az) x Cs x Ss te, CMS OTA tS Goce, Ai GA EX (2 10 5A RS me el SS Se P PUBLISHED. WEEKLY = C SSID ADS A AG eK SVEN MEGS Se CAEN) Spe eee d 7 AX CTE eS) ay, OR RAL oO ge eae cy AN Corbi) rae ATA. Z NCES eT 0 mR) ae cma adi Ly 2 t el Wat GIE ee Llano LESS —— TRADESMAN COMPANY, PUBLISHERS So uN) aS G Rm, SO) DN Coney LR y pry) = dy) 5 Fortieth Year GRAND RAPIDS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1923 SN THE BRIDGE OF YESTERDAY Over the bridge of yesterday My thoughts have turned to-night, And out of the far-off distance Comes a tender, glowing light. It centers around a friendship That has lasted through time and tide, Though the chance and change of fortune Has severed our pathways wide. It may be that earth’s to-morrows Hold for us no meeting place; It may be that only in heaven I shall meet you face to face. But when memory seeks a pleasant trip And the choice of a pathway comes, I choose the bridge of yesterday, To the days when ‘we were chums. FT lll ns 4) N= Fi D a YC wit, 2 452 — oe .~ i awe cP COIR, SS nT _. SOLD EVERYWHERE powder but increas- ed leavening power. Not merely baking The special process. of manufacture is the reason. REG. U.S. PAT. OF F. RYZON is an improvement over old-fashioned powders. It has more raising power, is a slow, steady raiser. It re- QS tains its full strength to the Ryzon-raised cakes last spoonful, keep fresh longer. You use less ee - SPECIALIZE! One good selling point presented forcibly is better than ten half told. The big story about FLEISCHMANN’S YEAST is that it permanently relieves those suffering from constipation. This almost universal ill is caused by flabby intestinal muscles. This natural food gives these muscles the exercise they re- quire. Without such exercise constipation is bound to result. Focus your arguments around this point—it’s valuable! Profitable! THE FLEISCHMANN COMPANY Yeast Service Don’t sign on the dotted line! It is a big mistake to take on a line of coffees that moves in jerks, with a grad- ually lengthening period between sales. That is a ‘‘dotted’’ line. Merchants handling our goods have no between sales periods. Right from the start they enjoy a steady volume of business on our line that increases as the quality and value of our brands become more widely known to their trade. A post card will bring information Chase & Sanborn CHIGAGO Citizens Long Distance Service as Reaches more people in Western Michigan than can be reached through any other tele- phone medium. aa Pgs ra AITERSULLN 21,100 telephones in Grand Rapids. . = Connection with 150,000 telephones in é y ne Detroit. USE CITIZENS SERVICE CITIZENS TELEPHONE COMPANY Nothing as Durable Nothing as Fireproof Sand Lime Brick | R., & F. Brooms Makes ne oon THE No ae rr —. ‘ DANDY Warm. in. Winter Cool In Summer LINE Brick is Everlasting pean Grande Brick Co. Grand B. O. E. LINE Wh. D. Batt | | GRAND RAPIDS KNITTING MILLS FURS - of Hides . High Grade Wool and Tallow Men’s Union Suits at Agents for the Grand Rapids By-Products Co.’s P. ular Prices Fertilizers and Poultry Foods. =P Write or Wire 90-30 Zomls Bt Grand Rapids Knitting Mills Rapids SZ Saginaw Brick Co., Saginaw 7 — Jackson-Lansing Brick Co., rs : Rives Junction P Prices M Special. oo. $ 8.00 3 No. 24 Good Value 8.50 ert Seeer ers , No. 25 Velvet _. 9.50 up work wil make money for you. Easily No. 27 Quality. 10.75 gue deudar’ Wenooteteerecebencrn No. 22 Miss Dandy 10.75 giving kind of machine and size platform B. 2 B. O. E. -. 10.00 wanted, as well as height. We will quote a money saving price. Sidney Elevator Mnfg. Co., Sidney, Ohio Freight allowed on Signs of the Times shipments of five — Ase dozen or more. Electric Signs | g All Brooms . gressi rchan 7 siento an . “g = vain Guaranteed of Electric Advertising. We furnish you with sketches, prices and operating cost for the Rich & France THE POWER CO. 607-9 W. 12th Place Grand Rapids, Michigan Grand Rapids, Mich, = Bell M 797 Citizens 4261 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS =: ' a ee i ee ak i ed ce te a es al. Aa LST Shy ey E SG . ——— Aes Fortieth Year MICHIGAN TRADESMAN (Unlike any other paper.) Frank, Free and Fearless for the Good That We Can Do. Each Issue Complete in Itself. DEVOTED TO THE BEST INTERESTS OF BUSINESS MEN. Published Weekly By TRADESMAN COMPANY Grand Rapids BH. A. STOWE, Editor.- Subscription Price. Three dollars per year, if paid strictly in advance. Four dollars per year, if not paid in advance. Canadian subscriptions, $4.04 per year, payable invariably in advance. Sample copies 10 cents each. Extra copies of current issues, 10 cents; issues a month or more old, 15 cents; issues a year or more old, 25 cents; issues five years or more old 50 cents. Entered Sept. 23, 1883, at the Postoffice of Grand Rapids as second class matter under Act of March 3, 1879. OUR “CORNER” IN GOLD. Charles Percival Isaacs, an English Liberal, in an article in the English Review makes the novel assertion that the United States has deliberate- ly cornered the world’s gold so that its financiers may have an advantage over all rivals in the coming struggle for world control of industry. America, he says, is like a corporation with an abundance of cash during a period of depression, while its competitors have little in the way of assets but idle plants. He scoffs at the view held both in England and in this country that the large gold surp!us here may eventually become a source of embarrassment, and says that American financiers know well enough that this surplus can be easily re- moved by its use to obtain a hold on foreign industries whenever the time comes. In the view of the rest of the world, he says, that time has al- ready arrived, but the Americans have shown themselves far from ready to lend, except when they can make their own terms with the debtor. In- deed, instead of lending gold America is in the market taking still more, leaving the rest of the world to get along as best it can with whatever is left. Consequently, the rest of the world finds itself in a very serious situation. All of this makes interesting reading not for its intrinsic value, but because it illustrates a too common method of approach to this class of economic problems. It is true that this surplus gold is an asset, but that it has been deliberately gathered and is now being hoarded until Europe’s productive en- terprises are to be had at something like upset prices has nothing to sup- port it beyond the vain imaginings of those who hold such views. Most of this gold came to us because Europe, exhausted by four years. of war, was unable to pay us in goods or services for what it had to buy. And for every : GRAND RAPIDS, dollar of gold imported this country gave full value in return in the form of essential commodities. Not only that, but at one time Europe owed the United States several billion dollars on open account for goods which had been supplied on credit. The gold that was coming over at that time covered only a small fraction of Europe’s in- debtedneess to America. Only in the sense that this gold does not circulate freely may we be said to be “hoarding” it, but its concentration in the vaults of the central banking institutions is a safeguard against a return of in- flation. Nor can it be said that this country is unwilling to ‘end its sur- plus gold. Practically every European country that ‘has shown signs of stability has obtained credit in the United States, and a large number of European municipalities and private corporations have done likewise. It would be bad business to lend to the bankrupts on any terms, but they too may expect favorable consideration when once they set their houses in order. America may not have done all for Europe that it shou‘d, but it cer- tainly deserves no censure for a gold hoard that was “wished upon it.” INCREASED DEMAND AHEAD. At this particular time of the year, a week or two is hardly apt to show any material change in mercantile or general business conditions. Nor is the present period any departure from the ordinary in this respect. In the primary markets requirements for Spring have been attended to and so, too, have many for the Fall, the slow initial buying in some instances hav- ing caused operations for the two seasons to merge into one another. In certain lines there has been a dis- position to speculate somewhat in or- der to take advantage of a rising mar- ket, but the general tendency still con- tinues otherwise. Buying is tentative, initial orders being rather to test out the markets and to discover what is salable and what is not. It is fairly well conceded that buying power on the part of the public is greater now than it was at this period a year ago, and that the main thing to discover is whether the inc‘ination to buy is on a par with the ability to do so. Con- ditions generally would seem to favor a good Spring business in household appliances and furnishings of all kinds as well as in apparel. changes in fabrics and fashions being among the contributing factors affecting wear- ables. It is a matter of only a few weeks, also, before an increased de- mand wi.l set in for the numberless lines of commodities needed for con- struction purposes. A large volume of Orders is expected, in view of the numerous building projects planned for aJl sections of the country. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1923 NEVER FAIL POULTRY TONE. Appears To Be Sold Under Peculiar Circumstances. Last November the following let- ter was received from a Michigan dealer: “A salesman by the name of Carl C. Beatty, of the Never Fail Remedy Company, of Fort Wayne, Ind., called ion me and sold me the Never Fail Pou'try Tone. “His stock orders called for one hundred dollars. It was more than I wanted but I finally took same after seeing the great number of orders he had among them very good hardware men. “He showed me an order from Mr. ——of Plymouth, which called for $125 and I happened to be in Ply- mouth on Nov. 13 and Mr. told me that he bought but $25 worth of his product. Therefore Mr. Beatty put one over on me. “Mr. Beatty was at Plymouth about Oct. 18, and agreed to send out a mailing list but up to last Monday Mr. had not heard from the mail- ing list. “Mr. ——to!d me that he thought it was more wind than goods and therefore was not going to push the Poultry Tone. “T gave Mr. Beatty a check and he agreed to hold it for 60 days and four days after that it was presented to my bank for payment and I refused to accept it. I wanted to date the check Dec. 20, but he insisted that he would hold it sixty days and wanted me to date it Oct. 22, which I did.” The order seems to have been taken on stationery headed “Beatty’s Red Farms, Manufacturers of Poultry Tone.” It calls for 175 bottles of Poultry Tone costing the dealer $100. Investigation by Information Ser- vice at National Headquarters reveal- ed the fact that Carl C. Beatty some- times operates under the names Never Fail Remedy Company and Beatty’s Red Farms, the latter a poultry farm on which he raises Rhode Island Red chickens. It is understood that he formerly lived in Lima, Ohio and Van Wert Ohio, coming to Fort Wayne from Chicago in 1917. While the investigation was under way complaint was made to Secretary Sheely against the same party by an Indiana dealer. The correspondence indicates that the Indiana dealer became so enam- ored of Mr. Beatty’s Poultry Tone that he allowed Beatty to walk away from his store with $212 worth of merchandise in exchange for poultry Tone, part of which was to be shipped. The dealer placed his order with Beatty, and gave him $212 worth of merchandise in December, 1920, ac- cordifig to his letter, Number 2057 On January 1, 1923, Mr. Beatty wrote as follows to Secretary Sheely, of Indiana: “T have just returned from a trip on the road and find yours of the 22, and I assure you that it has been an oversight that Mr. has not had attention, and I will personally see that he does at a very early date. “Wishing you a Happy New Year. “T am yours truly, “Carl C. Beatty.” On Jan. 15 the dealer advised Sec- retary Sheely that he had that day re- ceived from the railroad company nine cases of twenty-four bottles each of Never Fail Poultry Tone, presumably shipped by Mr. Beatty. Mr. Beatty apparently does not confine his efforts to the retailer but persuades farmers to part with pro- duce for which he gives promises. The Indiana Farmer’s Guide quotes in a recent issue the following letter from someone in Columbia City, Ind. “Mr. Beatty came here and offered to give us chicken for chicken and said we would never be without chick- ens and eggs. At the end of three weeks after taking our fowls we wrote him and gave him a certain time to get here with them. He brought us one chick for every five he took away. When asked as to when the remainder would be brought he replied that we were to get baby chicks to make up the difference. “He also told us he would take all our eggs in February at 6% cents each. We gathered them carefully and kept them where it was warm and turned them several times a week. We wrote “him and he replied that because of the weather it was not advisab‘e to buy and he had gone back on the egg deal. “He came last fall and selected some fowls we raised and took his choice at $2 each. We do not know whether or not he will ever bring us the little chicks we were to have. We lost $100 worth of eggs since he took our hens away. He brought us chick- ens that were sick and five have died.” How does he do it? You can search us. If he comes to sell you some Poul- try Tone to be paid for in merchan- dise give him a warm seat behind the stove and hand him this article to read.—National Hardware Bulletin. ———_2-29——— No Use For the Bishop. The wife of a Methodist minister was greatly disturbed by the bishop’s orders to transfer her husband to an- other charge. She had recently suc- ceeded in starting a thriving garden, when, alas! there came the bishop’s command to transfer. “Oh, gracious me!” sobbed the wife. ‘“T pray for the day when I die and go to heaven, where I.shall never see or. hear of a bishop!” 2 Ps Restraining. the Authority of the Supreme Court. Grand Rapids, Feb. 20—Congress- man Woodruff, who has demonstrated that, for a green member, he can evi- dence as much activity as many of the older ones, has introduced a bill in the House providing that the United States Supreme Court shall not have power to declare acts of Congress un- constitutional except on a vote of seven of the nine judges. Senator Borah has also introduced a similar bill in the Senate. This is a more feasible and less drastic measure than the one introduc- ed by Senator LaFollette, which was intended to give Congress the power, by a two-thirds vote, to veto any ac- tion of the higher tribunal. The proposal of Congressman Woodruff is to enact a law providing that the Supreme Court may be regu- lated in their powers without a con- stitutional amendment. This feature ‘4s creating a great deal of comment among certain members of the legal fraternity, who claim that Congress has no authority to limit the pewers of the Court. Congressman Woodruff does not agree with them, however, and cites the second paragraph of Section 2, of Article III, of the constitution as his authority, which reads in part: “The Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions and under such regulations as the Congress _ shall make.” In a recent interview Congressman Woodruff said: “It has, to be sure, al- ways been the theory of constitutional lawyers that the Supreme Court did not have the power to declare a law unconstitutional except on overwhelm- ing evidence of its unconstitutionality. The Supreme Court sits in the capacity of a jury of nine members, even though they are great judges. Yet ail other juries can render a verdict only by unanimous agreement. Why should the Supreme Court be the one exception? “When the Supreme Court takes up- on itself the responsibility of declaring a law unconstitutional by a bare ma- jority of one .vote, it arrogates to it- self the right to legislate. “If our friends, the conservatives,” says the Congressman, “claim this proposal is Bolshevik, then we must concede that the staid old State of Ohio is Bolshevik: for Ohio, in its constitution provides that a state law cannot be held unconstitutional except by a vote of eight of the nine judges of the Supreme Court. To those who say such a proposal ‘is revolutionary I would commend the words of Associate Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, who said in a speech at the Harvard law school, Feb. 15, 1913: “I do not think the United States would come to an end if we lost our power to declare an act of Congress void.” With the single exception of the Interstate Commerce Commission, whose self-assumed power transcends the ancient and honorable “divine right of kings,” the autocracy of the Su- preme Court, at times has*not been ap- proached by any similar organization known to history. Its complexion has been both political and sectional, yet it was originally intended to assume a dignity above either consideration or influence. A decision of that body that rocked the earth to its very center in anti- bellum days was the Dred-Scott af- fair. This was an instance where a Missouri slave was taken by his owner to Illinois a non-slave state, thence to Minnesota, a territory, and back to Missouri, a non-slave state. The negro backed by some of the most influen- tial men in the North, claimed, be- cause of residence in free states, im- munity from slavery. It so happened that the Supreme Court, as then constituted, was of Southern tendency, and though the _ €ase was presented by some of the MICHIGAN TRADESMAN greatest legal minds of that day and age, the decision was made on strictly sectional lines, the Court deciding by a majority of one, that the negro was a chattel, and thereby nationalized siavery by degrading the colored man. This decision was more largely re- sponsible for the Civil War than any other consideration, and yet it was made by our highest tribunal after mature consideration, on purely sec- tional grounds. The Hayes-Tilden imbroglio, and the atendant Electoral Commission in 1877, developed the fact that Supreme judges_are not altogether infalliable. The dispute was over the legality of certain electoral votes, the possession of which would determine the result of the Presidential eleection of 1876. To dispose of the matter, Congress legalized what was known as the Elec- toral Commission, consisting of five senators, five representatives, selected by their individual bodies, and five Supreme judges appointed by the President. The Senate, which was Republican, selected five Republicans, the House, Democratic, selected those of that political faith, and the President ap- pointed three Republicans and two Democrats from the Supreme bench. After months of deliberation, under the stress of the greatest excitement ever elicited over a judicial contest, the decision came—the five Republican senators voting for the Hayes electors the five Democratic Congressmen vot- ing for Tilden, while the Supreme judges split on purely political lines, three Republican and two Democrats. Here were five judges of mature age, with a life tenure of office, influenced by politics alone. Other more recent decisions of im- portance have demonstrated the influ- ence of politics, among them being the question of the right of a certain U. S. Senator, claimed illegally elected, to retain his seat. For these and numerous reasons, the efforts of Congressman Woodruff, are evidence of a legitimate desire to regu- late the hitherto unassailable Supreme Court, by requiring, through the pro- posed revision of practice, a majority of eight out of nine supreme judges, to declare an act of Congress unconsti- tutional. The promises of benefits to be de- rived from the Fordney-McCumber tariff legisiation have not, as yet, de- veloped to the satisfaction of anyone, except such as are enjoying its special privileges. Some of its injurious effects may be abundantly demonstrated by even a casual demonstration of the trade figures of the Dominion of Canda for the year 1921 and 1922. ’ The trade between Canada and the United States during the year 1921 at- tained a volume of $1,300,000,000. Dur- ing the year of 1922 it receded to $800, 000,000, the falling off occurring since the passage of the law referred to. American exports to Canada de- clined by 60 per cent. and imports from Canada receded by 40 per cent. During the two periods referred to the natural conditions were practically the same, with the exception of the slight disparity in the currency values, but the fact cannot be overlooked that America’s trade with Canada declined for the most part since the Fordney- McCumber regulations went into ef- fect, and the commodities in which the decline is most noticeable are those which are most conspicuous in our present tariff schedule. A few days ago Senators Walsh and Smoot tried to make an explanation concerning the wool schedules of the present tariff. Senator Walsh declared that the schedules “should not cause an increase in the price of clothes.” But Senator Smoot, on the other hand, made the unequivocal statement that the purposes of the tariff were to ad- vance the price of woolen goods, de- claring that the industry must be~-pro- tected by the advance, though the ad- vance ought to be only nominal. How- ever, the American Woolen Co.—a trust—comes out with a new price list showing that the advance is equiva- lent to $2 to $3 on each suit, with an admission that this but the initial in- crease. In order to prepare the consuming public for the next boost in prices they parade the information that the scar- city of wool will probably supply the excuse for further advances, indicat- ing that the poor sheep, over which Congressman Fordney has shed so many pathetic tears, is not producing a sufficient volume of wool, although the only excuse for the tariff was the protection of the lambs. In this connection the Chicago Journal of Commerce informs us that “the wool tariff results in the high cost of clothing that the the arguments of Senators Walsh and Smoot are noth- ing short of ludicrous. On the same day these gentlemen were making their addresses news came from Bos- ton that a shipment of 12,000 bales of Australian wool, valued at $4,000,000, was in the harbor, and that on this cargo the United States will collect more than $1,000,000 in duty. This one item of news is far more convinc- ing than a week’s debate in the Sen- ate.” Here we have two tangible demon- strations of the evil effects of the tariff legislation referred to. Now we have others. The city having the undesirable dis- tinction of being the worst in the coun- try with regard to the employment of child labor is Woonsocket, R. I., close- ly followed by Fall River, New Bed- ford and Lawrence, Mass., as well as Pawtucket, R. I All of these cities have more than 17 per cent. of child labor, while in cities where manufacturers are not protect- ed by the cotton schedule the percent- age hardly averages one-third the above figures. These schedules were prepared by February 21, 1923 former Senator Lippitt, of Rhode Island, himself constantly posing as a philanthropist, and yet the children still work in the cotton mills instead of attending school, and are still work-- ing at the old schedule of wages be- fore the adoption of this wonderful bill, which was to protect labor against foreign debasement. And this is not all. A wave of commercial dishonesty, unapproachable in recent years, is spreading over the country, as a re- sult of the incidental protection of the Fordney-McCumber act, according to the New York Financial News: “Shoddy! Shoddy! Everywhere we find shoddy and deception. You buy a pair of alleged silk hose, for which you pay an advanced price, on account of Messrs. Fordney and McCumber, and in two days they have a hole in them or show signs of a break; you buy a silk tie and it is ‘sans’ silk: the woman buys a silk dress—oh, my, see the gloss, the shine—isn’t it lovely? Silk?