farmer who is thus penalized would
quickly rise and protest. cit is the
1uty of the merchants, stated Pres
dent Tate, Ito take the initiative in
such matters. The association is not
devoted merely to furthering the in !
,erests of the retail trade" h
The retail merchant is peculiarly ]
situated so as to profit by his per- {
ional contact with all classes of Gus [
omers and to benefit by a mutual j
of ideas, and the broad pro- ]
,ram of the Retail Merchants associ- ]
ltion is not only Strengthening the ]
les between its members, but work
ng on program for the upbuilding
# the state as whole.
The convention this year promises
o be largest in the history of the
and these subjects and
many others will be earnestly coasid-
red. "All retailers are invited"
tated President Tate, "and the pub
ic is also invited to attend the meet
ng. AS purchasing agents for the
itizens of Montana, they will be glad
o have their customers acquaint
themselves with the work of the or
anization which, to greater de-
rec than most people assume, is
1orking for the interests of the Mon
ana consumer"