Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-23
Canvassing Invades Europe
BY FREDERIC j. HASKIN.

interested IN and II he sent anything
at all Il would be inferior goods. Idk-
orally, many q shopper would not phyza,
caIly let 60 Of his piece of money untA
he had q good grip on his package. =
took years to educate the American peos
pie into the idea that, In the lone
run. 1t was very much to the merchant4
advantage to deliver honestly the eOp0
selected BY the customer.
The peddling system started IN Eu-
rope because Of the persecution Of the
Jews. In great many countries Of
Europe, no Jew was permitted 70 own
any real estate. In many countries he
could not even rent a stand. The most
he could do In the way Of business was
to carry his goods on his back, COM
StantIy running the risk OF being de-
spoiled Of 1t by almost any Christian
who saw At. He was permitted % i've
nowhere but In q CONSTRUCTED ghetto.
It was inevitable that he took to pack
bedding. The prejudice against him
always held In any circumstances ana
the people bought very cautiously. The
eIew pack-peddler inevitably became .
sharp trader. He was forced 70 be one
to survive. His system and his sharp
ness were the direct creations OF the
Christian persecution.
American System Followed.
The result is seen today In the strict
licensing Of peddlers. Before the war
any such system as the taking OF orders
for unseen goods from house to house
would have been utterly unwUrkabie.
Even now it Is an experiment. Curious
" enough It is in Germany where the
Jewish oppression lasted longer than
anywhere else save IN Russia, that the
new method Is being most practiced.
S.F1suY d NlRrp q
there is that students are the principal
statesmen and Germany, with an exag-
gerated idea of the value Of education.
especially technical knowledge, Is kindly
disposed toward students and the people,
in general, are willing TO lend them Q
helping hand.
American companies are responsible
for the introduction Of the system ana
are using American methods all the way
through. These methods include the
division Of territory, salesman being
given q certain region as his own IN
which to take orders 50 long IS he
makes good. Furthermore. indirect ma
tional advertising Is being employed.
This is typically American and designed
to create good win and welcome Tor .
particular product anywhere It u offered
rather than advertising Tor any par
ticular store.
An sorts Of lines are being tried in-
Guiding, Of course, the business Of solic-
ting newspaper and magazine sub
scriptions, also an American custom.
Takers Of orders for vacuum cleaners,
sewing machines, washing machines.
books. clothing. soap, tea and coffee.
and all the other multitudinous articles
, Of trade which Americans have sold
from house to house since the day OF
the wooden nutmeg, now are abroad IN
Germany from the shores OF the North
Sea TO the Hartz Mountains.
The reception they receive and the
success they meet in introducing this
American system In D, foreign land
| forms q study Of keen interest to SELL
ers everywhere. OF course. the itinerant
canvassers are natives.
So now when the German hausfrau
hears q knocking on her door she car-
not be certain that 1t Is her gossip from
over the way or even opportunity. 10
probably is the brush man.