—from Japan or China? No! Lead and other metal, not made by silk worms but two-legged worms in New England. Carloads of metal go into these cotton goods to give weight and gloss. “And general salesmen send travel- ing men around the country to sell these “genuine” goods to honest re- tailers. Why, there isn’t an honest spool of thread on the market to-day —at least at not less than three or four times its former cost. Do you know that the holds of our ocean liners are filled with the cast-off clothes and rags of Europe and these will go into your “all wool” suits and swell overcoats. Oh, don’t be afraid —the germs are all killed in the re- processing. Even the dignified collar of commerce is no longer familiar with the genuine article. It costs twice as much as it used to, is made by child labor and—is not what it seems. The tariff hogs cannot be satisfied—they needs must resort to palpable dis- Assets per $1,000. of Risk __- $43.68 Loss Ratio to Premiums ~_____- 36% % Loss Ratio to Income ___------- 33% Average Loss Ratio of Stock Companies 2 56% investigate. I. W. FRIMODIG, Gen. Mer. CALUMET, MICHIGAN, Finnish Mutual Fire Insurance Co. ORGANIZED IN 1889. AMOUNT OF INSURANCE IN FORCE DECEMBER 3lst, 1922 ____$6,033,803.00 TOTAL ADMITTED ASSETS DECEMBER 3ist, 1922 ~---------_--- NET CASH SURPLUS OVER ALL LIABILITIES ~_-__-__-_----___- DOUBLE DIVIDEND PAID IN 1922, Three and Four Year Periods _- DIVIDENDS PAID POLICY HOLDERS SINCE ORGANIZATION __ FIRE LOSSES PAID POLICY HOLDERS SINCE ORGANIZATION DIVIDEND FOR 1923 50%, MERCANTILE AND DWELLING RISKS SOLICITED Are you saving 50% on your insurance costs? Write for further information to 264,586.56 212,718.32 49,113.47 453,374.50 262,478.56 Surplus per $1,000. of Risk ____ $35.25 Expense Ratio to Premiums __ 18%% Expense Ratio to Income __---- 17% Average Expense Ratio of Stock OOM RIeS oo 42% You should C. N. BRISTOL, Gen. Agt. FREMONT, MICHIGAN intl i Sle scsi NO i vein Ai tac seis February 21, 1923 i MICHIGAN TRADESMAN honesty in order that we may with- stand the blighting effects of foreign labor.” And the poor sheep—no, the un- fortunate owner thereof—is deluged with the tears of Congressman Ford- ney, and selling his wool for any price the “protected” parasite will al- low him—never more than he was paid before he had the advantages of protection. Frank S. Verbeck. —__22>—__ Consumption Now Canners’ Big Issue. The organization of the canning in- dustry in the United States is growing stronger and more helpful every year and is now on such a powerful basis that the industry must go forward. Production has reached enormous di- mensions and questions of distribu- tion and consumption now are giving canners more cause for reflection than is production. There is capacity in the canneries of the United States to produce double the output that they now place on the market. This was proved during the war when the United States Govern- ment encouraged and promoted the canning of foods and bought enormous quantities for the armies of this and other countries. Production of some articles doubled. Since that time the output has been reduced gradually to the normal con- sumption of this country, and canners now are studying methods of so in- creasing consumption that they can run their canneries to full capacity and thereby operate on a much lower cost basis. Their associations and leaders are studying the problems for methods by which the people can be induced to buy and use more of the products of their canneries. Great auxiliary forces are helping the canners in this effort and the 3,000 brokers, the 4,500 wholesale grocers and the 350,000 retail grocers of the United States are allied with the can- ners in this concerted effort. That is what Canned Foods Week—March 3 to 10— means. There is no change in the general market on canned foods. Prices on nearly all items with the exception of the low grades of California peaches are firm and trading has been good on both spot and futures. Canned shrimps are receiving attention and canners are holding same at firm prices. John A. Lee. —~++-+___ Leather Costing More. Further rises in leather recently, particularly in white buckskin and kid, presage higher prices in the near future for shoes in which those ma- terials enter. As yet there has been no marked upward revision in calf, but there was said recently to be the possibility of a strong upturn in this kind of leather within the next few weeks. Although buying of the better kinds of men’s shoes has improved in the last several weeks, it appears that about 25 per cent. of the season’s busi- ness is still to be written. The late placing of the orders, together with a shortage of some of the materials needed by the manufacturers, is mak- ing it difficult to complete deliveries in time. In one factory, for instance, several hundred pairs of shoes are “hung up” awaiting the delivery o: rubber heels. New Building B. Standard Oil Co. Boyne City, Feb. 20—The Standard Oil Co. has acquired the land at the Southeast corner of Park and Water streets, upon which it will build a filling station the coming season. This project has been under negotiation for over two years. The credit for bringing it about is due to the per- severance of J. L. Ekstrom, for over a decade City Clerk, and now of the real estate firm of Cole & Ekstrom. The site is now occupied by an old residence and a nondescript. store building which thave been no orna- ment to the busiest business corner in town. If the company puts up such a plant as in other towns, it will add very materially to the appearance of our business section, besides being a great convenience to the traveling public. We feel that in this connec- tion the Standard Oil Co. should be congratulated. We saw a funny looking map of Michigan the other day. It had no towns, cities or railroads on it and no automobile trails. It had the names of the counties and their outlines and was covered with little crosses, squares and lines. Down in the South end were three counties that were white, all clear. In the tip of the mitten were four and at the West end of the Upper Peninsula was one white space. We examined the text and -found that the white counties were the ones in which all the cattle had been tested for tuberculosis and dis- eased animals thrown out. We were astonished to see that only in this playground of Michigan, Traverse, Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmett could the wayfarer be sure that the milk he drinks is free from the deadly T. B. germs. What more could one want, pure milk, pure water, pure water- washed air? Maxy. —_+-~>——___ How To Prevent Frosted Windows. Cold weather brings with it the problem of frosted windows and con- sequent blurring of the window dis- play. The following simple remedies, however, will soon overcome the diffi- culty: 1. A’ row of holes bored in the woodwork at the top and bottom of the window permits the air to circu- late over the pane, keeps the surface approximately the same temperature as the remainder of the store and pre- vents the gathering of the moisture, -which freezes and causes all the trouble. 2. Where the boring method is im- practicable, a solution of methylated spirit or alcohol may be rubbed on the glass. Another way is to clean the window thoroughly and rub it over with a soft cloth or piece of leather dipped into a solution of one pint of denatured alcohol and one ounce of glycerine. 3. An electric fan in the window space a'so keeps the air stirring and prevents freezing. In stores having only gas supply, a gas pipe run across the base of the window glass, and perforated with small holes every few inches, allowing the jets to escape, will give equally good results. 4. When the floor of the window is level with the bottom of the glass, an elbow-shaped piece of stovepipe may be inserted under the floor so that it wil give forth a current of air from the store. Holes should be bored above the window as an outlet for the air and the stovepipe mouth should .be covered with thin material to pre- vent dust settling on your display. A _ water pipe or almost any sort of piping may be used as well as stovepipe. IN THE WINDOW Do you believe that window dis- plays pay for the trouble of putting them in? Do you find an increase in the sale of certain articles when these are displayed in the windows? Do customers come in and tell you they want goods like the ones they see in the windows? Do your clerks always know which goods are in the window, so that they are co-operating with this most valuable form of advertising? Window display advertising may be the most effective advertising that the merchant can use. It is your space paid for in advance and the articles advertised therein are on sale when the person sees the ad. The value of other kinds of adver- tising is less because the person has to carry the item in his mind until he enters your store. The progressive merchants of to- day are changing window trims more often, making them more at- tractive and more forceful. ARE YOU? WORDEN (JROCER COMPANY Grand Rapids Kalamazoo—Lansing—Battle Creek The Prompt Shippers. MICHIGAN TRADESMAN —== OP a i] Cc Movement of Merchants. Port Huron—A. Pollock, dealer in boots and shoes, has filed a petition in bankruptcy. Detroit—The Grain Realty Co. has increased its capital stock from $100,- 000 to $200,000. Halfway—tThe Kaiser Fuel & Sup- ply Co. has increased its capital stock from $20,000 to $40,000. Ann Arbor—The Ann Arbor Lum- ber Co., Ltd., has increased its capital stock from $10,000 to $20,000. Grand Rapids—J. J. Spehn succeeds F. L. Lossing in the hardware busi- ness at 742 West Fulton street. Petoskey—The Petoskey House Furnishing Co. has increased its cap- ital stock from $25,000 to $40,000. St. Johns—Miss Mary E. Kelly is closing out her stock of fancy and art goods and will retire from trade. “Detroit—The Wolverine Lumber Co., 7720 Plymouth Road, has increas- ed its capital stock from $106,000 to $60,000. Kalamazoo—The Trio Laundry Co., 113 West Kalamazoo avenue, has in- creased its capital stock from $30,000 to $60,000. Lansing—Claude R. Barto succeeds Frank W. Haben in the restaurant and cigar business at 220 East Frank- din avenue. - Detroit—The Discount Service Cor- poration, 1460 East Jefferson avenue, hhas increased its capital stock from $50,000 to $100,000. Alpena—The Lakeside Cranberry Co. has decreased its capital stock from $250,000 to $10,000 and 50,000 shares no par value. Bennington—N. E. Cooper, who has conducted a general store at Pittsburg Corners for a number of years, died at Memorial hospital Owosso, Feb. 14, of pneumonia. DeWitt—Earl J. Tucker has sold a half interest in his stock of general merchandise to his brother Fred and the business .will be continued undér the style of Tucker Bros. Detroit—Coates Motor Sales, Inc., 5740 Grand River avenue, has been in- corporated with an authorized capital stock of $10,000, all of which has been subscribed and $8,500 paid in in cash, Bancroft—C. W. Bennett; who has conducted a grocery store here for the past sixteen years, has sold his stock and store fixtures to Ward Cole and Glenn Cove, who have taken posses- ‘sion. é DeWitt—Harry. Reed -has sold .a half interest in his grocery and meat stock to George Schaffer and the business will be ‘continued after March 1, under the style of Reed & ‘Schaffer. . ~~ Detroit—Auto Service & Sales, Inc., 9430 Woodward avenue, has been in- corporated with an authorized capital stock of $5,000, of which amount $2,- 500 has been subscribed and $2,000 paid in in cash. Grand Rapids—Harry Talbot has sold his drug ‘stock at 1200 Madison Square to George Finnucan, who was formerly postmaster at Charlevoix and also clerked for. F. J. Fessenden, the Charlevoix druggist. Royal Oak—The Cahoon Plumbing & Heating Co., 1401 Woodward, has been incorporated with an authorized capital stock of $10,000, of which amount $5,000 has been subscribed and $1,000 paid in in cash. Detroit—Rose & Fabrizio, Inc., 112 Madison street, has been incorporated to deal in women’s ready-to-wear gar- ments, with an authorized capital stock of $25,000, $1,000 of which has been -subscribed and paid in in cash. Port Huron—N. P. Johnson, Inc., 301 Huron avenue, has been incorpor- ated to conduct a retail shoe, boot and rubber business, with an author- ized capital stock of $15,000, $6,000 of which has been subscribed and paid in in property. Detroit—The Twin Stores Co, 300 Shubart Detroit Opera building, has been incorporated to own and conduct general stores under the chain stores plan with an authorized capital stock cf $100,000, all of which has been sub- scribed and paid in in property. Breckenridge—Guy Milligan and Harry Henry, both of Lansing, have formed a co-partnership and purchas- ed the agricultural implement, plumb- ing and heating business of the late Herman J. Jubler and will continue it under the style of Milligan & Henry. Lansing—Seamen Co., Inc., pro- prietor of the Style Shop, 116 West Allegan street, has remodeled and enlarged its store to such an extent that double the floor space has been acquired. Modern new fixtures, show cases and garment cabinets have been installed. Kalamazoo—Robert J. Menzie, mer- chandise manager of the Palais Royal, Washington, D. C, for a number of years and later acting in the same capacity for Woodward & Lothrop of the same city, has now been engaged by J. R. Jones’ Sons & Co. as mer- chandise manager. Jackson—Jewels, Inc., has engaged in business at 125 West Main street, carrying complete lines of women’s ready-to-wear garments. The store is under the management of Isadore Na- gelberg. Jewels, Inc., conducts a chain of stores in Battle Creek, Kala- mazoo and Detroit. Detroit—The Morris H. Blumberg Electric Co., 327 North Jefferson, has merged its business into a stock com- pany under the style of the Morris - Blumberg Electric Co., with an au- thorized capital stock of $125,000, all of which has been subscribed and paid in in property. Jackson—The West Main street, has been incorpor- ated ‘to conduct a department store with an authorized capital stock of $10,000 common and $15,000 preferred of which amount $22500 has been subscribed and paid in, $12,500 in cash and $10,000 in property. Kalamazoo—A. J. Stall, for the past ten years connected with Morley Bros., Inc., of Saginaw and P. B. Rickenmore, hardware dealer at Rich- land for the past fifteen years, have formed a copartnership and engaged in business at 114 Portage street un- der the style of the Rickenmore-Stall Hardware Co. A. J. Palmer, dealer in general mer- chandise at Gagetown, writes us as follows: “The Tradesman is the best paper we get out of an assortment of five. We like to get trade magazines but we sometimes fall short of read- ing them all but we never miss read- ing in full the Tradesman. May you live long and prosper.” Manufacturing Matters. : Detroit—The Detroit Wire Bound Box Co. has decreased its capital stock from $100,000 to $1,000. Detroit — The Wayne Radiator Works Co. has changed its name to the Wayne Auto Custom Works. Plainwell—The Angle Steel Stool Co. is planning to build a large ad- dition to its plant as soon as_ the drawings can be completed. Allegan—Hollis Baker has purchas- ed the plant of the Ahdawagam Fur- niture Co. and will organize a stock company to continue the business. Howell—Ford Johnson has _ leased the Williams building and will occupy it with his- creamery which he will remove from Lansing about March 1. Grand Rapids—The Spencer-Duffy Co., Inc., formerly the DeLuxe Up- holstering Co., 503 Grandville avenue, has increased its capital stock from $60,000 to $100,000. Muskegon—The Meier-Moe Foun- dry Co. has been incorporated with an authorized capital stock of $15,000, of which amount $10,000 has been subscribed and paid in in property. Detroit—The Peerless Enameling Co., 949-59 Larned street, has been incorporated with an authorized cap- ital stock of $30,000, all of which has been subscribed and $14,200 paid in in property. Detroit—The Michigan Slipper Man-_ ufacturing C., 525 Woodward avenue, has been incorporated with an author- ized capital stock of $12,000, all of which has been subscribed and $8,000 paid in in cash. Detroit—The James Lick Cigar Manufacturing Co., 216 Broadway Central building, has been incorpor- ated with an authorized capital stock of $25,000, $12,500 of which has been subscribed and $4,935 paid in in prop- erty. ‘ Detroit—The National Margarine Co., 1427 First National Bank build-. ing, has been incorporated with an authorized capital stock of $250,000, of which amount $150,030 has been . Alderman Co., 113° February 21, 1923 subscribed and paid in, $30 in cash and $150 000 in property. Detroit—The Chausse Oil Burner Co., 622 Moffat building, has been in- corporated with an authorized capital stock of $100,000 preferred and 20,000 shares at $2.50 per share, of which amount $800 and 80 shares has sub- scribed and $1,000 paid in in cash. Detroit—The Enamelight Corpora- tion, 546 Book building, has been in- corporated to manufacture and sell lighting units, with an authorized cap- ital stock of $100,000 preferred and 10,000 shares at $1 per share of which amount $20,000 and 6,000 shares has been subscribed and paid in in prop- erty. Detroit—The Plastic Products Co., 956 Macomb street, has been incor- porated to manufacture and sell put- ties, plastic cements, paint specia'ties, etc., with an authorized capital stock of $7,000 common and $18,000 pre- ferred, of which amount $8,000 has been. subscribed and paid in, $1,000 in cash and $7,000 in property. ——_.--2 Do Not Allow Stocks To Run Too Low. Written for the Tradesman, Wheat markets have held practical- ly even during the past week and there is nothing in the immediate future to indicate definitely a material change in either direction. Demand for any product is always the big factor influencing price, not only demand for the particular ar- ticle—wheat, for instance—but gener- al demand for the products of the farm and factory in general; in other words, no business is master of the situation in itself, but is dependent upon the general prosperity or finan- cial condition of the country. Reports from all sections indicate practicaly no unemployment at the present time. Factories are running nearly full time. As a matter of fact, the steel mills of the country are run- ning nearly as full time as they did in 1918 and general optimism prevails for the entire year of 1923. Prospects are considerably better than they were for 1922. This means, of course, the public wil have greater purchasing power and when the public has purchasing power, it is always used. This means a good demand for practically all lines which, in turn, spells firm markets, so, as a general proposition, both wheat and flour are good property; whether they will be higher is a ques- tion; certainly they should not be lower. Tt appears advisable to cover trade requirements, but, as stated hereto- fore, there does not appear to be any particular reason why big advances shou'd be scored; consequently, it ap- pears to us it is better to purchase for not over two or three weeks ahead at the most; in other words, in suffi- cient quantity and far enough ahead to assure ample supplies to meet the normal demand. Railroad conditions are such it is inadvisable to allow stocks to run too low, as considerable difficulty is be- ing experienced in moving goods promptly; in fact, some railroads have been obliged to embargo shipments in certain. directions due to conges- tion. Lloyd E. Smith. Sa cet amatn than another. February 21, 1923 MICHIGAN TRADESMAN 5 — Re
--2
Since the Grand Rapids Dry Goods
Co, has taken the position of selling
agent for the Lowell Manufacturing
Co., the latter has been compelled to
increase its forces of employes in or-
der to keep up with the demand for
goods. The same high standard
which has. been maintained in the
past.will be continued. :
bring 60c
RETAIL GROCERS AT LANSING.
Twenty-Fifth Annual Convention Now
in Session.
The annual. convention of the Re-
tail Grocers and General Merchants
Association of Michigan convened in
Lansing to-day. The convention was
called to order by M. C. Goossen,
President of the Lansing Association.
After an address of welcome by Mayor
McComb and a response by E. W.
Jones, of Cass City, President Affeldt
read his annual address, as follows:
One of the painful duties of your
presiding officer at these annual con-
ventions is to give a report of the work
done by himself and the State Asso-
ciation.
Owing to the fact that your past,
present and future presidents are all
men who are actually engaged in the
distribution of food products, whereby
‘they make their living, it is impossible
for them to get out among you re-
tailers in your respective localities and
_in your stores, to talk to you of your
troubles and advise with you as much
as I should like to have done and I
am sure all past presidents would also
like to have done. Therefore your
presidents must act in an advisory
capacity to your Association and their
work must naturally be done through
the Board of Directors, such as pre-
senting to them new ideas, seeing that
these same ideas are carried out and
watching its expenditures. Therefore,
I say, it is a painful duty to give a
report of the activities of the Presi-
dent.
I do not want you to judge your
presidents, past and future by their
reports. Having acted as your Presi-
dent for two terms I am in a position
to know whereof I speak.
You may ask, What has the Asso-
ciation done in the way of legislation?
How many bills were we successful
in having thrown into the discard?
Let me answer this question by asking
one. Is the ability of an officer of
the law judged by the number of ar-
rests he has made on his beat or is it
judged by the peace he has been able
to bring about by his presence in his
community? The mere presence of
an officer in uniform always has and
always will have a tendency to lessen
crime and bring about a respect for
the law. That is why I compare the
duties and the functioning of your
State Association and its officers with
those of an officer of the law. I
stand here to tell you, gentlemen of
the convention, that if we had no As-
sociation there would be laws pro-
posed and put into effect that would
make the path of the retailer much
harder to tread than it is at present
and you all know that is hard enough.
I do honestly believe, wherever‘a bill
is proposed that pertains to our re-
spective business, one of the first
thoughts that comes to its sponsors
is: How will the Association of Re-
tail Grocers and Meat Dealers feel
toward this proposed Legislation?
Will they be for or against it? Then
is it not a fact that the existance of
an Association has its effect on your
community?
