The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1923-06-07
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 Will Be Con-
sidered at the Annual Meeting of
the Retail Merchants.

"That not the least valuable SER
ice rendered by the retailer is tina
of a discriminating purchasing agen-
for his customers, and that he Ii
charged with the exercise of his best
judgment, usually based upon years
of experience" declares President o.
F. Tate, sis a 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
a help in the decreasing of the prices
Of certain commodities, the mer-
chants legislative committee very ac-
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 a 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
yim NV frQ ncforC tho nrocfinr ~ NV
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 t
heir obligations, through the un-
advice of their friends have at l
.empted the cancellation of their OBJ /
igations through this process" !
The Pittsburg Plus Plan, which the t
association has been c~ondemning for Y
everal meetings last passed, is grad Y
tally being recognized as a most fla s
rant violation of every principle of il
ustice. Montana farmers are penal il
zed in the purchase of every pound
f barbed wire, staples, and every
ound OF steel used by them. The
legislature recently appro-
rated $4,000 with which to con- tt
uct a campaign of pitiless publicity g
gainst this unfair practice which 8,
a penalty of approximately F
1900 upon the purchaser of a single a
inder. It this were a direct tax, the n
armer who is thus penalized would g
u1ckly rise and protest. "It is the ct
uty of the merchants, stated Pres d.
lent Tate, "to take the initiative in Vi
lch matters. The association is not G
evoted merely to ~furthering the in R
rests of the retail trade" pl
The retail merchant is peculiarly F.
tuated SO as to profit by his per- Ell
NAL contact with all classes of Gus G.
'mers and to benefit by a mutual II
lchange of ideas, and the broad pro- nj
am of the Retail Merchants associ- E.
ion is not only strengthening the II
between its members, but work
g on a program for the upbuilding =
the state Is a whole.
The convention this year promises
be largest in the history of the
'ganization, and these subjects and
any others will be earnestly consid-
ed. "All retailers are invited"
ated President Tate, land the pub
is also invited to attend the meet
AS purchasing agents for the
items of Montana, they will be glad
have their customers acquaint
emselves with the work of the or
nization which, to a greater de-
ee than most people assume is
,rking for the interests of the Mon
IA consumer"