I have been asked, time and again,
why is it that we do not have the
strong local associations we used to
have in the past, and why is the mem-
bership of the State Association com-
posed of more individual members
than bodies of local associations? I
have given this most careful thought
and consideration, after talking tc
members of the local associations, and
this is what I find: Nearly every
town and city of any size or impor-
tance has a mercantile organization
or its board of commerce, and where
such exists the majority of grocers
and meat dealers are members of this
same association. The functions of
these bodies are much broader and
cover practically the same ground
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
that local Association did in the past.
Every matter that is brought to the
attention of these boards of commerce
directly affects us, as well as vendors
of products other than food prod-
ucts; matters that pertain to trans-
portation, taxes and legislation. I be-
lieve that it is the duty of every gro-
cer and mea dealer to become a mem-
ber of a mercantile organization or
board of commerce, because meeting
with men in other lines of business
broadens our minds by listening to
their problems and their solutions of
the same. Their method of doing
business cannot but help us to make
ours better and bigger, and when we
have accomplished this, we have ac-
complished that which we are striving
for, to make our business as good if
not better than any other in the com-
munity.
As your President I have had the
pleasure of meeting with and address-
ing the Grand Rapids Association of
Grocers, the Michigan Retail Dry
Goods Association in a convention
at Flint, and the wholesalers of De-
troit at a meeting in Lansing a few
days ago on one of their trade ex-
tension tours. I was also invited to
address the Michigan Canners Asso-
ciation at one of its meetings at
Grand Rapids, which I accepted to
do, but later was forced to decline,
owing to illness among our clerks
which prevented me from making the
trip to Grand Rapids.
We have had two meetings of the
Board of Directors in Lansing at
which time two matters of vital im-
portance affecting the State. Associa-
tion were discussed and disposed of,
one of which was making our conven-
tion a two day convention i: place
of the usual three, an explanation of
which was published in the Michigan
Tradesman of last week; also the dis-
cussion of several resolutions which
will be discussed at this convention.
In closing, I again want to impress
upon your mind that to be a success-
ful business man you must join your
local association or your board of
commerce. You can not completely
isolate yourselves from the remainder
of the world by staying at home or
back of your counter and completely
ignoring your fellow business man.
I believe in that slogan of the Grange,
“Become acquainted with your neigh-
bor, for you might like him.”
I would like before we adjourn to
see this convention adopt Mrs. Dora
Stockman’s slogan, as she gave it to
the Michigan farmer and Michigan
consumer: “Michigan food for Mich-
igan folks.”
Secretary Bothwell was unable to
be present, because of illness. His an-
nual report was read by James John-
son, as follows:
’ In the year that has elapsed since
we met in Bay City, the work of the
Secretary's office has been devoted to
practically the same class of problems
that have occupied its attention dur-
ing the entire seven years that you
have patiently put up with the efforts
that have been made to bring to a
successful issue some of the problems
that needed attention, that would have
added some benefit to the few that
are now enjoyed by those who so in-
nocently engage in the retail distribu-
tion of foods. I say innocently, for
the reason that Tom, Pick or Harry,
while on the outside looking in, seem
to see only the ease with which his
grocer or meat’ dealer passes cut the
articles asked for and the ease that
is apparent in getting the price set on
the article. This man, without the
gates seems to see a chance to reap
a golden gain that is not presented
in any other line, so after getting to-
gether a few hundred dollars decides
that he is well prepared to embark
in the retail grocery business and
when he succeeds in locating a whole-
sale house that will trade their mer-
_chandise for his cash, he goes about
his work with all the zest and pleas-
ure that-a baby enjoys when it gets
its first nicely colored rattle.
This inexperienced grocer in a very
short time finds that the fine friends
who some times enjoyed his hospital-
ity when he was a common, ordinary
citizen, are ready and willing to ac-
cept his merchandise on exactly the
same terms as they accepted his hos-
pitality—the only difference being on
a credit account with a promise to
pay, thrown in. You know the story.
We who have had experience meet the
usual slaughtering of prices in an ef-
fort to hold our trade and sometimes
we criticise the wholesalers who have
sold the goods to this inexperienced
man with a few hundred. Is it quite
fair to criticize the wholesaler when
we in turn extend credit to fellows we
feel sure are not able to pay? But
the problem remains to be corrected
if possible, but how to do it is the
question.
Can legislation be passed requiring
applicants for a license to pass a cer-
tain examination before being permit-
ted to open a store or is it as well to
leave the adjustment of matters of
this kind to chance, time and compe-
tition? Just a few days ago a mem-
ber of this Association and a grocer
of experience advertised that he gave
trading stamps for accounts paid in
full twice each month, and it is a real
certainty that this man must surely
have a desire to make a good fellow
of himself rather than make a decent
living for himself and family, and it
is a fact that men who either inno-
cently or ignorantly use some plan of
a competitive nature that causes the
other man to take a loss, either of
actual cost of goods or customers
should be placed under restriction of
some sort, because he is just as sure-
ly depleting the resources of the man
who is honest in business as though
he took the shorter but punishable
method of stealing.
You men of experience who are
contending with conditions of this
nature should make use of this con-
vention to swap ideas in an effort to
bring out one that will give the of-
ficers a real tangible basis from which
to work in the hope that some con-
structive measure may be worked out.
Fundamentally, the business of deal-
ing and distributing foods is the most
necessary of any business, not alone
because it enables the individual to
have on his table just the kind of
fruit, vegetable or meat that he likes,
but is responsible for the successful
operation of almost all business that
find it convenient to pay their em-
ployes according to the legally estab-
lished method and in order that the
employer of labor may get the ser-
vice before paying for it; the dealer
in foods steps in and feeds the em-
ployed during the time that he is ren-
dering the service to the employer;
but you say, the manufacturer, for
example, can put in a store for the
convenience of his employes, and this
is true, but is it not true that stores
of this class are gradually giving way
to the independent store that func-
tions in an efficient and experienced
manner? Their operators being qual-
ified to supply the employe with food
while he waits for his pay from his
employer? This, then, is a business
that is linked arm in arm with the
manufacturing industry, and in order
that the stability of manufacturing
plants may be continued, we have a
real work to do in continuing to stand
back of the manufacturer whose rev-
enue must be derived on a credit basis
and whose employes must of neces-
sity be taken care of in a credit way,
pending the returns the employer ex-
pects from his product when he can
pay his men and they; in turn, can
pay their grocer or meat dealer. Let
me impress on you dealers here the
real need of your keeping in mind at
all times that you do a credit business
are the real factor and back bone of
the prosperity that come to your com-
munity and this feature of the food
February 21, 1923
distribution business should be very
earnestly considered in your delibera-
tions in order that the institution in
your midst that is operating solely
as a profit maker be properly under
stood and regarded in the same way
in which this class of store regards
the community from which it plucks
its profits. We find what is common-
ly known as chain stores and mail
order houses coming under this head
and notwithstanding the fact that the
Joint Commission of Agricultural En-
quiry in their investigation did not
find these stores to be giving any bet-
ter prices to the consumer, yet it is
surprising the number of people who
have given no thought as to what
would happen td a town if every
store in it became over night chain
stores doing a strictly cash business.
What would this mean to the manu-
facturer, farmer, mechanic or work-
‘man who of necessity does a credit
business? What would this mean to
a community if the profits derived
from retail business were sent to some
other city and there used as a means
of creating a greater tax revenue for
that city? Development is dependent
on profit; if the profit is taken away
there can be no development,
When the convention was over at
Bay City there was every reason to
expect greater progress than ever be-
fore, but it is hardly possible to get
the most intensive work done when
those who should be interested are
too busy to give some time to doing
the little each one might do to get
the other member in. We have re-
peatedly asked for a list of all grocers
in a town or for the name of others
who should be members and in the
year from present members we have
been favored with thirty names, while
from other sources we have the names
of some 1500 that should be solicited
if a Secretary was well enough paid
in order that he could give his whole
time to the work, but with more than
one-half the membership delinquent,
it is hardly possible to accomplish as
much work as would be the case if
dues were paid promptly when state-
ments are sent out. It is not possible
to get service unless it is paid for and
the small amount of annual dues, if
paid promptly, is sufficient to do the
necessary work at the present time.
There are 411 delinquent members and
each of them have had from three to
four letters and while these delinquent
chaps are neglecting to send in their
$2.50 some other fellow is making use
of his time in an effort to pass legis-
lation which will compel the payment
of annual license of considerable pro-
portions, and yet some of these fel-
lows will sob, “Oh, it can’t be done.”
Whereas, if they would tell the truth,
it would more probably be. No, I am
so indifferent I won’t pay $2.50 to try
and protect myself from paying a $15
license, but we consider that the move-
ment for a better world was started
by one man and has been worked in-
tensively for 2000 years. There may
be some chance of winning the sup-
port of those who from indifference,
inattention or neglect allow their
names to be on the delinquent list.
Had these delinquents paid as they
should the finance would have stood
at a very satisfactory mark, the re-
ceipts and expenses being as follows:
Cash receipts ....2...._-._ $3,182.00
Total expenses —---_-------- 084.7
Expenses greater than receipts 902.67
Delinquent dues ~-.-----_--- 1,027.50
When paid these will leave a bal-
ance on hand of $124.83.
From the foregoing statement you
will readily see that considerable work
must have been done when receipts
of $3,182 are shown, but because of the
many little things of a personal nature
we have done, it is hardly a proper
time or place to refer to many of
them, and ‘yet an illustration or two
will serve to give you some idea of
the problems that can be handled by
associations that are not possible to be
handled by an individual.
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February 21, 1923
.
7
- During the past. summer this office
was solicited for help by some of our
members, living in Mecosta county
where the P. M. Railway were at-
tempting to pull up their tracks. We
framed resolutions to the Interstate
Commerce Commission and other of
our Government agencies who had
charge of the railway plea, with the
result that the railway is still oper-
ating and these members of our As-
sociation are still receiving the bene-
fits from the railway service.
One of our members in a town of
2,500 inhabitants explained in some
degree some of the difficulties that
assailed his line of business and after
meeting with the retailers of the town
they have. succeeded in passing an
ordinance under which they can cor-
rect the difficulties that were assailing
them as loyal citizens and good mer-
chants.
As I write this report I have a
letter from one of our members who
was pursuaded to sign a contract with
the Creasey Corporation and he after-
wards found that the contract meant
giving something for nothing. As a
result he has delayed paying his notes.
Now the attorney for Mr. Creasey
writes him threatening suit and he has
appealed to this office, and we have
advised that we are ready to do any-
thing possible in proving from vari-
ous sources that he has received no
value for the money already paid and
until Creasey is prepared to give value
for value received he is not entitled
to any more money.
These are matters of a personal na-
ture which cannot very well be made
public, but it. serves to show the value
of the Association; and while there
are a great many circumstances of a
similar nature that can be handled
profitably and satisfactorily by an
Assocition, yet if they are not sub-
mitted the individual must of neces-
sity carry the responsibility himself.
Just a day or so ago—in fact, the
first day of the new year but too late
to be carried in last year’s report—
we received the membership fee for
six new members as the result of the
effort put forth by one gentleman who
has been a member of the Association
for a number of years and who has
taken sufficient interest in the welfare
of those with whom he associates in
his own town to interest others in
joining with the State Association in
order that greater good may come
to the business in which he is en-
gaged.
As a little sample, at the last ses-
sion of the Legislature a bill was in-
troduced to license retail dealers for
selling eggs—the proposed license
being $15 per year—but through the
efforts of the Association, coupled
with the wisdom of some of our wise
men in the Legislature the bill was
consigned to the waste paper basket
and, in addition to this, the member
ef the Legislature who was so unwise
as to introduce the bill of this nature
was left at home in the last election
when it was his ambition to become
a Congressman.
The work of the Secretary’s office
is exceedingly important and it is hop-
ed that the delegates will select the
best man available to fill the office
and that they will provide ways and
means of keeping him employed full
time, as there is plenty of work to do
that will take intensive thought and
prompt acion of any man who is
qualified to fill the office in an ac-
ceptable manner.
Permit me to extend to the entire
membership my thanks at this time
for the splendid way in which they
have supported my efforts and if it
should be your pleasure to have some
one else for Secretary another year,
I trust you will feel free to call on me
for any help I may be able to give
in the solution of any problems that
may present themselves
John A. Green, of Cleveland, then
read a paper on the “Essentials Nec-
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
essary.to Success in the Grocery Busi-
ness,” as follows:
The hour has arrived when the
dial has registered, the passing of an-
other year and we meet here to-day
to swap our experiences, to talk over
our successes, disappointments, to
foster the spirit of fraternity and to
take active part in all the discussions
of problems that vitally concern the
commercial welfare of all our people.
This is a convention of busy men who
are willing to absent themselves from
their places of business for a short
time in the hope of finding, in a con-
densed form the information they so
greatly need to meet the changed and
changing conditions of modern mer-
chandising.
You will profit and appreciate these
meetings only, as you enter into the
spirit of them. Your convention will
be dead unless you by your untiring
efforts,. quicken into life the program
arranged for your consideration. Dur-
ing the last two years courage, ability
and resourcefulness of the business
men have been severely tested. Some
of our anticipations have been realiz-
ed, while others have met with dis-
appointments. The future will demand
a great deal from us. The public is
demanding more and more, and it
places the merchant in a position
where he must substitute thrift for ex-
travagance; industry for indifference,
and a service to meet all demands and
at the same time given in the most in-
telligent manner, and in the least cost-
ly form.
come is a thing of the past. Intense
endeavor and ingenuity make for
prosperity. Who would ever have
thought that the banks would be ad-
vertising for business, yet you see
them in the most intensive manner
bidding for the privilege of having
your savings account. We should tell
the public that we want their business
and why. Let us get the true facts
before the public in our way, rather
than sit idly by and let some politi-
co influence the public mind against
All that such people can see is that
the manufacturer gets so much and
the customer pays so much.
What is the outlook for the single
store grocer who purchases his sup-
plies from the wholesale grocer, dis-
tributes by delivery and extends
credit?
The prosperous grocer of thirty or
forty years ago had his principles of
business laid down on the following
plan: “Buy liberally for your im-
mediate needs. Don’t buy more no
matter what the price. Take advan-
tage of every discount. Extend credit
on a pay day basis. In order to re-
tain the good will of your customers,
see that all bills are paid in full.”
Living up to the above rules, he
put nearly all his energy into the
selling end of his business. He was
forced to collect promptly in order
to discount his bills. His turnover was
rapid, his overhead was light, and un-
less the pay day of his customers was
exceptionally long he did most of his
business on very limited capital.
To any one in need of advice the
above is the most constructive advice
that could possibly be given. When
a grocer pays for all the goods he
buys within the discount period, he
usually buys at the closest price that
any one can buy for.
The time for pessimism in the gro-
cery business is past. He must have
absolute confidence in his own method
of distribution and forget all others.
Any system that comes into existence
will win or fail, just as it appeals to
the consuming public. The grocer
must centralize his own business. He
cannot patronize every salesman that
comes along. The grocer centralizing
his own buying power makes his busi-
ness an asset to the wholesaler, and
he, in turn, naturally takes care of him
just as the retailer takes special care
of his best patrons.
_A. E. Smith of, Kenton,
wholesale grocer, has solved the po-
- ed banquet and speakers.
Waiting for business to -
Ohio, ©
_sition of wholesaler and retailer in his
territory. He invited all the retailers
in his territory into Kenton. Furnish-
Organized
and run a food show, which all his
guests attended. So far as I could
judge from what I saw, the only man
in their mind was their host, A. E.
Smith. They are all doing a good
business.
There are certain people in every
village, town and city who are willing
to do certain things when influenced
by certain psychological impressions.
In this instance it is the cash or chain
store If you will stop to consider
the small percentage of cash stores to
the number of service stores in every
city, you will soon determine for your-
selves which system is the most like-
ly to survive. What gives the cash
store its prestige? Advertising. Take
up any paper and-you will find prices
quoted every day, bombarding the
public with the idea that the prices
quoted there are less than the goods
can be bought for elsewhere. If a
comparison were made by the con-
sumer, she would find that some of
the goods could be bought at the ser-
vice store for less than that quoted.
The differenece is this: One tells his
story, the other does not. Recently I
saw in a department store advertise-
ment, “Ivory soap regularly 14 cents,
reduced to 12 cents.” The same day
I bought a bar for 12 cents in a ser-
vice store. A few years ago we were
sending our anathemas after the mail
order house. To-day it is the chain
store phantom that seems to be dis-
turbing the peace. If we could stop
talking about chain store for one year
and keep hammering ‘out constructive
methods and such practical advice as
would help in the successful and sat-
isfactory marketing of the goods we
have to sell, it might be the best pos-
sible thing to do. Perhaps it is neces-
sary to everlastingly keep holding up
the chain store scare crow in order to
frighten the ordinary grocer into
more careful and better business
methods. Anyone moving about from
city to city cannot help seeing that
changes are taking place. The single
shop retailer has awakened to the fact
that he must change his plans of op-
eration and his store begins to reflect
his new ideas. Cleanliness, store ar-
rangement and window display. In-
tensive selling, careful and yet liberal
buying. Delivery to a service basis
and credit intelligently extended. If
this has come about very largely
through the advent of the chain store,
then they have been a godsend _ in-
stead of a menace.
Co-operative advertising, when it is’
loyally supported by the retailer, has
been one of the best moves the re-
tailer has made. The organization in
each city where this is done has
adopted a monogram which the retail-
er has placed on the window or door
of his store. He has regular bargain
days and wholesaler and retailer are
working together on a common basis.
On a recent Saturday the Cleveland
grocers sold 2700 hams. The increas-
ed sales more than made up for the
decreased profit, besides leaving the
impression that all goods are sold on
a like profit.
The sentiment prevailing at the Ohio
convention of retailers last October
during their three day meeting was
that, so far as being a harmful com-
petitor, the chain store had outlived
its punch and that the up-to-date re-
tailer could beat it to a frazzle.
That the methods of business have
been undergoing a gradual change is
~well impressed on all our minds and
there can be no doubt that it is a
part of that process of advancement
which is manifest in every department
of human ‘history; hence it is no ex-
aggeration to say that the grocer of
to-day who maintains his position in
the teeth of the relentless competi-
tion which surrounds him is more effi-
cient and capable than many of his
predecessors.
Pessimists speak only of the failure
and of the decay of the ordinary gro-
cer. .Optimists speak of his.successes,
and it is.to the brighter side of things
that the association men are trying
to direct the thoughts of the members.
If there is one thing, more than
another, that I would like to empha-
size now, it is the nobility of the re-
tail trade. The retailer’s chief weak-
ness has been this small opinion of
himself. Just as soon as the retailer
concludes to cease receding towards
self elimination, the question of too
many retail stores will find prompt
solution. I don’t think the grocer
needs so much education as he needs
to get right down darn mad to a
fighting basis. We have laid back too
long and by our easy way of doing
business allowed others to come in
and absorb the trade that rightfully
belonged to us.
The necessity for retail grocery or-
ganization was never more apparent
than it is now. They need more lo-
cals and these locals should be hitch-
ed up with the state and the Na-
tional. The National has never done
more efficient work than it is doing
now. Francis E. Kamper has devoted
his time, money, and strength, and
his ability to the welfare of the gro-
cers of the United States. If the re-
tail grocers do not fittingly rally to
his supreme effort, they will miss a
privilege that will not present itself
again in many, many days.
Every indication points to a very
prosperous year. In the industrial
section any man who wants work can
find it. The retailer who takes ad-
vantage of his opportunities will get
his share of the business.
The store of Know and Go has
nothing to fear, but the retail grocer
who hopes to win with discarded
service, long credits, labels instead of
quality implanted traditions is: facing
a repeating rifle with a pop gun.
When we learn that one of the
chain units is coming in our ring we
talk fight, but when we see it and
feel its punch we scare into a pepless
defense. This is not the course of all
grocers. We have seen many instanc-
es of revived business activity on the
part of retailers who were spurred on
by this competition. All found their
incentive to battle for the public
patronage by the coming new store,
the new system, the new brands and
the new selling price. All these lines
of defense have outstanding successful
engagements. But fighting for busi-
ness under the old-time copy book
maxims is hazardous in the extreme.
For instance, “Goods well bought are
half sold.” “Honesty is the best
policy.” “A smile wins a multitude
of friends,” etc. The retail grocer
who is not cognizant of his competi-
tion is already among the vanquished.
When you hear or read that a quality
grocer or a credit giving grocer has
nothing to fear, look out for the
curve. Take it from experience, the
knowing and going grocer can win
and usually does win because he is
willing. to fight for the business.
It is well to get a good perspective
of the business situation, which can
only be had by mixing your experi-
ences with that of your fellow trades-
man. However, a lot of learning has
no value as talk, but it is mighty
powerful in activity. And after all
the modern competition has poked the
old merchant in the ribs, made shiny
trousers seats go out of style, and
brought a grocery conviction that the
retail grocer would find more business
and more profits in catering to the
food consuming public than in any
other trade or profession. The stages
to the new grocery business are:
Concern, Confer, Concur. No retail
grocer has all the right views. No
retail grocer is always wrong. But
from all the retail grocers the whole
right may be gathered. The winner
is ‘he who can guess the public right.
The store of the future will. be a
tidy store, with a reasonable selection
of character goods, priced as if the
consumer and dealer had conferred
as to the price to be paid. A little
(Continued on page 39.)
£
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4
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
February 21, 1923
GREAT DISTURBING FACTOR.
Prospécts in Europe continue to be
the great disturbing factor in trade.
Aside from Great Britain, which
shows the nearest approach to stabil-
_ ity, most of the countries on that con-
tinent are slowly emerging from the
political and financial deluge in which
they were engulfed. Poland and
Czechos‘ovakia are in the van in in-
dustrial progress. The key to the
situation, however, still remains in
Germany, which has been allowing
matters to drift along. Up to the
Ruhr invasion the aim was to coddle
the industrial magnates and trusts so
as to keep down unemployment.
Profits from the industries were sent
abroad so as to escape home taxation.
The government felt itself too weak
_ to. lock horns with the great capital-
‘ists’ and substituted large issues of ir-
‘redeemable paper
currency in the
place of taxes to meet its obligations.
This inflation has aided in the pro-
duction of manufactured goods at
re‘atively low prices, but it is already
showing signs of coming to an end.
It seems a matter of only a short time
before a proper and adequate system
of taxation must be put into effect.
This will bring with it higher prices
and make it more difficult for the Ger-
mans to compete with those of other
countries in foreign trade, but the
competition, in that event, will be
healthier and more like normal. A
scaling down, meaning a greater or
less repudiation, of the currency will
leave Germany with a comparatively
small amount of fixed charges to meet
in the way of interest on bonded debt
and will make it easier for her to dis-
charge her treaty obligations. But all
of this will have to be done before
trade with and to that country can
be done in the customary manner.
Until that happens the commerce of
Europe and of a great deal of the re-
mainder of the world will be fitful.
This country will, furthermore, con-
tinue to be one of those especially af-
fected.
FIRMER TONE IN MONEY.
Industrial news of the past week
was of a most encouraging nature, and
stocks and bonds made further gains
in response thereto. A moving force
back of the optimism in trade circles
is undoubtedly the continuation of
large building permits. Activity in
building reacts favorably on a large
number of other industries, such as
steel, machinery, electrical, and trans-
portation. The steel industry, mean-
while, reports further increase in its
rate of operations and prices are
hardening. Labor shortage at the
mills, however, is becoming more
acute and renewed talk of wage in-
creases is heard. Coal production has
slackened somewhat as a result of les-
sened demand in the West and trafs-
portation difficulties in the East. The
railroads continue to move a record
tonnage for this season of the year
and are doing their utmost to bring
4
their equipment facilities up to re- .
quirements, orders for the year to
date amounting to 562 locomotives,
17,035 freight cars, and 523 passenger
_» ears. Non-ferrous metals have firmed
+ up noticeably and another advance in
_ Eastern crude oil was announced. In
the commodity markets cotton, wheat
and sugar continue to meet with good
buying. The cotton report of the
Census Bureau for January shows a
larger increase in mill consumption.
An increase of over $84,000,000 in
bill holdings of the Federal Reserve
system indicates expanding ‘business
and a firmer tone rules in the money
market. Foreign exchange has moved
irregularly. A sharp upturn in marks
and a new high for sterling contrasted
with renewed weakness in the French
franc.
The tightening of money rates dur-
ing the past week aroused special in-
terest, as it was not due to the ap-
proach of a tax date or of end of the
month settlements, nor is there any
special demand for funds. at this time
from the agricultural districts. The
firmness in the money market was in-
terpreted in financial quarters as due
in part to the substantial gain in the
volume of business since the begin-
ning of the year. It is a fact that the
volume of business activity continues
to exceed expectations of six weeks
ago. The consumption of raw cotton
last month was, with the exception of
two months of the war period, the
largest on record, and the iron and
steel industry is now busier than at
any time in about three years. Along
with these developments there has
been a stiffening of prices, which also
tends to remove some of the slack in
the money market, as it takes more
dollars to finance a given transaction
now than it did when prices were low-
er. The cumulative effect of the large
offerings of new securities should also
appear in money rates, and it may be
doing so. In spite of a somewhat
firmer tone, money continues re‘ative-
ly easy and the banks are able to meet
all demands for credit without any im-
portant rediscounting operations with
the Federal Reserve Banks. Just at
present the latter have little or no in-
fluence on the money market.
COTTON AND COTTON GOODS.
No very decided movement iri cot-
ton has been in evidence during the
past week. As a rule, the changes
have been within a limited range.
There are many who incline to the
belief that prevailing prices reflect the
worst that may happen. The carry-
over of American cotton this year, it
is estimated, will be about 2,750,000
bales, which is a low figure. What
another short crop would mean is evi-
dent, but prices for futures do not
bear out the assumption of such a
happening. Still, much attention is
paid to weather and other conditions
in the growing districts. The recent
frosts are looked upon as auguring
well for the next crop. The effect of
them will be to decimate the boll
weevil over a great portion of the
South. An increased acreage planted
to cotton is also looked upon as prob-
able in view of all the circumstances.
The Census Bureau figures, issued
during the week, showed an increased
consumption of cotton in domestic
mills during January. In that month
610,875 bales of lint and 49,804 bales
of linters were used, as against 527,-
945 bales of lint and 49,078 of linters
in December. .. The quantity consumed _
last month was exceeded only in
March, 1916, and May, 1917, in each
of which the amount was something
over 613,000 bales. The number of
cotton spind’es operating in January
was 35,240,853, which made a new
record. It exceeded, by about half a
million, the number operating in 1913,
most of the excess being in the cot-
ton growng States. A fair amount
of activity prevailed during the week
in the goods market. Printcloths and
sheetings were sold at advancing
prices, and finished goods shared in
the rise. Certain lines of Southern
ginghams ‘have been withdrawn as
sold up. Underwear for Fall is de-
' clared pretty well cleaned up, and
hosiery sales have also been quite
marked.
OIL AS A TROUBLE MAKER.
There must be a good many plain
citizens who have occasiona!ly paused
to ask themselves what is their in-
herently wicked in oil or in the quest
ef it. In common practice it has been
enough to refer to the smell of oil at
the Genoa conference or to the reek
of ioil at the Lausanne conference, in-
stantly to stamp such conferences with
moral obloquy.
Sometimes, too the question occurs
wherein consists the evil of “exploit-
ing” oil wells situated in backward
countries. It may be that the Mexi-
can people ought to get a larger profit
on its oi! deposits than it gets from
the foreign companies, but it would
be pretty hard to show that the Mexi-
can people has suffered by the for-
eigners coming in and drilling the oil
that the Mexicans themselves are in
no position to get out of the soil.
Rather fantastic is the picture of
grave wrongs visited upon the Kurds
of the Mosul region if this foreign
company or that succeeds in getting
hold of the oil concessions. There
may be a notable percentage of differ-
ence in royalties; but about exploiting
the oil in Kurdistan there can be on
the whole as little question as about
exploiting the wheat and pork re-
sources of the United States or ex-
ploiting the butter and cheese re-
sources of Denmark. If oil is an in-
ternational trouble maker, so are coal,
iron, rubber, jute, sugar and other
commodities that the world needs very
much and wants very much.
William Hard, in the Nation, de-
spite his traditional headline, “Oil-
Burning Politics,” and despite a long
list of international problems tied up
with oil, seems to be fairly cheerful—
and more than normally intelligent—
about the villainy of oil. “Motor cars
have necessitated the struggle for
more and more oil,” he says, “and Mr.
ford, who pretends to be a great lover
of peace, is one of the chief causes,
unconscious but compelling, of the
world’s present belligerent oil diplo-
macy.” To which the answer might
be that the effort to obtain oil for the
commendable purpose of running au-
tomobiles ought not to be regarded as
belligerent.
A business, like an individual, can-
not stand still; the only alternative to
progressiveness is retrogression.
el
Build your dam like the beaver in
‘the middle of the stream and your
fishing will be good.
THE WOOLEN GOODS MARKET
While there are occasional evi-
dences of softening in the prices at
the Australian wool sales during the
past week,-the general tone still re-
mains strong. Arthur Goldfinch, Lon-
don Chairman of the British Austral-
ian Woo! Realization Association, is
quoted as saying that the world’s pro-
duction ‘of wool is short, that the sur-
plus of pooled wool will be exhausted
this year and that matters are getting
back to the pre-war status, when not
enough wool was grown in a year to
meet the world demand. No prospects
are offered, he added, for any large
increase in the supply. As against
this, there is an intimation from the
West Riding of Yorkshire, the core
of the British woolen industry, that
wool -stocks are piling up and that
some of the price advance is due to
speculation. Americans have been
among the ‘bidders at the recent for-
eign auction sales. Imports of wool
continue large, while the prices for
domestic sorts stay high. Mills are
busy on initial orders. A number of
openings took place during the past
week,
somewhat larger than those of the
principal factor. There is evident a
little more disposition to take wor-
steds. Novelty fabrics are especially
sought, sometimes to the neglect of
the staples. A notable opening was
that, on Thursday, of dress goods by
the Pacific Mils at prices showing
comparatively small advances. Other
openings of similar goods will be had
from now to the end of the month.
Fabrics of camel’s hair, alone or in
combination, are selling well. Manu-
facturers of clothing and garments
are encouraged by the outlook in
their respective fields.
PERFIDY OF HENRY FORD.
Obtaining goods under false pre-
tenses has always been considered one
of the basest crmes in the calendar.
Such being the case, what conclu-
sion must any honest man be com-
pelled to form from the promise of
Henry ford to pay the creditors and
stockholders of the Lincoin Motor
Co. in full, providing Judge Tuttle
legalized ford’s bid of $8,000,000 for
$30,000,000 worth of property?
But one conclusion can be formed
—that Henry ford is the biggest con
artist who ever lived.
Some cautious souls may say that
Judge Tuttle was “easy’—that he
should have insisted on having the
ford proposition in writing. Knowing
what he now knows about Henry ford
as an “artful dodger,” that is probably
true; but few people would have re-
fused to take at par the word of the
richest man in the world under the
circumstances. Judge Tuttle probably
would never again accept the word of
Henry ford for 5 cents. Judging by
ford’s action in this case, that is more
than it is evidently worth in the mar-
kets of the world at the present time.
And yet Henry ford aspires to be
President of the United States—to oc-
cupy the shoes of such men as Wash-
ington, Lincoln and Roosevelt—in the
face of the basest perfidy ever con-
cocted by a man who poses as a pub-
lic character and a’ public benefactor!
*
the prices showing advances.
= =
_
oe
Ce cee en ENR EE
renee
February 21, 1923
“
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
WINDOW ADVERTISING.
Psychological Factors Involved in the
Art.*
I wonder how many of you are
prejudiced on account of the title of
my address? If you are skeptical or
dubious or belong to that class of folk
known as “doubting Thomases,” will
you just grant me an open mind for
the next few: minutes? I shall chal-
lenge you, in the end, to weigh my
assertions in the balance of actual
practice and test for yourself the con-
clusions I would draw from premises
based on the psychological factors in-
volved in window advertising. I shall
not, by any means, exhaust the sub-
ject on which I am to speak. The
few ideas I shall propose, furthermore,
will be merely suggestive. They must
be modified, it is obvious, by your
available window. space, available
funds for advertising, inclination, and
appreciation of effective window ad-
vertising as contrasted with mere
passive show window designing.
When Secretary Scott wrote me for
the title of my address, I confess I
hesitated what title to give. I appre-
ciate most poignantly to what extent
so-called psychological stuff has been
foisted on a more or less credulous
public; to what extent there has been
purveyed, with the true psychological
matter now available, questionable
and misleading literature in the guise
of psychology. I deprecate most em-
phatically this mistreatment of a splen-
did science, but inasmuch as chicanery
and deceit have found their way into
every other science and art, little else,
I presume, could be expected of psy-
chology.
Despite the vast amount of spurious
stuff, however, that has been peddled
within the past few years, psychology
has found effective application in
numerous phases of our lives. The
economic market has felt its worth in
numerous ways. The selection of
executives is not made altogether re-
gardless of the applications of psy-
chology and, in turn, in the selection
of subordinates and employes. It
seems to me psychology contributed
immeasurable value during the kaiser’s
war in the selection of working peo-
ple in war manufacturing concerns.
Employes were needed and needed
quickly. Employment psychology
made possible the selection of the
most, efficient workers in a minimum
of time, and with a minimum loss in
material. Psychological procedure
was the means by which prospective
officers were selected from the ranks
and enlisted men placed in their most
effective branch of warfare. The uni-
versities in their departments of psy-
chology have organized courses in
salesmanship and in business proce-
dure. Psychology is finding effective
application in law, medicine and very
much so in education.
Psychology is the science of the
mind. Asa science it has certain basic
laws and principles, as well as mere
theories.. Too many people, I fear,
are prone to consider it all theory and
nothing else—much to their loss. The
average mind functions in accordance
with the
*Paper read at annual meeting Mich-
igan Retail Hardware Association by
Wm. L. Fuehrer, of Boyne City.
established psychological .
laws and principles. Isn’t it incum-
bent on our part, therefore, that we
ascertain precisely what these laws
are, how they function and how they
are applicable to hardware advertis-
ing? I am convinced, from the char-
acter of much of the hardware window
stuff I have seen, that too much at-
tention is paid to the articles to
be sold and too little attention
is paid to methods by which
they can be sold. Let us forget, a
little about our hardware and try to
find out how the mind functions. Re-
member, it is the mind that evaluates,
responds, reasons, judges and finally
decides. If we know, therefore, just
how the mind does ultimately decide,
we undoubtedly can sell more effect-
ively by adapting our window adver-
tising to conform to its functioning.
In selecting the location of your
store you were desirous of locating
on a well traveled street, and with
ample window space. You wanted to
be at or near tha locality where many
people passed your store window, so
that you could show your wares,
through the medium of your window
to the greatest number of passersby.
For the privilege of that location;
for the privilege of a show window at
that particular place you pay an enor-
mous rental price. Is that window
paying you returns at all commensu-
rate with the price of its rental? Is
your window a liability or is it a
valuable asset? Are you paying for a
white elephant? You know exactly
how much each of your salesmen is
worth to you. You can’t afford to
retain a salesman who is “not worthy
of his hire.” It is a matter of busi-
ness, in fact, a matter of dollars and
cents, a matter of success or failure,
for you to see that your salesmen are
worth more than their hire. It is a
matter on which you keep yourself
intimately informed; but what concern
do you exercise in the matter of your
window? Do you know whether it is
yielding returns at all commensurate
with its rental? No tradesman can
afford to keep a show window now-
adays. His window must be an ef-
fective salesman—a potent unit in his
selling force earning returns as ef-
fectively, in its limited way, as the
salesmen in the store.
It is necessary in this address that
I have your undivided attention’ if I
am to get any ideas across to you.
When you attend to what I am Say-
ing, then your mental attitude is re-
ceptive; without your attention, my
talking is futile. In identically a sim-
ilar manner it is necessary that the
passerby attend to the window sales-
man, otherwise it is impossible for
the window to talk an idea across to
the passerby. Attention is necessary
—concentrated attention. The officer
calls “attention” and every man in the
ranks is alert, concentrating all atten-/.
tion on the focal point—the officer.
His commands are understood and
immediately obeyd. I am reminded
of a line in Milton’s Paradise Lost,
“Attention held them mute.” The
sunlight streams in the open window,
spreading a glow of warmth, but
nothing else. As a boy, you have
taken a burning glass, collected these
diffused and random rays, concen-
trated all these rays on a given spot,
scorched a piece of wood, burned the
back of your hand or burned a hole
in a piece of paper. As the pedestrian
passes your window, gather in and
concentrate on the wares you have in
your window his fullest attention by
all the forces of suasion and argu-
ment you can marshal into that win-
dow. Drive home the image or the
picture of the wares you want to sell.
Burn them in! And when you have
gotten across the idea you want to
sell, he may pass on, and you have
the knowledge that ultimately there
may be consummated a sale that had
its inception in that window.
People are not inattentive, by the
way. If you are not listening to what
I am saying this morning, you are not
inattentive. You are simply not at-
tentive to my addresses, but you are,
on the other hand, attending to. some-
thing else. Attention of some sort is
present at all times and I might add
_here that what is meant by attention
is that consciousness has a focal point
—all thought is centered on an object
or idea. It is the function, it seems to
me, of the window to gather in this
otherwise random attention and focus
it on the object in the window. From
the standpoint of psychological no-
menclature, also, it is immaterial to
us whether attention is voluntary, in-
voluntary or non voluntary. From
our standpoint there are really no dif-
ferent kinds of attention. Whatever
difference we may choose to consider
is in the way we secure attention.
Attention is demanded by an in-
sistent idea or a sudden or intense
stimulus. An idea involves the sub-
jective which lies wholly within the
mind, and for the time being we may
disregard it. We will recur to it later.
An intense or sudden stimulus in-
volves the objective; i. e., the thing
stimulating the mind lies wholly with-
out the mind—for a sense of clarity,
lies wholly without the brain—as the
wares in a show window. Objects can
stimulate the mind by the following
avenues—taste, smell, touch, hearing
and sight. By the very nature of the
objective position of the wares in the
window we may arbitrarily eliminate
taste, smell and touch. We have left
only hearing and sight and hearing
can serve only a very limited. sphere
in attracting attention. Sight serves
as Our main medium for securing at-
tention, although it is true that atten-
tion with other senses is usually fol-
lowed by visual attention. Remove
the gong of an ordinary door bell, at-
tach the bell to the inside window
frame so that the hammer strikes the
window pane, and the noise made
will attract attention. Chimes sus-
pended in the doorway or above the
window will attract attention. Each
of these schemes, however, savors
much of the cheap spectacular and
probably will find no use, although
they may be suggestive to you. An
intermittent light placed in a con-
spicuous position illustrates a sudden
stimulus, but the avenue is visual. A
spotlight secreted at the bottom of the
front part of the window, and focus-
sed on a single object in the window
illustrates the use of an intense stim-
ulus. :
I would intersperse here a thought
which I deem of paramount import-
ance to our discussion, and that is at-
tention follows interest. To say that
is to say that thinking follows interest
and follows it just as surely as a
needle follows a magnet. And the
point you are apt to neglect is to
realize that thinking is the dynamic
factor which contains so much poten-
tial worth to you as tradesmen in the
effectiveness with which you attract
the thinking of the passersby to your
window.
What, then, will cause the passerby
to attend to your window? In the
first place, we attend to everything
which elicits emotion. The arrange-
ment of your exhibit in such a manner
as to arouse an emotional response
will.arrest the attention of the passer-
by. The nature of this emotional re-
sponse, whether pleasurable or not
pleasurable, will determine the con-
tinuance or discontinuance of the ini-
tial attention. It follows that the re-
sponse should be pleasurable. I would
suggest here the value of curiosity.
Close your entire window with cur-
tains or paper leaving an aperture of
a foot or so in diameter. Print a
caption above the aperture, as, “For
men.” Curiosity will impel the men
to look and they will see an exhibit
of cutlery, for instance. The image
of cutlery will have been thoroughly
impinged on the mind because of the
singleness of the exhibit, and asso-
ciated as it was with the little trick
used to attract. Friend wife, perhaps,
will have also observed the window—
at a distance. Her curiosity, likewise,
will be aroused. Later on she will
ask husband what is in Jones Bros.’
window. If he has not seen for him-
self, her insistence will compel him
to make it a point to see what is in
the window. “Knives,” he will in-
form her. “That reminds me, John,
we need a new bread knife,” and then
the train of action is started.
In the second place, we attend to
moving things. Stationary things, per
se, are not apt to attract attention.
I would suggest the use of pendular
motion and attach it to a manikin for
advertising razors, as I have observed
or the like. By using pencéular motion
or, better still, by changing rotary
motion into reciprocal motion with a
crank shaft attachment, the arms of
the manikin may be made to move to
and fro advertising a saw, plane, elec-
tric iron and so on bolted to the hand.
A nib on a disk attached to a slow
moving motor might engage the end
of the manikin’s arm, in the hand of
which arm is attached a hammer,
slowly raising the hammer arm to a
desired height, then releasing it; the
weight of the hammer will: cause the
hammer to drop on a: nail, for in-
stance. Radiometers frequently seen
in jeweler shops, although rather
small, may provide sufficient attrac-
tion. A rotating circular disk of a
foot or more in diameter is worth
while. The cclors suitable on such
a disk are preferably altenating stripes
of black and white for. color clash.
The stripes should taper in order to
ensure necessary change in size and
intensity of stimulating colors. An
electric fan with streamers blowing
out or a fan blowing up against a
single balloon attached to the floor of
the window or a fan blowing several
10
balloons around produces effective
motion. Flowing water of some
scheme, with probably ducks, affords
desired motion as well as an element
of interest in itself. A toy train suit-
ably arranged may be used effectively.
A motor washer in action or any other
article of sale which is motor driven
will afford movement. A four sided
placard attached to the reciprocating
bar will aid in enhancing the effect
of the motion. A turn table driven
by a small motor well mounted on
ball bearings affords an_ excellent
scheme for giving motion and to em-
phasize salient features on parts of
the article not otherwise visible from
the front.
In the third place, we attend to
persons or animals. This thought
suggests an occasional window demon-
strator. One can use ducks, as sug-
gested a minute ago, or pigs in ad-
vertising some sort of hog-tight wire
in miniature or chicks in advertising
chicken materials. A scene can be
arranged in a broad window showing
on one-half of the window a negro
mammy washing clothes the tub-way
and on the other half the ease and
comfort in washing clothes the motor-
driven way. The contrast will be an
effective stimulus. A similar scheme
may be worked out in advertising
kitchen cabinets. ;
In the fourth place, we attend to ob-
jects which produce pleasure. Your
windows can be decorated in appro-
priate winter scenes as media for ad-
vertising skates, skiis, toboggans,
sleds, etc. In a few months fishing
and golfiing time, for example, will be
here. Appropriate scenes of fishing
and golfing will certainly appeal, as
well as a camping scene later on. In
its turn the hunting season will be
apace. Appropriate scenes depicting
rooms in a home, also, possess an
elemental appeal worthy of the time
and effort spent in their arrangement.
A’ stove, as another illustration, can
be'‘mounted ‘in the window. Geom
certain parts of the stove to which
you desire to’ call especial attention
narrow ribbons lead out to a few pla-
cards mounted in part on easels and
attached in part to the window, each
placard bearing a few words regarding
the particular attachment. To read a
placard, follow the string and examine
an attachment reminds one of the
parlor game of disengaging an en-
meshed string from numerous other
string to find a prize at the end. This
last suggestion, furthermore, enables
one to make the observer think hard
on the one object. Frequently we
think about’ the right thing, but not
hard enough.
In the fifth place, we attend to
strange things. The thing, however,
must not be too strange or else no
attention is elicited. It is not the
absolutely strange thing we find in-
teresting, but the thing familiar
enough to be vitally connected with-
out “past ‘experiences, and still novel
enough to be felt-as a definite en-
largement of our experience. I recall,
as an illustration, of having seen in
a’ window a square glass container
of‘about one and one-half fiquid quarts
with screw cap and crank attachment,
from which | Projected iato the con-
tainer “a curious shaped paddle copn-
“name
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
trivance. It reminded me of both an
‘egg beater and an iec-cream freezer;
but it was neither, I felt assured. To
that extent it was connected with my
past experience. On enquiry I was
told it was a churn to make butter
out of a pound of butter and a quart
of milk. “Oh! a new stunt,’ I re-
marked, and in that remark the knowl-
edge of what this new thing was was
added to the enlargement of my ex-
perience.
Color plays a very prominent part
in attracting attention. Several weeks
ago I was attracted to a window which
had this color scheme. Draped in the
rear center of the window was a two
yard width of yellow-orange drapery,
flanked on each side by a three-quarter
yard width of light blue drapery,
flanked on each side, in turn, by a
two yard width black drapery. I had
not gone a square farther down the
street when I recall that my attention
was suddenly attracted to a jeweler’s
window. It was a_reddish-orange
triple sign that attracted my attention,
and as I passed along I caught the
Eversharp. Coincidentally, I
had lost my Eversharp pencil a while
previous. The idea was driven into
me and a sale was made. Precisely
why were these four colors used?
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue and
violet constitute the spectral colors
from which we get all available shades
and hues. We find, for instance, that
a color may be red when viewed from
the front; when, however, it is viewed
from the periphery of the eye or outer
edge it is not seen as red, but as yel-
low. By means of a campimeter the
psychologist ascertains the mutations
each color passes through from peri-
phery to front on a quadrant, with
the eye fixated to the front. Red
appears yellowish from the periphery
of the eye, but as it swings in the
quadrant to the front it changes to
yellow, from yellow to orange, to
orange red, finally to red. Orange
appears as yellow from the periphery,
but becomes more and more orange
in front. Yellow appears yellowish
on the periphery and becomes more
saturated as it approaches the front.
Green appears yellowish on the peri-
phery, gradually increases in satura-
tion, assuming a greenish and finally
a green tint. Blue becomes more and
more saturated as it passes to the
front. Violet appears bluish, then
blue and, finally, violet.
Yellow and blue, then, appear to
be the two colors which will be seen
by the eye when the color impinges
itself on the periphery of the eye.
As a person passes along the street,
engrossed in thought or gazing ahead
or chatting with another, the chances
are that the edge of the eye only will
be available to receive sense impres-
sions. Such being the case and know-
ing that light blue and yellow are
the two colors that will be visible un-
der the circumstances, these two col-
ors should constitute the main color
schemes of all decorations. Red,
however, is the most active color of
the aforementioned spectral colors,
and exerts the greatest nervous activity
in the person. It is desirable for that
reason to use red in window decora-
tions. But, inasmuch as we must at-
tract the eye of the passerby and as-
*
sume, consequently, that he
looking directly at the window until
his attention is secured, we use an
orange or rather orange red, rather
than pure red. It is orange or orange
red he will see at the angle at whieh
the color will impinge itself on the
eye.
A limited color clash, also, is avail-
able for window decorations. Two
antagonistic colors will excite nervous
activity desirable for window decora-
tions. Hence, in the aforementoned
window where black flanked light blue,
the color clash—black and white being
called colors here for simplicity—in
addition to blue and yellow was util-
ized as an attracting medium. Black
and white are frequently desirable for
the color antagonism. Polished alum-
num against a black drape is an ef-
fective scheme. The polished nickel
of a stove against the black iron fre-
quently affords ample clash. A spot
light on an article with a dark back-
ground is suggestive.
These schemes are suggested means
by which the window salesman can
secure the attention of the passerby.
A salesman, however, never sold an
article to a customer by regaling the
customer with stories. He may use
a few stories to secure good feeling
and atmosphere; but he must have a
selling talk about his article in order
to sell. Be careful, then, that your
window doesn’t become a mere source
of pleasure and entertainment to the
passerby. Your window salesman
isn’t paid to entertain alone;he is paid
to effect sales. The decorations are
means to an end, not an end in them-
selves. Be sure, then, by placards,
labels and other devices to direct the
attention of the observer to the arti-
cles for sale; and the article for sale
should, if possible, be the last im-
pression he has when he leaves.
If I were to speak to you in my
limited time on four or five different
subjects I know you would feel men-
tally harassed. If I were to speak
to you on four or five different sub-
jects in the space of five minutes you
would be seriously concerned and not
very attentive at the most. If I were
to speak to you on four or five dif-
ferent subjects within a minute’s time,
the question of my sanity would be
pertinent. There certainly would not
be an iota of attention paid to my
jargon. That’s precisely what you
can expect to create when you clutter
your window with four or five differ-
is not-
February 21, 1923
ent things. Speed is desirable, but
haste will defeat the very aim you are
endeavoring to accomplish. Bear in
mind that the passerby has but a lim-
ited time to give to your window and
frequently does not tarry at all in
reading what your window has to say.
To expect the passerby to absorb sev-
eral different objects in a very limited
time is sheer folly. Sell one thing,
but sell it well. Burn into the mind
of the observer one thing exceedingly
well. We can attend to one thing at
a time, and no more. To diffuse at-
tention among several different arti-
cles in a limited time is to leave no
one clear cut image of any one thing,
but an unpleasant jumble.
‘ The scintillating diamond, on the
other hand, is a beautiful gem to be-
hold. We gaze on it, fascinated by
its various colors and by its sparkle.
We turn it slightly here, then there,
and at each turn a different facet re-
flects a new and beautiful color. But
each facet is of the same diamond.
Each facet presents a new and differ-
ent side of the same diamond; con-
sequently, we don’t readily grow tired
of gazing on it. The interest in it is
kept alive; but always in the same
diamond. Put one article in your win-
dow, but show its different phases.
After all, what we call attending to a
thing for any length of time consists
in attending to changing phases of
the thing, to ideas associated with it.
My previous illustration of a stove
with the placards and ribbons is illus-
trative of this point. Each different
placard presents a new phase of the
same stove, and so the interest isn’t
permitted to flag. The stove on a
turn table with appropriate labels or
placards will also illustrate this chang-
ing phase of the one thing. Or the
stove may be the central! figure in the
window and several allied things suit-
ably plafed around it, such as a stove
shovel, coal bucket, lid lifter or a
cooking utensil, with or without a
ribbon leading from each accessory
thing to its particular place of use on
the stove. This, also, well illustrates
the psychological principle that sub-
mitting objects to successive, instead
of simultaneous, inspection produces
the maximum of nervous difference.
So long as we maintain this nervous
difference at its greatest span, so long
we obtain the maximum of interest.
Avoid cluttering your window as you
would avoid the jargon of an insare
person.
at
HEKMAN’S
Crackers and
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GROCERS—dquality trade insists on
quality goods. Hekman’s crackers and
cookie cakes meet this requirement.
sina Lracaait Co
Grand Ra
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February. 21, 1928
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
il
In the fore part of my address I
remarked about an_ insistent idea,
which idea is purely a subjective sit-
uation. The thought I had in mind
then was the creation of an insistent
idea something like this and arising
out of a well handled window: “Jones
Bros. Hardware Co. certainly does
some fine decorating;” ‘That was an
interesting window at Jones Bros.
Hardware Co.;” “I think Jones Bros.
Hardware is a live concern by the
decorating it does.” That insistent
idea of “Jones Bros. Hardware Co.”
with images of various windows view-
ed at times to supplement it is the idea
you are interested in keeping alive.
It follows that whenever any hard-
ware merchandise is needed in the
home, and the impression has been
made, the felt need will be associated
immediately with “Jones Bros: Hard-
ware Co.,” and the chances are Jones
Bros. will get the trade. I would,
also, suggest a caution here. Don’t
faul to change your window decora-
tions frequently. Just as we tire of
the repeated story or tale by the same
person, so the passerby readily tires
of the sameness of the unchanged
window, no matter how interesting it
might have been in the beginning.
When ae see the same thing again
and again we acquire a habit of see-
ing that same thing, and habit is the
most inimical element to interest.
Keep interest alive by frequent
changes,
In the background of all window
advertising should be this thought:
Suggest to the observer, by every de-
vite you can muster, the desirability
or necessity on the part of the ob-
server. of the article advertised. Make
him feel that he should purchase this
thing because he needs it or desires
it.. Suggestibility varies with sex;
women are more suggestible than men.
Take advantage of this factor and cap-
italize it to your advantage. I would
relate a personal instance in the sale
of a Pyrene fire extinguisher. It was
suggested to my wife by a window
device that the home should be pro-
vided with a hand extinguisher. An
unprotected home with children in it
might mean the serious njury or death
of loved ones. A Pyrene extinguisher
was purchased for our home. Less
than five months ago my wife had to
use it to extinguish a fire my little
girl had ignited in the kitchen; to this
day two large scorched spots on the
linoleum mark the place of a near
tragedy. The suggestion worked ad-
mirably. Suggest that aluminum ware
is more desirable than iron wear be-
cause it is lighter in weight, looks
neater and cleaner, is a better con-
ductor of heat, hence saves fuel and
money. Suggest that a motor washer
does cleaner work, saves time and
eliminates drudgery and _ backaches.
Suggest that an oil stove is quicker in
results, saves fuel, is far more prefer-
able than a coal stove in the hot sum-
mer months, requires less space and
causes less dirt. In this manner sug-
gest as many effective points for each
article you advertise as you possibly
can think of.
The ideas and suggestions I have
offered will, perforce, be modified or
altered to suit your local conditions.-
My address is merely suggestive,
Probably I have proposed a scheme
that involves the expenditure of
much time and thought, and a little
initial outlay for devices for the win-
dow. Your response, if not previously
made, will depend on whether you are
vitally concerned as to whether your
window is a liability or an. asset,
whether you expect the trade to come
to you or whether you appreciate the
states that they were $29,000,000 and
his biographers all agree in the state-
ment that this latter sum was turned
back to the Federal Treasury at the
close of the war. Mr. ford himself
stated, when the war started, that he
would make such disposition of his
war profits at the close of the war. He
has never rebuked his numerous
biographers who stated a manifest
THE AEROPLANE.
From Beaver Island, off the main,
Three hundred miles by aeroplane,
As the crow flies from Selfridge Field,
An injured boy for aid appealed.
A doctor lived at Charlevoix
But could not reach the injured boy,
Because of ice floes in the lake;
No boat, however staunch, could make
The crossing from the Michigan shore
To Beaver, thirty miles or more.
To cross that perilous expanse
An airship held the only chance.
And so to Selfridge Field they came,
Imploring help in Heaven’s name.
To make that flight meant risk of life
Along a route with dangers rife.
Over a country wrapt in snow,
Where adverse winds are apt to blow.
Over wide tracts the forest stands
’Mid desolate cut-over lands.
Courage to face the dangers there
And skill to navigate the air
Were indespensible, to make
That flight to Beaver in the lake.
But Selfridge Field has men to spare
Always prepared to do and dare,
So the Osprey hopped off forthwith,
Steered by Lieutenant Meridith,
Into the wintry North he steered;
No danger in his path he feared.
Swift as an eagle on he flew,
No matter if the cold winds blew,
Or snow storms threatened him with wreck;
Among the clouds the merest speck.
In due time Charlevoix was sighted
And the Lieutenant there alighted.
There taking Doctor Armstrong on
Over the lake he soon was gone.
Toward Beaver Island straight he flew;
At times all land was lost to view.
The clouds above, below the deep:
His course was difficult to keep,
But in due time all dangers o’er
He landed on that Island shore.
The doctor, often full of fun,
’Tis said, was solemn as a nun
All the way over on the plane
*Till he was safely home again.
But he abundant praise deserves;
To ride in that thing took strong nerves,
When flying oe’r the icy wave
That might perchance become his grave.
Thus timely: to the injured boy
The doctor came from Charlevoix.
Lieutenant Meridith that night
Lay to, after his plucky flight;
Next day he came with signs of joy
To Selfridge Field from Charlevoix.
The aeroplane has come to stay.
It’s needed in this age and day.
At last man, through inventive skill,
Can navigate the airy at will,
A great advance since, on the sly,
Darius Green assayed to fly.
Reuben Hatch.
necessity of going after the trade. “It
pays to advertise,” for advertising is
the power behind the throne.
In conclusion, I would leave this;
thought with you:
hustler doesn’t want comes to him
who waits.”
eee
Henry Ford As a Dissembler.
People who are familiar with the
situation insist that Henry ford’s
profits on the war work he did for the
Government during the war amounted
to. at feast $100,000.00. He himself
“Everything the
untruth regarding the return of the
$29,000,000 but thas permitted that
statement to be perused by millions
of readers in this and other countries.
The Tradesman has understood all
along that Mr. ford was masquerading
under a falsehood—and assisting in
its circulation—but in order to make
sure that he is a knave, a letter of en-
quiry was recently dispatched to Hon.
Carl Mapes, Congressman from this
district. Mr. Mapes’ reply to this en-
quiry is as follows;
Washington, Feb. 10—Your letter of
the 7th is duly received and I took the
matter up at the office of S. P. Gilbert,
Jr., the Undersecretary of the Treas-
ury.
I was informed that. the same en-
quiry had been made often before at
the Treasury, that the officials of the
Department had made a thorough in-
vestigation of the records of the De-
partment and that no record has been
found of the payment by Mr. ford to
the United States of the $29,000,000 to
which you refer or any part thereof.
Carl L. Mapes.
—_22s___
The First of the Season.
This is the season of the year for
dismal reports to begin coming from
the farming regions about the pros-
pects for next year’s crops. Heads of
some farm organizations believe that
it would never do to let the impres-
sion get abroad that the coming crops,
most of which are not yet in the
ground, will be anywhere near normal.
Hence one is not surprised to read a
statement from the head of the Ameri-
can Cotton Association that a pre-
liminary survey of the cotton pros-
pects points to a reduction of 4 per
cent. in acreage, and that there is a
prospective shortage of farm labor
amounting to 21 per cent. This jer-
emiad formally opens the season.
This spokesman for the cotton grow-
ers then draws the pleasant conclusion
that the farmers must receive forty-
two cents for their cotton next sea-
son if they are to make both ends
meet. The eagerness with which the
growers have marketed their cotton
at the prices prevailing during the
past autumn and winter hardly indi-
cates that they are discontented with
what they have been offered for the
staple. Moreover, statistics of trade
in the cotton belt, the high reserve
ratios of the Federal Reserve banks
in that region and the liquidation of
frozen credits at the country banks,
all run counter to the assumption that
farmers are being improverished by
twenty-eight cent cotton. Of a piece
with this agitation is the proposal of
a Western Senator to have the Gov-
ernment “stabilize” the price of wheat
around $1.75 by the embargo of wheat
imports whenever the price is below
that figure.
>.> —___-
Rush Fancy-Back Buying.
Earlier reports that retailers might
be expected to “plunge” on fancy-back
overcoats for next fall have been more
than substantiated by the enquiries
that have been received in the last few
days by wholesalers here. The effort
is apparently being made to place a
considerable business in these coats,
although clothiers have not made up
their fall lines and are without even a
sample piece from the mills. In fact,
many of them do not yet know the
amount of goods: they will receive
from the leading producer, although
this is not true of the more represen-
tative manufacturers. This early de-
mand has been such, however, as to
indicate clearly that the manufactur-
ers were far from wrong in placing
heavy orders for these coatings. Re-
tailers have been spurred probably by
two factors, the fear that prices may
be higher later and that they may not
be able to get their full requirements.
The latter happened this fall in a good
many instances.
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
12 February 21, 1923
L-AR 2 mE ate SS INSURANCE IN FORCE $85,000,000.00
Poe Fe . 2 a 7 ln Ct
pe. FINANCIAL 2: re
CM! = = ~ r SS WILLIAM A. WATTS | Te RANSOM E. OLDS
> oe ; | = President | Chairman of Board
: Nh 4 a y/
LGR GN = |
r &
Steel Industry Moving Forward at
Rapid Pace.
It has now been apparent for some
time that the only restraining in-
fluence on the rate of activity in the
steel industry has been the manu-
facturers’ ability to secure adequate
supplies of labor, fuel and transporta-
tion. Defying to a considerable ex-
tent the normal seasonal tendencies,
the production of pig iron and steel
has gone on slowly but steadily creep-
ing up to higher and higher levels.
The industry as a whole now is oper-
ating at approximately 85 per cent. of
capacity; and it must be realized that
this capacity is one built up during
the war atid only attainable under
peculiarly favorable conditions. The
present rate of output exceeds pre-war
capacity, in fact, by something like
25 per cent. Mills of the United States
Steel Corporation are now reported to
be working at better than 90 per cent.
of their capacity. Nevertheless, the
corporations’ unfilled orders increased
by the 165,000 tons during January
and stood at the end of that month at
6,911,000 tons as compared with 4,-
242,000 tons a year ago.
Such a high rate of activity in steel
making is the more significant for the
‘testimony it bears with regard to
the position in certain other basic in-
dustries. In the main, the demand for
steel has been coming from the manu-
facturers of railroad equipment, oil
country goods, automobiles, and build-
ing materials. News from all these
quarters continues encouraging. The
railroads are carrying a volume of
traffic which exceeds any previous
records for the season of the
year. Their earnings furthermore,
are improving, the December fig-
ures indicating that the per cent.
earned on valuation wil! exceed 5 per
cent. Under these conditions the rail-
roads naturally will remain good buy-
ers of equipment and supplies, and the
steel and equipment industries natur-
ally profit. Automobile makers mean-
while are sparing no efforts 10 bring
their production up to ma,inum and
the oil industry which has not ceased
expanding its facilities, now antici-
Ppates a good year. Nor does the build-
ing boom show signs of slackening. .
Consequently it is apparent that the
outlook is bright not only for the
steel industry but for the industrial
districts in general. .All of which
serves to throw attention back on to
conditions in the agricultural regions,
since the country cannot indefinitely
go on having an industrial boom
which coincides with low purchasing
power among the farmers. Fortunate-
ly there are signs that the farmers’
position gradually is improving.
—--~-<.___
American Rubber Production.
American manufacturers of tires
and other rubber products are show-
ing signs of dissatisfaction with the
present situation with regard to raw
material. They are beginning to chafe
under the export restrictions em-
bodied in the so-called Stevenson plan
of the British government put into ,,
effect a few months ago at the be-
hest of British planters in the Far
East who found themselves in rather
desperate straits as a result of the col-
lapse of the market for raw rubber.
Domestic manufacturers profess to
fear that ,under the practical work-
ings of the plan they my be unable
to obtain sufficient supplies to fill the
growing demand. Within the last few
months the price of raw rubber has
more than doubled partly as a result
of increased production of automo-
biles, revival in general business, re-
stricted exports and _ considerable
speculative buying. Meanwhile repre-
sentatives of British growers have
made a personal investigation of con-
ditions in this country and, it is under-
stood, have assured our manufacturers
that exports would be increased suffi-
ciently to take care of needs. Ap-
parently, however, these assurances
‘have not satisfied American interests.
Consequently talk of development of
American owned rubber plantations
in American territory has revived.
Whether our needs for rubber will
eventually be supplied from our own
territories is a question which _ the
future alone can answer. That the
attempt will meet with difficulties is,
however, certain. In the first place no
real world shortage of rubber exists.
Conservative
Investments
TAX EXEMPTION
An important item to consider
for the man of fair income
We have a list of tax exempt securities which we
shall be pleased to send you upon request.
CORRIGAN, HILLIKER & CORRIGAN
Investment Bankers and Brokers
CITZ. GROUND FLOOR MICHIGAN TRUST BLDG BELL
4480 - 4653 GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN M-4900 - M-653
Offices: 4th floor Michigan Trust Bldg.—Grand Rapids, Michigan
GREEN & MORRISON— Michigan State Agents
Grand Rapids National Bank
The convenient bank for out of town people. Located at the very
center of the city. Handy to the street cars—the interurbans—the
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On account of our location—our large transit facilities—our safe
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Combined Capital, Surplus and Undivided Profits over
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GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.
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HE DIFFERENCE between putting
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GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.
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a
February 21, 1923
The bulk of the rubber is produced in
British controlled territories, although
the Dutch East Indies and South
America also produce large amounts.
Plantations now under cultivation in
these regions will undoubtedly be able:
to supply the world for some time to
come. It is now proposed, however, to
develop the industry in the Philippines.
Once the output there could be
brought up to the point of filling
American needs presumably foreign
rubber would be excluded by a protec-
tive tariff. On the face of things this
would be of doubtful benefit to our
consumers. It is hardly likely that
rubber could be produced as cheaply
in our insular possessions as in some
other parts of the world, owing to
higher wages and shortage of labor.
Rubber production requires a large
amount of labor, and while the Phil-
ippines are populous, on‘y a compara-
tively small percentage of the popula-
tion is inclined to work. As proof of
this we have the rice situation. The
islands have every advantage for
growing of rice, yet they are unable to
produce sufficient for their own needs.
Moreover, it is a matter of five or six
years between the planting of the trees
and production of crude rubber. By
the time production on any consider-
able scale could be attained the world
situation might have an entirely dif-
ferent aspect.
—__>2->—___
The Men the World Listens To.
What a shock it would be to Sir
Walter Scott, if he lived in these times,
Sir Walter who fed on Pageantry, or
“Tom” Moore, of whom Byron said,
“Little Tommy dearly loves a Lord.”
Kings and princes disappear from the
scene to-day and we think little of it.
Nicholas, Czar of the Russias, with
all his family, massacred and the in-
cident almost forgotten. The Sultan
of Turkey, the head of the Moham-
medan world, exiled one day and
scarcely a ripple on the tide of events
made by it. Princes and potentates
flocking to America and receiving not
a hundredth part of the attention
given to Georges Carpentier when he
came here for his bout with Jack
Dempsey.
The former Kaiser, whose every ex-
pression was a matter of world im-
portance ten years or less ago, writes
his memoirs and the public doesn’t
show even ordinary curiosity about
them.
What a change from the time when
much of the literature, even the fairy
tale, was made up of kings and queens
and princes.
The views of Mr. Gary of the
United States Steel Corporation com-
mand more attention to-day than
those of any king or potentate.
Mussolini bobs up almost over night
in Italy with more power than the
king.
Mustapha Pasha, a soldier of Jewish
blood, is ruler of Turkey in Europe
and Asia,
A little Welshman, the most power-
ful figure in the British Empire in the
World War, and succeeded as prime
minister by a Scotch Ironmonger.
Clemenceau, a doctor who turned
statesman, savior of France in the
hour of her greatest peril.
There’s no material in this for those
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN 13
who would weave their tales about
the king and princes and the silken
court..
The glamour has gone. The world
is concerned to-day with the doings
of men, real men—not with princes.
A thing some ancient Greeks dreamt
has come to pass, Democracy rules.
If the voice of the people is the voice
of God now it should have expression.
—~++.___
Europe Behind U. S. in Canning of
Foods.
It is remarkable that the conserva-
tion of foods by canning never has
Progressed or developed in European
countries as in the United States. The
canning process was discovered in
France and there are canning factories
in France, Belgium, England, Spain
and Italy, but they have confined their
output largely to peas, sardines and
a few other articles and in a limited
Way. |
Fruits and vegetables as canned in
the quantities produced in the United .
States are unknown to the canners of
Europe. Italy cans some tomatoes,
for which she finds a market chiefly
in England, but her canning opera-
tions are conducted on a small scalee.
Labor is cheap in those countries
and their climate is adapted to fruit
and vegetable raising, but the popu-
lation is so large that all the output of
fruits and vegetables is required to
feed the People, in an unpreserved —
state, and canners are unable to ob-
tain them in sufficient quantities or at
prices low enough to justify their
conservation in cans.
It used to be the case that canned
peas were not regarded as_ suitable
for the table unless they were produc-
ed in France or Belgium, but the can-
ners of the United States began to
Produce them in just as’ fine grades
and qualities as the factories of
France and Belgium and it was found
that the imported peas were colored
green with unwholesome methods, and
they were excluded from this country
when so colored, by our pure food
laws, and then consumers found that
the peas canned in the United States
were more wholesome and the impor-
tation of canned peas from Europe
almost stopped. A few canned peas
from the United States now are ex-
ported to Europe where a limited de-
mand has been establishe! for them.
: John A. Lee.
All In One Word.
“What kind of people are those
who have just moved in next door
to your” asked. Mrs. Gadder.
“Oh, I never talk about my neigh-
bors,” replied Mrs. Herdso. “All I
know about them is that their stuff
came in one load; that only one of
the bedsteads has any brass on it;
most of the furniture looks old; there’s
six in the family; the children are all
boys; they have dogs; the man is f
about twenty years older than the
woman; they had a squabble with the
driver of the van when they settled
with him, and their name is Smith.”
BANK FIXTURES F OR SALE
Will sell our old fixtures at a
| bargain. :
STATE’ SAVINGS BANK,
Ht ~- Ovid, Mich.
Fenton Davis & Boyle
BONDS EXCLUSIVELY
G. R. NAT. BANK BLDG.
Chicago GRAND RAPIDS Detroit
First National Bank Bldg. Telephones { i. a Congress Building
PERKINS, EVERETT & GEISTERT
& 3 SS BELL,M. 290.
ee IR
py A Saas
Direct wires to every important market east of the Mississippi.
A statistical service unsurpassed,
Fourth National Ban eee
United States Depositary
Capital $300,000
Surplus $300,000
3% interest paid on Savings Deposits, payable
© semi-annually,
I interest paid on Certificates’ of Deposit
3 % % if left one year.
OFFICERS
Wm. H. Anderson, President; ~
Lavant Z. Caukin, Vice-President;
J. Clinton Bishop, Cashier.
Alva T. Edison, Ass’t Cashier:
Harry C. Lundberg, Ass’t Cashier.
DIRECTORS
Wm.H. Anderson Lavant Z. Caukin
Christian Bertsch Sidney F. Stevens
David H. Brown’ Robert D. Graham
Marshall M. Uhl Samuel G. Braudy
J. Clinton Bishop Samuel D. Young
James L. Hamilton
RESOURCES OVER
In
I i
MEET ay
ry
Te
$18,000,000
“THE BANK WHERE YOU
FEEL AT HOME” has made an-
other great stride toward the better-
ment of the people of this com-
munity.
The Red and Blue Army, com-
posed of Employees of this institu-
tion, have opened 5337 new savings
accounts.
What better proof does one want
of the confidence and satisfaction
of our host of customers.
54,000 SATISFIED CUSTOMERS
a ——
VINGS PAN ANK,
14
Value of Courtesy Behind the Hotel
Counter.
Hartford, Feb. 20—Mine Host Ed.
Swett, of the Occidental Hotel, Mus-
kegon, who has been enjoying a hunt-
ing trip of several weeks in the Florida
Everglades, with wonderful success,
has provided the writer with a sample
' razor back ham, cured in true Smith-
field style, which will be the piece de
resistance at the luncheon to be given
here to the executive committee of the
State Hotel Association on March 24.
This offering is accompanied by num-
erous photographs and affidavits, as-
suring skeptical friends of the authen-
ticity of the offering, and‘ these will
be on exhibition on that occasion.
From reports received from other un-
deniably authentic sources, Brother
Swett made some record as a success-
ful sportsman while in Florida, and no
doubt will display his various medals
at the next meeting of the fraternity.
In mentioning the promotion of
John Anderson to the management of
the Hotel Harrington, at Port Huron,
I forgot to mention the fact that he
was no stranger in his new environ-
ment, having been room clerk at that
institution a dozen years ago, where
he was as usual popular with the trav-
eling fraternity.
Representative Ferris has introduced
in the Michigan Legislature a bill
similar to the Ohio enactment and
known as the “True Name Law,”
which is being sponsored by the
Michigan State Hotel Association, the
Detroit Hotel Association and the
Greeters.
The Ferris measure provides as
penalties fines ranging from $25 to
$200 for registering at any hotel under
a false name, and the same penalties
are applicable to hotel managers and
employes who knowingly allow the
provisions of the bill to be violated or
who are neglectful in regard to its
observance.
Of importance to traveling men and
the hotels as well is the announcement
from Washington, by the Interstate
Commerce Commission, ordering rail-
roads to resume the practice of selling
interchangeable mileage books good
for 2,500 miles of travel at a reduction
of 20 per cent. from the regular pas-
senger rates, or a fraction less than
three cents per mile.
The sale of these books is manda-
tory, beginning March 15, and while
a few of the smaller roads are exclud-
ed from these requirements on ac-
count of their financial inability to
meet the reduction, the stronger lines
must establish the rate.
The daily press at the same time an-
nounces the fact that the. Railroad
Executive Association has determined
to combat this ruling even to the ex-
tent of appealing to the higher courts,
so that after all it may be months or
even years before the commercial men
will enjoy the benefits of this reduc-
tion.
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
might be, should smile when he says
“How'd you do?” in greeting guests
and not stand there like an incarnate
frown or grouch. He should show his
welcome in face and voice. I happen
to be a member of the Greeters of
America and the subject of how to
meet guests and make them feel happy
and at home is one of their main fea-
tures. It is a very worth while study
and art.
“I would want him to hand me my
room key with a smile and act as if
such a service was a pleasure to him.
In being shown to my room I would
want the bellboy to ascertain whether
the room equipment was complete and
if the temperature was low, to ask
me in a civil manner if I had sufficient
covering on my bed instead of my re-
sponding to my request for the article,
with a grunt, “Here’s your cover,” and
shove it at me; but with the cordial re-
mark, “If you need more, just phone
us, please.” That remark makes you
feel that your patronage of the hotel is
appreciated and how easy it is to say
it, too. Why do they say the other
things in the other way?
“I would want the waitresses in the
dining room to bring me an extra or
second block of butter without a scowl
and minus the feeling that you have
tye her for it, or you are a cuss or
cad.
“I would want the hotel to have on
hand the current issue of a leading
daily newspaper for the use of guests
and not act as though they expected
compensation for the use of it. If I
wanted a copy of said paper for my
individual use, expecting to pay for it
it would please me if they would of-
fer to procure it for me without in-
timating that it was a great hardship
to send some one after it.
“IT would provide a neat writing
room for my guests and supply it
with neat stationery, which would of
itself advertise the hotel, and not hand
it out gingerly as if a wasted sheet
would throw the hotel into the bank-
ruptcy court’
Asked what he would do if the ho-
tel was undignified anough to place
paper napkins on their tables and ex-
pect cultured guests to use them, his
answer was that “except necessity
compelled me to remain, my first visit
at such a hotel would also be my Iast.”
‘Many complaints made against
country hotels in Michigan are_ab-
solutely unreasonable and uncalled for.
Some time ago I had occasion to
spend a couple of days at a certain
prosperous hotel in a Southern Michi-
gan city, where I made the discovery
that the institution was doing a ca-
pacity business in a locality where, all
things in adjacent towns being equal,
they could not have commanded one-
half the patronage they were enjoying.
It was literally a home of happy, con-
tented traveling men. On one evening,
by actual count, nearly forty of this
profession were enjoying themselves
in the lobby, while as many more had
clean rooms, and provided excellent
meals, but that some time ago he had
left an early morning call, which, be-
cause the call-boy was just an ordin-
ary human being, had been overlooked
and he had missed a train, which had
put him behind two or three hours,
and, for this reason he resented the
fact that I had favorably commented
on the institution.
further investigation developed
the fact that the hotel management
had done everything within reason ex-
cept to bring back the train, but there
could never be any forgiveness for the
unpardonable oversight. Consequent-
ly, the hotel was “rotten.” This dis-
gruntied individual will continue to
call it so without explaining why he
thinks so.
Sometimes I have almost felt that
perhaps some hotels might have a
legitimate grievance against some of
their patrons, but I would think con-
siderably less of them if they general-
ized by calling the offenders “black-
legs,” unless they could substantiate
a complaint against them which the
public ought to be cognizant of. I am
not taking issue with every one who
criticises a hotel, but I do not think
there is any justification for doing sO,
except that the complaint has first
been submitted to the alleged offender
and he has refused to take cognizance
of it. Even then one should have a
reasonable grievance and not a fancied
one. — The hotel man is not necessarily
a criminal just because an employe
has been dere‘ect in his duties, unless
hé fails to make an effort to correct
the abuse, after his attention has been
called to it.
Even then I think the sufferer will
more often command respect if he
will quietly transfer his affections to
some other establishment, unosten-
tatiously. If the landlord is “hard-
boiled” his tranquility will be undis-
turbed, and the general run of travel-
ing men will prefer to have you re-
late your tale of woe to a policeman.
February 21, 1923
AUDITS, SYST
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ACCOUNT, TAX CONSULTANT
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Claim this Privilege:
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“What Happened to His Wife?”
Two things have
-
pom peecnemgmam
It is by these methods that rail been disposed of in comfortable
transportation lines find themselves in rooms. I interviewed several at the DIRECTORS
competition with autobusses and in- time and found-the general concn sis OFFICERS bein A, ee "
dividually operated flivvers. They die of opinion was to the effect that it Lewle H. Withey ieee John Duffy, gett
was the “one best bet” in that part of
the State. I made mention of this ho-
' tel and its surroundings in the Trades-
man.
Only the other day a commercial
man took me to task because, as he
claimed, I had misrepresented the
facts, uttering an emphatic tirade
against the hotel and its management.
On a cross examination he admitted
Frederick A. Gorham.
Claude Hamilton.
Thomas H. Hume.
Henry itdema.
William Judson.
Miner S. Keeler.
.-hard, but their ultimate fate is cer-
tain.
- In conversation with a well known
physician, Dr. Krebs, of New York, at
a recent Greeters’ meeting, of which
he is a life member, the subject of the
ideal hotel was brought up and he ex-
: pressed himself quite emphatically on
what should be incorporated in. the
service rendered by such an institution.
Henry idema . Vice Pree.
F. A. Gorham -.....Vice Pres.
Claude Hamilton ...Vice Pres.
John H. Schouten -.Vice Pres.
Noyes L. Avery ....Vice Pres.
Emerson W. Biise --.Secretary
Arthur C. Sharpe --Asst. Secy.
Guy C. Liille ~..._._Asst. Secy.
C. Sophus Johnson.-Asst. Secy.
Arend V. Dubee._Trust Officer
: Ransom E. Oids.
J. Boyd Pantlind.
Willlam Alden Smith.
Godfrey von Ptaten.
Dudiey E. Waters.
nF
“The landlord or clerk, as the case
that the hotel possessed good beds,
Lewis H. Withey.
/ WE OFFER FOR SALE “Oldest Trust Company in Michigan”
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id Rapids Savings Bank Bidg., Grand Rapids, Mich.
— i See Loe
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GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.
pasunonccery
eS
Resceraseinaree CA see
February 21, 1923
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
When I speak of this instance I
want it understood that the commer-
cial men, in the large majority, are
disposed to be fair and I have some-
times wondered at their tranquility
under conditions which would ag-
gravate the ordinary mortal greatly.
Courtesy is their long suit and there
are numerous instances I have noticed
where they have submitted to indigni-
ties which would justify harsh resent-
ment.
Apropos of courtesy, I am remind-
ed of a recent campaign conducted by
a leading Chicago paper in trying to
discover the most courteous men and
women in the business section of that
city. The young lady who won the
first prize was in charge of an infor-
mation booth in a large office build-
ing. To the reporter who approached
her to locate a fictitious individual in
her building she extended the utmost
courtesy in answering his many and
unnecessary questions.
When the mysterious person could
not be located she was sincere in her
regret. When presented with the first
prize of $100 she broke down and
cried. It was discovered that her
mother, of whom she was the sole
support, was seriously ill, and the $100
looked like a million to her at that
moment. Although carrying the load
of her trouble at home, she still re-
flected in her busy day, the delight-
ful quality which appeals to us all—
courtesy.
Landlords and their guests may well
develop this wonderful qualification, to
their mutual satisfaction, and while
they may not win any first prizes, they
will be much happier for its practice.
Frank S. Verbeck.
——~- > __—-
Third Party Sentiment.
Toledo, Feb. 20—As a keen observer
who has traveled all through the Mid-
dle West for several weeks, and has
been in touch with hundreds and hun-
dreds of people down East, I am ab-
solutely convinced that neither the
Republicans nor the Democratic Party
will elect a President next year. Those
who direct our political life have not
awakened yet to the fact that there
is a great unrest among the people,
that the masses are very much dis-
satisfied with our present Administra-
tion, just as they were with the for-
mer Wilson’s and that people are ab-
solutely tired of being taxed to the
limit, and not alone have to pay profit-
eering prices for food, clothes, rent,
coal and eveything you call the neces-
sities of life; these millions and mil-
lions who deplore the weakness of our
present Administration with reference
to Europe, which could have been
saved from utter destruction if Messrs.
Harding and Hughes had stepped in
a year, or still better a year and a
half ago, then the millions of people
in our country who loathe the prohi-
bition law because it teaches the na-
tion to drink poisoned whisky and
drives millions to taking drugs, these
millions who want light wines and
beer are also to be counted on in the
next election, when they will raise
their voices loudly. E. R. Warnec.
—_—_~+ >>
Gold Holdings and Inflation.
Business men have learned much
from their trying experiences of 1920
and 1921. They have come to realize
that overextension of credit and over-
expansion in business are followed
sooner or later by reaction which ex-
acts heavy tribute from those who
7 Ionia Ave., N. W.
have overindulged. Since our present
abnormally large stocks of goods fur-
nish a basis for inflation, the words
of caution from such an authority as
W. P. G. Harding, now governor of
the Boston Federal Reserve Bank, are
not amiss. Governor Harding points
out that the gold which this country
possesses is not here to stay. Read-
justment and redistribution will come
in time, and inflation based on the
heavy gold stocks of the Federal Re-
serve Banks would be unwise. An in-
flated credit position may be avofded
Governor Harding believes, if. credit
men adjust their ideas as to a normal
Federal Reserve-system reserve ratio.
A ratio of 65 to 70 per cent., he states,
should under present conditions be
regarded as normal, instead of the
usual 40 per cent. of former years.
——_+22____
United Front Against the Turks.
Detroit, Feb. 20—The Allies, and
particularly Great Britain, have stood
firm and determined in their wise
policy of opposing any further aggres-
sion on the part of Turkey in Europe;
and in so doing they have made the
Turks realize that they are deadly in
earnest, and are not to be baffled by
Turkish treachery and deceit. On
this fact alone, indeed, rests the only
substantial hope of a peacable agree-
ment between the belligerent nations.
It is hoped that when. Turkey comes
fully to realize that she has no longer
to deal with the weak and disrupted
Greece, but with some of the wealth-
iest and most powerful nations in the
world, that she will reconsider her
policy and give the Allies more reas-
onable and satisfactory terms of peace.
E. Dexter Brown.
—_>-+-2>—___
Coolidge For President.
Ft. Wayne, Feb. 20—In reading the
articles that appear in the newspapers
from time to time, in regard to the
next candidate likely to receive the
nomination for the Presidency, it has
often occurred to me just why con-
sideration never seems to be given, at
least seriously, to. men who have dem-
onstrated their ability to successfully
administer the duties attending that
high office. In nowise desiring to in-
dicate or emphasize my _ personal
political leaning, but rather from the
standpoint of fair play, and the de-
serving acknowledgment of work well
done, it has occurred to me that the
present incumbent of the Vice-Presi-’
dency might prove to be a most poten-
tial candidate. Chas. F. Gould.
Purchases Store He Wanted as News-
boy..
Newark, N. J., Feb. 20—It can be
done.
Barney Taylor, who sold news-
papers 30 years ago on the sidewalk
in front of the big Stoutenburgh &
company clothing store, has bought
the store paying more than $1,000,-
000 for it.
When Taylor sold papers he was a
poor lad and had a hard time making
ends meet. He used to gaze through
the windows at the fine clothing and
wonder how people could afford to
wear it.
But he saved the pennies he made
from the sale of papers. and finally
went in and bought the entire stock
in one transaction. He will assume
charge in a few days. ‘
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Write
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16
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
February 21, 1923
SON OF GREAT OUT DOORS.
Friendly Tribute To Memory of D.
W. Tower. ee
The old phrase, “a man unafraid,”
may well be applied to Daniel W.
Tower in everything that he did, .in
every day that he lived. With an eye
to the true thing and a heart for the
right thing, he was by nature a son of
the great out of doors.
As a young man he was a skillful,
inventive mechanic, an originator and
perpetrator of ideas, always busy with
machine or book, creating something
useful towards the development of his
factory or for the help of his fellow-
men.
Of late years, the third floor of his
home has been devoted to a perfectly
equipped machine shop, run with
electric power. Here he had on ex-
hibition a miniature stationary engine
and boiler—his boyhood work. Here
he ground corn and wheat for his own
use, made his own kodak and camera
outfits and developed his lantern
slides.
In early years he worked with the
energy of a dynamo. Then, to get
relief from the whir of wheels, he
sought the fields, forests and streams
and played with the vim of a boy. His
travels led him far and wide and by
the time he had reached middle age
he could have written volumes about
the cliff dwellers of the Southwest,
of the wonders of the Yellowstone and
Glacier Park. He visited o'd Mexico,
studied the -Spaniard of to-day in
Cuba and the Isle of Pines and his
“life in the days of the old missions on
the Pacific Coast.
With a pack saddle outfit and a
young Mormon boy for guide he was
almost the first white man to cross
the arid desert of Utah and photo-
graph the great bridges hidden from
both white men and Indians until the
lure of gold led prospectors to pene-
trate these regions. -He loved adyen-
ture and one of the wonderful events
of his life was the experience of
descending the Bright Angel Trail and
spending the night alone rolled up in
a blanket with only the stars for com-—
pany
Patriotism was with Daniel Tower a
passion. He was proud he was an
American and did not forget the New
England country of his ancestors, nor
their historical homes along the line
of march of the armies of Revolution-
ary days.
-The first outing the writer ever had
with Mr. Tower was in the summer of
1884. We explored the shores of Gun
Lake, fished for bass and gathered
pond lilies. In after years we camped
together and sailed and paddled the
shore lines of Lake Superior, spent
weeks at the Pictured Rocks and trail-
ed the wild brooks for trout and the
sheer joy of trailing.
‘Two years ago, with his cousin and
my grandson, we spent the month of
September on the Manistee, paddling
by day through miles of autumn paint-
ed cut-over lands, sleeping nights in
an open face tent, with hemlock sprays
for bedding. The patter of rain drops
on the tent, the sighing of the wind
in the tree tops, the call of the owl or
- chirping of night birds were all music
to Dan’s sensitive ears. Resting in
the evening, he read to us by the glow
of the drift wood fire, “Evangeline”
and other interesting stories.
One night a group of children at-
tracted by the fire came through the
woods with their lanterns and were
made welcome. For two hours he en-
tertained the party with stories of -the
painted canyons, the petrified forests,
the savage Indians, the elk and bear
of the Yellowstone. No lantern slides
or canvas ever held the attention of the
school children of the city as did his
stories, told by the light of the burn-
ing stumps, to these little shut-ins on
the cut-over lands.
Two years ago this winter we had
the pledsure of days together in the
sunshine of the Los Angeles Valley
and, strange to say, the marvelous
time of all on the frozen top of Mount
men he left unfinished work and let
us trust that some one will come for-
ward to carry his plans to completion.
Charles E. Belknap.
——_>-~s———_
Pickle Standards Are Agreed Upon.
One of the interesting and effective
actions taken at the recent cariners’
convention at Atlantic City was to
reach a basis for officially grading
pickles, something which has long
been needed and will go to standard-
ize qualities. It was largely the re-
sult of a strong appeal by C. J. Sutph-
en, the well-known Chicago pickle
specialist. In the course of his ad-
dress he said:
“Surely we are in our province in
making a set of standards applicable
to our business. We have agreed to
40 pounds to the bushel for salt stock
The Late Daniel W. Tower.
Wilson, where in the Observatory we
spent the early part of a night with
our. eyes, by turn, on the great star,
Bettelguese. The one hundred inch
lens brought this stranger to our
vision so vividly that all the great
things of this globe were but ripples
in the sea of life. The wind was
blowing a sixty mile gale and in the
little cabin under the cliffs where we
were supposed to sleep, the water in
the pail was frozen solid. Sleep was
out of the question, so we were on
hand for the sunrise, but for once Dan
found a scene beyond his power to
photograph.
I am grateful for the nearly forty
years companionship with this man
whose life was a success, who leaves
a legacy of good deeds and an un-
tarnished reputation. Like all busy
after it is cured, and 47% pounds early
fall shipments, prior to Nov. 1.
“We know that we have vatrun,
field run, machine assorted, hand as-
sorted salt stock of various counts and
gradings. We know that misshapen
pickles are termed nubbins and crook-
ed pickles. We have large pickles,
smalls, gherkins, Russian, Dutch, Eng-
lish, Czecho-Slovakia, hot house,
snake cucumbers and 57 varieties of
the American pickle from long green
to early cluster. Why not say so and
set standards as a basis for buying
and selling?”
Mr. Sutphen’s appeal resulted in
the uniform unanimous adoption of
the following pickle standards which
will hereafter prevail in the trade:
1, The use of a chart showing the
various shapes and sizes of cucumbers
photographed from life, illustrating
straight, crooked and nubbin pickles.
2. Number one vatrun pickles shall
consist of well shaped pickles, proper-
ly cured, natural color, three and a
half or four inches and under as the
case may be, and contain not over 8
per cent. nubbins and crooked pickles,
good and sound.
3. Number two large vatrun pickles
in salt shall consist of well shaped
pickles, properly cured, natural color,
good and sound, three and a half to
four, or four to five and a half inch-
es in length, as the case may be, not
over 5 per cent. nubbins.
4. Number three vat run nubbin
pickles in salt shall consist of crooked
pickles and nubbins taken from num-
ber one vat run, counted not less than
3,000 to 300 pounds.
5. Number four extra large pickles
in salt shall consist of pickles five
inches and larger good and sound, free
from nubbins and yellow stock. Not
over 5 per cent. nubbins.
6. Machine assorted pickles shall
consist of pickles that have been run
through a machine and graded into
sizes. Midgets, gherkins, smails,
mediums and large, fairly uniform in
sizes, not over 8 per cent. nubbins.
7. Hand assorted pickles shall con-
sist of pickles that have been graded
by hand into uniform sizes and counts,
free from nubbins, crooked pickles and
broken stock.
8. Fifty pounds of drained pickles
is the weight established for a bushel
of thoroughly cured _ salt — stock.
Pickles shipped inside of three months
after salting 474%4 pounds to the bushel.
9. A bushel of pickles shall be con-
sidered drained after it has been
scooped from a tank or barrel with a
coarse net into a wicker basket or box,
barre! or barrow perforated with
holes, so that the brine can run off
freely.. A barrel of pickles shall be
considered drained as soon as_ the
liquor stops running in a continuous
stream after the bung has been re-
moved and barrel placed on side so
that the liquid has an unobstructed
flow.
10. Salt pickles sold by the barrel:
package should be well filled and con-
tain 300 pounds of drained pickles to
45 gallons. Three per cent. tolerance
in weight allowed. On shipments in
tank cars a tolerance of 3 per cent. in
weight is allowed.
11. Dill pickles of standard grade
should be evenly assorted, full count,
good sound stock, free from hollow
and slippery pickles. Packages well
filled, properly graded and stencilled
as to sizes. Good sound cooperage,
free from nubbins.
12. Sweet and sour pickles of
standard grade, should be evenly as-
sorted as to size, full count, well filled
packages, good and sound stock, free
from nubbins. Good sound cooperage
properly marked.
13. In buying and selling pickles
in salt, samples should be submitted
on small lots, single cars or less. Lots
of two or more cars should be inspect-
ed at point of shipment unless too far
distant; then samples will govern.
14. Finished product, sweet pickles,
sour pickles, dill pickles, in glass and
bulk should be sold on samples.
r ay
Ne
¢ ig
“
February 21, 1923
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
17
HENRY FORD AS CON ARTIST.
How He Flim Flammed Federal Judge
Tuttle.
It now transpires that Henry ford
obtained possession of the Lincoln
plant under false pretenses. In other
words, he secured $30,000,000 worth
of property for $8,000,000 by making
promises to Judge Tuttle which he
has not kept.
As it stood then and as it stands
now the creditors are to lose half and
the stockholders all, unless Mr. ford
comes through with fulfillment of a
solemn promise, made not only by
himself through the public piess, but
officially by his son and h‘s attorney
to the Judge before whon: the pro-
ceedings were held.
Read Judge Tuttle’s statement when
he confirmed the Government’s claim
of $1,550,000 against the insolvent
estate and see what small value ford
places on his own word:
This settlement is between the Re-
ceiver, appointed by the Court to rep-
resent all parties interested in this
estate on the one hand, and the De-
partment of Justice, representing the
United States of America, on the
other hand. The claim, as originally
filed by the ‘representatives of the
Government is in the sum of $9,188,-
561. The settlement which I am
now asked to approve provides for the
payment by the Receiver to the Gov-
ernment of the sum of $1,550,000.
This amount is such a large sum that
T ought not to permit the Receiver
to deplete the estate to such an ex-
tent unless it is justly due to the
Government. On the other hand, the
claim filed by the Government was
so much greater than the amount pro-
posed to be accepted in settlement
that I ought to feel satisfied that the
claimant, the common country, of all
the interested parties, their counsel,
and the Judge of the Court, is being
fairly treated before adding my ap-
proval. This claim is so complicated
that of necessity my conclusion as to
the fairness of the settlement to both
parties must be measured by my con-
fidence in the ability, integrity and
thoroughness of the parties making
the investigation and signing the
agreement, rather than from a knowl-
edge of the details. My confidence is
such that I feel no hesitancy about
adding my approval, providing the
parties to the agreement are fully ad-
vised as to the situation.
There is one thing which came to
my attention about a year ago which
I now feel it is my duty to state be-
fore giving my approval to this settle-
ment in order that any of you who
would not have signed this agreement
if you had known of this thing, can
have opportunity to withdraw your
approval if you desire to do so. I do
not mean by this statement to sug-
gest that this thing should have any
weight in this matter. In fact, I do
not now discovey why it should. Yet,
inasmuch as I am forced to rely al-
most entirely upon you gentlemen
for my information, and conclusions,
I will feel better after I have told you
fully all I know about it.
On or about December 28, 1921, my
secretary told me that Mr. Harold
Emmons had telephoned and _ was
very anxious to have an interview with
me. That was one of my usually busy
days and my secretary had no oppor-
unity to make an appointment for me.
My telephone number at the house is
suppressed; however, that evening,
Mr. Henry M. Leland called me on
the telephone at the house, told me
that he was anxious to see me for a
few minutes; that he was sick at his
home on West Grand Boulevard. He
wanted to know if I would not stop
and see him when I went on my way
to court the following morning and
I told him I would do so. I had not
the remotest idea as to the reason
why Mr. Leland wanted to see me.
He asked me what time I would call,
and my memory is, I told him at 9
o'clock.
In any event, on the following
morning, which I think, was Decem-
ber 29, 1921, on my way down to court
and at the appointed hour I stopped
at Mr. Leland’s home. I was met at
the door by Mr. Wilfred C. Leland
and taken into the living room, where
I found Mr. Henry M. Leland, Mr.
Harold H. Emmons and Mr. Edsel
Ford. I was already acquainted with
all four of these gentlemen. Mr. Henry
M. Leland began the conversation by
a brief statement about as follows:
“T haven’t been feeling very well and
wasn’t able to get down to see you.
That is why I wanted you to stop in
this morning. I appreciate it very
much and we want to talk to you con-
fidentially.”
I at once recalled what my secretary
had said about Mr. Emmons having
tried to make an appointment with
me on the previous day and this, cou-
pled with the presence of these par-
ticular four gentlemen, led me at once
to the conclusion that they wanted
to talk to me about the Lincoln Motor
Company Receivership, but as to what
phase of it, I still had no idea. I at
once replied in substantially the same
language which I have probably used
a hundred times during the past ten
years, when people have asked to talk
to me confidentially about matters
pending before me or which might
be brought before me. My _ good
opinion of each of these four gentle-
men was such that I did not think
they would say anything improper to
me, but I have made it a standing
rule to give every one to understand
before they talk to me about my court
work that I am not agreeing to keep
secret what they sdy. If they want to
tell me something after I have warned
them in that manner, I listen to it if
it is proper; then having heard it, I
use my own judgment as to what I do
with the information, whom I tell and
what I tell. My reply to Mr. Le-
land’s request for a confidential in-
terview was substantially as follows:
“Tt don’t want to convey the idea that
I think it is necessary for a judge to
be a gossip and be continually talking
about everything he has heard; on the
other hand, I want to make it very
plain that I always use any informa-
tion which I receive in any way, that
I think it is my duty to use it, and if
you gentlement tell me anything this
morning, I shall expect to use it in
any way I see fit.”
I may have said a little something
more in the way of explaining how
necessary it was for me to keep my-
self in position that I could at all
times do what seemed to me at the
particular time, right and just. One
of the things I usually say on such
occasions is that there is no reason
for a judge making any promise to
any one at any time; that the thing
for a judge to do is to keep free from
promises and act in the light of all the
circumstances and conditions when
the time comes. In any event, with-
out being certain of the exact words
I used, I carried out my uniform pol-
icy and refused to be pledged to se-
crecy.
i
After my brief explanation of my
position, Mr. Henry M. Leland ex-
pressed himself as being entirely sat-
isfied with my attitude in that regard,
and Mr. Harold H. Emmons at once
launched into what was apparently the
purpose of the interview. I made no
memoranda of anything that was said,
and of course my memory is of the
substance of what was said, rather
than the exact words. Perhaps under
these circumstances it is hardly fair
to attempt to place it in the first per-
Quoting Prices
Sells Merchandise
a fact that is recognized by all mer-
chants who advertise.
Their customers want to know
the price before buying.
They advertise the selling price
in plain figures.
K C Baking Powder shows the
price on the package.
Many sales are lost because the
customer does not care to ask the
price.
It will pay you to sell
KG
BAKING
POWDER
(price on the package)
Same price for over 5() years
25m 25
The price is established and
shown on the package, assuring
you of your full profit.
None better at any price.
Millions of pounds bought by the
government.
Reduction in freight rates July 1, passed on to the
trade in reduced list prices on K C ~
Let us show you how to in-
crease your baking powder
profits by selling K C.
Jaques Manufacturing Co.,
- Chicago
18
son and within quotation marks, but
with this explanation I will do so.
Mr. Emmons said, in substance: “Af-
ter efforts in various directions to
raise the necessary money to reorgan-
ize and re-finance the Lincoln Motor
Company, Mr. Henry M. Leland went
to his old friend Henry Ford for the
purpose of getting financial assistance
and he has finally interested Mr. Ford
and Mr. Ford is willing to help him
and furnish the necessary money, pro-
vided it can be done in such a manner
as will meet with Mr. Ford’s approval.
One of the things which Mr. Ford
insists upon is that although his name
is not to be known or appear in the
matter at the present time, he does
insist that you be fully advised relative
to his part in the transaction. That
is the first and real reason why we
were so anxious to see you and why
we felt it necessary to get this inter-
view and tell you all about it. Now,
while Mr. Ford’s entry into the mat-
ter is through friendship for Mr.
Henry M. Leland and because he
wants to save him from financial ruin,
after his long, successful and honor-
able career in the automobile indus-
try, Mr. Ford wants it to be handled
in a lawful and _ businesslike way
which will not encourage any one
to trump up unjust and unfair claims.
Now, this is the plan for bringing
Mr. Ford into the enterprise. If the
property can be sold now at a judicial
sale, free and clear from all incum-
brances, Mr. Ford will pay $5,000,000
in cash for it. He wants you to know,
however, that ultimately he is going
to pay every just claim against the
Lincoln Motor Company, a hundred
cents on the dollar. He is hoping
that some way can be worked out to
even do a little something for those
stockholders like school teachers and
people of that kind who put their
money into the stock of this company
as investments and have lost it. Of
course, he would not expect to do
anything for the speculators who have
bought this stock at a’cheap price or
as a gamble, and at this time he does
not know what will be the outcome
relative to the stockholders, and the
definite plans at the present time do
not involve the-stockholders, although
Mr. Ford and Mr. Leland both hope
that something can be done which
will help those who have been stock-
holders from the beginning. We want
you to know that if you fix the upset
price in the decree for sale at $5,000,-
000 and Mr. Ford is the pufchaser at
that price, he is going to pay all of
the honest creditors in full. Mr. Ford’s
motives are to help Mr. Leland to
save his financial situation and to
save the industry for Detroit, and the
automobile world and Mr. Leland has
urged Mr. Ford to do it and Mrs.
Ford has urged him to do it, and it
is: not a money making scheme on
Mr. Ford’s part.
“Another thing which Mr. Ford and
all of us are very anxious and want
you to have in mind, is that one of
the very important and valuable assets
of this concern is the sales organiza-
tion. This is not only of value to
whoever buys it, but it is a matter of
great concern to the individual sales
agents themselves. They have been
hanging on for months, trying to sell
an orphan car. Some of them have
long-time leases and with some of
them their leases are just running out
and if they are going to continue in
business it is necessary for them to
renew their leases. The time is now
right here at hand when the automo-
bile shows begin and if the Lincoln
car is to succeed in the future and if
these individual sales agents are to
succeed as such agents, they must
know right now that they have a
future. Even a few weeks’ delay means
not only a loss of this sales organiza-
tion to the Lincoln Motor Company,
but it means great individual loss for
these men who have been loyal to the
Lincoln Moter Company and to the
Lincoln car, The Lelands feel a per-
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
sonal interest and responsibility in this
matter; they have induced these men
to take these agencies and to continue
on as agents during the receivership;
they have held out hopes and prom-
ises to them.
“Surely if Mr. Ford is to put money
into this enterprise and go ahead with
it, it is very important, and fairness
demands that these sales agents
should have some assurance for the
future and know that the company is
going to be reorganized and placed
on a firm, sound financial basis. Now,
these are the reasons which have in-
duced Mr. Ford to agree to enter into
this matter and purchase the property,
provided he could do it in this way
and handle it in this way. It would
be necessary to have the sale take
place next month.
“We think the upset price ought to
be $5,000,000 so that Mr. Ford can
buy the property at that price and
then later on, in his own way and at
the proper time, he can pay the bal-
ance due to these different creditors.
“The plan is that I am to buy this
property in my own name for the
$5,000,000, Mr. Ford furnishing me
the money with which to purchase it,
but no one knowing for whom I pur-
chase. I am, later on, to turn the
property over to Mr. Ford or to a
new company to be organized by him.
Mr. Ford and the Lelands will ar-
range the details of the new organiza-
tion between themselves and also ar-
range for paying the old creditors of
the Lincoln Company.
“T will at once make an offer for the
purchase of this property at $5,000,000
in cash and will make a deposit of
$250,000 in cash with the receiver, to
guarantee the good faith of the bid.
We know, of course, that as soon as
, the receiver receives an offer of $5,-
000,000 in cash with a quarter of a mil-
lion deposited to guarantee the good
faith of the bid, he will consult with
you relative thereto and the details
of the decree for sale. Mr. Ford want-
ed you to know fully his part in the
matter and the fact that the bid which
I make is really being made for him
and this is the reason why we have
submitted all of these details to you,
and why Mr. Ford wanted us to do
so.
Now, this is the substance of what
Mr. Emmons said. I presume he men-
tioned some other things which would
occur to me if my memory were re-
freshed; but in a general way that is a
fair outline of it. I know that as soon
as he had finished I turned to Mr.
Edsel Ford and said in substance, the
following: “Whenever there is a
judicial sale and I have property to be
sold for the benefit of creditors, I am
always glad to find good, substantial
bidders. From my _ standpoint, the
only thing which now occurs to me is
the price. So long as your father is
planning to pay these creditors in full
and so long as the total amount of
claims now known is more than $8,-
000,000 and somewhere near $9,000,-
000, I hardly see why the upset price
-in the decree and the purchase price
by your father should not be more
than $5,000,000. I say this, not based
on my knowledge of the value of the
property, but based on the statement
that your father expects to pay these
claims in full.”
Mr. Ford replied very briefly and
my memory of what he said is about
this: “I shouldn’t think it would
make so very much difference.” Mr.
Emmons immediately took up that
subject and gave further answer to
my suggestion, saying: “You see,
Mr. Henry Ford doesn’t want to en-
courage a lot of trumped up claims.
He is willing to pay the honest debts
of this company, but he doesn’t want
to pay any bogus claims.” To this,
I at once replied, “I understand that
there is no question that this com-
pany owes at least $8,000,000 in hon-
est debts, and more than that, no one
February 21, 1923
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WHITE HOUSE
COFFEE
“White House’ is
Purchased by Folks
Who Know a GOOD
Thing When They
Taste It. It Never
Disappoints.
1-3-5 Ib. Cartons
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The Security of the Package:
It is the wonder and despair of competitors—this Package
shown. There couldn't possibly be a better one. It thor-
oughly and completely protects the coffee—in every way.
LEE & CADY— Detroit
Wholesale Distributors of
Dwinell-Wright Co.’s Products
When You Sell Shredded Wheat
‘you are supplying a demand we have created for
you through advertising. We don’t ask you to make
new customers for
Shredded Wheat Biscuit
Just keep a fresh stock in a nice, clean, dry place
in your store and hand it out to those who ask for it.
Shredded Wheat has survived all the ups and downs
of public fancy and remains to-day the one great
staple breakfast cereal, with a steady sale all the
year ‘round, at a good profit.
MADE ONLY BY
The Shredded Wheat Company, Niagara Falls, N. Y.
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February 21, 1923
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
has to pay an bogus claims in my
court. I don’t allow that kind of
claims.”
isn’t so much the thought that the
To this, Mr.-Emmons replied, “It
claims would be allowed when they
ought not to be allowed, but Mr.
Ford doesn’t want to encourage liti-
gation.”
To this I again replied, “Well, if
the property is sold at $5,000,000 cred-
itors will get something and I see lit-
tle additional inducement for trump-
ing up claims, whether they are to be
paid a hundred cents on the dollar or
fifty cents on the dollar.”
To this, again, Mr. Emmons re-
plied, “Mr. Ford thinks it would make
a good deal of difference with the
attitude of some of the ‘claimants
whether they thought they were pre-
senting their claim against an insol-
vent receivership or whether he was
going to pay them in full.”
Now, this is in substance the entire
conversation as nearly as I can give
it, except that I have omitted entirely
anything said by Mr. Wilfred C. Le-
land. I don’t seem to now recall very
distinctly what he had to say, and I
think the reason for this is because it
did not affect in any way these things
which have always stood out in my
memory for the reason that they were
unusual and of peculiar interest. My
best memory is that Mr. Wilfred C.
Leland at some time during the con-
versation talked about some of the
financial details of the Lincoln Motor
Car Company and some of the other
things which had happened outside of
this particular thing which I have
here been talking about. Those were
all things which I had heard from
other sources prior thereto and there
was nothing about them to stand out
in my memory. I know, too, that
after this conversation to which I
have referred Mr. Wilfred C. Leland
was the one who helped me get my
hat and coat, and he and I exchanged
a few friendly remarks about his father
and the father’s physical condition.
I immediately went out, got into my
car and started for court, and almost
immediately after I left the house Mr.
Edsel Ford came out, got into his
automobile, which was parked in front
of mine. He started east on the
Boulevard. We left the two Lelands
and Mr. Emmons there at the house.
I have never since that time had any
talk with either of the Lelands or
with Edsel Ford on the subject.
On Dec. 30, 1921, Mr. Emmons
made his written offer of $5,000,000
to the Receiver on condition that the
sale take place on or before Jan. 24,
1922. This offer was accompanied
by a deposit of $250,000. In fact, the
offer was in keeping with the state-
ment made to me by the four gentle-
men at Mr. Leland’s home. On Dec.
31, 1921, the Receiver filed a petition
advising the court of the offer made
by Mr. Emmons and asking the advice
of the Court relative thereto. I set
the matter down for hearing on Jan.
3, 1922. On the morning of that day
and prior to the hearing, Mr. Emmons
came to me in the courtroom again
and urged me to fix the up-set price at
- $5,000,000, saying, in substance, the
following:
“In addition to the reasons urged
the other morning, for fixing the up-
set price at $5,000,000, I wanted to
say that it is a fair price, and I think
fairness to Mr. Ford, who is going to
do such a generous thing in this mat-
ter, would justify you in fixing it so
he would be given the credit of paying
these -creditors voluntarily so far as
the amount paid is in excess of the
value.”
I replied; “My feeling about that
argument makes me think of what a
maid said to me several years ago.
She had been with us a long time and
had often protested her appreciation
and friendship. One day she was de-
manding an increased wage which I
i a
G ehere is
thought was unjust and I said, ‘Why,
Frances, I thought you always said
you liked us.’ She replied, ‘I like you,
all right, but I like myself better.’
Now, I like Mr. Ford, and have no
objection to his receiving any credit
to which he is entitled, but when it
comes to protecting the creditors I
feel that the duty rests with the judge
to do it by the form of decree rather
than by relying on statements made
to him privately by any one, and-I am
going to perform that duty.”
This covers every word I can re-
member which was said to me by any
one on this subject, prior to the hear-
ing. What .occurred at the hearing
was in open court and is well known
to you all. I did not enter into any
bargain with any one or rely upon any
promise. In fact, I did not follow
the request of any of these gentlemen.
After hearing the arguments of every
one and using the information obtain-
ed in the manner already stated, I
fixed the upset price at $8,000,000,
which was a higher price than any one
had suggested as being possible to ob-
tain for the property and I fixed Feb-
ruary 4, 1922, as the date of sale,
which was a later date than the one
suggested.
I reasoned that if Mr. Ford was
planning to pay the debts in full he
would bid as much as $8,000,000 at the
sale. It was this information which I
had received and this line of reason-
ing which led me to make the upset
price higher than had been suggested
by any one and at the particular
amount of $8,000,000.
Many of the things here stated
might seem personal, petty and per-
haps egotistical, except that I feel it
my duty to relate the circumstances
and if I were to do it at all, fairness
seemed to require that I do it fully,
and as near word for word as possi-
ble.
I might add that I never talked to
Mr. Henry Ford or any one else on
this subject, except these four gen-
tlemen. It will be seen that while I
made use of what had been said to me
for the benefit of the estate and cred-
itors, I did not treat it as a promise
or accept it as such. This statement
by me is undoubtedly entirely useless,
but it cannot possibly wrong any one.
nothing about it which
should reflect on any one, and I have
not stated it with such a thought in
mind. I know nothing about the ar-
rangement between the Lelands and
the Fords and their plans relative to
the creditors, except as I have just
disclosed. Is there anything resulting
from what I have said to cause any
of you to change your attitude to-
wards this settlement?
———_+.>—__—_
Making the Most of Your Advertising.
An increase in rental rendered it
imperative that a Coast merchant
swell his volume of business or seek
a new location. Accordingly, he
turned to advertising, and after pre-
paring appropriate copy, selecting
media, and inserting the advertise-
ments, sat back and waited for the
crowd to come. To his surprise and
dismay the new business was hardly
noticeable and not enough to pay for
his advertising. He confided his trou-
bles to a sa‘esman who offered to in-
vestigate. The latter found that the
storekeeper had devoted most of his
advertising to certain articles but had
neglected to arrange a window dis-
play featuring them. Consequently,
his competitor down the street had
taken advantage of his omission, and
filling his windows with the articles
advertised, had reaped the profits. Ad-
vertising, to be effective must be
backed up by window display and
other sales effort.
TO MICHIGAN MERCHANTS
PUTNAM’S “DOUBLE A” CANDIES
Are Made in Michigan,
With Sugar Manufactured in Michigan,
From Beets grown in Michigan,
By people who live in Michigan,
And who help pay taxes in Michigan.
In fact, they are strictly a Product of Michigan.
And whenever you buy them you encourage HOME INDUSTRIBS and help
build up your own State, your own town and YOUR OWN BUSINESS.
We guarantee them absolutely pure and to conform with the National Pure
Food Law.
We have no doubt you can buy cheaper candy, but QUALITY TALKS AND
QUALITY WINS EVERY TIME.
PUTNAM FACTORY, Grand Rapids.
MUSKEGON
MICHIGAN
Makes
Good
(Rocolates
Maximum protection for the money, and adjustments are always made promptly
Mary J. Field Company
Grand Rapids Representative
Auto Owners Insurance Company
Bell Main 1155 : 514-515 Widdicomb Bidg. Citz. 65440
Beginning January 16th
a powerful advertising campaign
opens on Domino Package Sugars in
the newspapers throughout America.
This campaign will include forceful
advertising on Domino Package
Sugars, Domino Syrup, Domino
Sugar-Honey and Domino Cinna-
mon and Sugar.
These advertisements will appear
regularly every week throughout
the winter and spring in a selected
list of over four hundred newspapers.
Look over your stock of Domino
Products. Co-operate with the
advertising and thereby secure the
greatest benefit from it.
American Sugar Refining Company
“ Sweeten it with Domino”
Granulated, Tablet, Powdered, Confectioners, Brown:
Golden Syrup; Cinnamon and Sugar:
Sugar-Honey; Molasses
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
February 21, 1923
TRIBUTES TO GREATNESS.
Two Life-Long Friends Write of J.
Boyd Pantlind.
It is God’s way of doing things, that
men shall die. Thus, when good men
‘and good friends are taken from us
in obedience to the Divine law, which
none can understand, we sometimes
seem to become calloused and indif-
ferent and accept the loss as some-
thing natural and inevitable.
In the passing of J. Boyd Pantlind,
however, there lingers a feeling that
is not so easily reconciled. It is doubt-
ful if the local community was ever
more wholly shocked than when the
report of Mr. Pantlind’s death was
spread over the city. The sorrow it
caused was general and sincere, not
confined to any circle, business or
social, but reaching to all walks of
life, as “Boyd” Pantlind was known
to every one; he was “everybody’s
friend” and all mourned when the sad
message was conveyed to them. The
grief of the community mingled with
that of the family, and the community
bowed its collective head and shed a
silent tear over the loss of one of its
best members.
Having been associated with Mr.
Pantlind intimately in a business and
social way for more than a quarter of
a century, having learned his many
virtues and fine qualities through per-
sonal contact almost daily during this
long period, I became devotedly fond
of him, so when I attempt to pay trib-
ute, I find it most difficult to command
words to suitably express what the
heart feels. I am deeply saddened by
the thought that I shall never again
enjoy the warm and cordial greeting,
such as he had for all; that the smile
and good nature that were his will be
lost to me in the future. A deep niche
in our community life has been creat-
ed I am made to reflect sorrowfully as
I contemplate it. Good citizenship
received a telling blow. Grand Rapids
was hurt when the niche ‘was carved.
Nothing need be attempted in
praise of his honor, uprightness, busi-
ness integrity, or of his loyalty as a
citizen and friend, for these have
never been questioned. To the com-
mercial life of the city, Mr. Pantlind
was an asset of commanding value. It
is not probable that any one factor
has done more to advertise the city
and make friends for it, than the en-
terprise, which he conducted. His
hotel has a Nation wide acquaintance
and enjoyed a Nation wide popularity.
His name and his hotels were so in-
timately interlocked with Grand Rap-
ids that the city profited by the in-
timacy in an advertising way. His
guests were largely people whose good
opinion is worth while—statesmen,
professional people and commercial
men. They enjoyed the hospitality
they received; they liked the owner
and they could not mention this fact
without the city receiving a benefit
from the good opinion. In this way
Mr. Pantlind was one of the most in-
fluential in building the city, a work
in which an unusually delightful per-
sonality was a valuable contributor.
Mr. Pantlind’s kindness and chari-
ties were proverbial. To what extent
he gave, none will ever know, but it
is known that no appeal in behalf of
a worthy cause, was ever turned away
empty handed. Whether aid was
sought for some laudable undertaking
or for the relief of some unfortunate,
the response came cheerful and gen-
erous. The individual cases assisted
by Mr. Pantlind were many, and these
beneficiaries of his sympathy and
helpfulness, will keenly feel the loss
of one whose heart and hand were
ever open.
A foremost citizen, a kind and gen-
erous man, a faithful friend and a
lovable companion is gone. The only
consolation to be had in the loss is
found in the fact that he is worthy of
any tribute that can be written.
William H. Anderson.
recently passed out of
lives, out of our daily
There has
our tangible
sands living in all parts of the United
States, that wherever the name of
Grand Rapids in mentioned the name
Pantlind is sure to follow, and always
in expressions of either approbation,
friendliness or affection. Why is this?
Not because of high position, due
to wealth or learning, but simply be-
cause out of the fullness of his heart
he had unconsciously sown seeds of
trust, confidence and love among
those with whom he was brought into
daily contact.
His helpfulness to others was mark-
ed. He was full of innate goodness
and generosity, his help being dis-
pensed in the quiet way that would
prevent any possible embarrassment
to the recipient. :
He disliked any reference to what
should be rightly termed his virtues.
The Late J. Boyd Pantlind.
companionship, but not out of the in-
ner or spiritual lives of those who
knew him best, one who by reason of
his high business and social standards,
by reason of his love for his wife, and
children, his home, his affection for
his friends and his helpful word and
hand to the oppressed and unfortunate,
has left an indelible mark for good
upon the community in which he lived
and which he loved, and a true guide
to those of us who are left, as to what
constitutes a noble character.
Quietly, forcefully, but persistently,
by virtue of his unfailing and keen,
but inconspicuous consideration for
others’ comfort, he built up around
himself a coterie of loyal friends who
deemed it an honor to be known as a
friend in the full meaning of the word.
He and Grand Rapids are so close-
y interwoven in the minds of thou-
With faith in his fellowman and with
modesty and humility, he pursued his
daily work. He was consistent and
honest with. himself. He made no at-
tempt—in fact, never had any inclina-
tion—to appear in any role but that of
doing his duty to his fellow man.
He was continually sacrificing his
own comfort to ensure the comfort of
others, but at no time did it appear to
him as a ‘sacrifice, for with him a
sacrifice for a friend was a pleasure.
His deep affection for his family was
the bright star which guided his foot-
steps in times of doubt and peril.
His loyalty to the business interests
entrusted to his management was an
ever outstanding characteristic of his
daily life, even to denials of personal
comfort.
He was not actually aware of what
a force his example set for others,
-Motors.
as thought of self was ever absent
from the dictates of his heart.
The good name Grand Rapids en-
joys throughout this country is due,
in a very large degree, to the honest,
undisguised loyalty and exceptional
geniality he diffused broadcast through
his contact with the world, always
leaving with the recipient a strong de-
sire to return to Grand Rapids to en-
joy the companionship of one whose
personality left a lasting impression
of the best qualities possible to man-
hood.
In the passing on of J. Boyd Pant-
lind, a deep void has been left in the
hearts of his family and his friends,
and Grand Rapids has lost a citizen
whose loyalty to his city and his
friends has never been excelled.
I know of no more fitting words
than those of James Russell Lowell
to fitly express his nature:
“The longer on this earth we live
And weigh the various qualities of
man,
The more we feel the high stern fea-
tured beauty,
Of plain devotedness to duty.
Steadfast and still, nor paid with mor-
tal praise,
But finding amplest recompense for
life’s ungarlanded expense,
In work done squarely and unwasted
days.”
Charles M. Heald.
_—_—— 2...
Burial of Harroun Motors.
A few weeks ago receivers were
appointed for the Harroun Motors
Co. This action is the last chapter
of a get-rich-quick flotation that had
an interesting career. Originally the
enterprise was organized by a band of
pirates of promotion, almost at the
same time that the notorious Emerson
Motors Co. was conceived. Between
the two companies there was a close
fantily relation. Brokers who sold
Harroun Motors in turn sold Emerson
If they succeeded in getting
a victim on their books to buy Emer-
son stock, his name was turned over
to another broker who would then in
turn work him to buy stock in Har-
roun.
Eventually financial troubles over-
took the company, which was an in-
evitable sequel, for it was started to
swindle the public and for nothing
else. But so many investors became
involved in the wreck that the Mich-
igan Blue Sky Commission, not wish-
ing to take drastic action, attempted
to support a protective committee that
had the reorganization of the company
in hand; granted the company a li-
cense to do business in the State only
so far as raising sufficient capital to
complete a factory, and see if the
business could be saved. But it had
become so diseased with the microbe
of get-rich-quickism it could not shake
it off so it finally collapsed and will
now pass into memory.
——_>+-o—___
Attractiveness, beauty of interior
decoration and arrangement need not
be eliminated from a store: just be-
cause business is business.
—-.—->-—>-
The way to make customers believe
that you consider their best interests
your own best interest is to feel and
act that way.
9
&
<<
i) <-
i -
February 21, 1923
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
21
WHEN WInTER COMES
(P olari ne
THE
OLD weather imposes new
operating conditions on your
trucks and automobiles.
These must be met if your
machines are to deliver maximum
service. Nearly all makes and
types of engines require a lighter
grade of Polarine Oil in winter
than in summer.
Heavy oil congeals in cold
weather and does not flow easily
through the lubricating system.
Unlessthe correct winter grade of oil
is used, some parts of your engine
may operate without oil until the
heat from the engine causes it to
flow readily. Scored cylinders,
burned bearings and a host of
other damages result when this
condition occurs. .
Not only do you pay for these
repairs, but while they are being
made you lose the time of the
machine and the driver as well.
GUARD YOUR
HAULING CosTs
If you would guard your hauling
costs, use Polarine. Itismade in four
grades—Medium Light, Medium
Heavy, Heavy and Extra Heavy,
one of which lubricates correctly
your machine during cold weather.
Do not rely on hearsay or the
judgment of those not qualified to
select this correct grade. Remem-
ber there is only the nght grade
and the wrong grade of lubricating
oil—there is no such thing as a
second best grade. :
Consult the latest Polarine Chart
of Recommendations, which our
lubricating engineers have com-
piled in co-operation with manu-
facturers of automobile engines.
Thischart is displayed
by all Standard Oil
: — tif Company (Indiana)
arinedealers. It will
be sent you free on
request.
STANDARD OIL COMPANY
(INDIANA)
937 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, Illinois
Michigan Branches at Detroit, Saginaw, Grand Rapids
MICHIGAN
TRADESMAN
eR RR RR ne
February 21, 1923
_
ag oe
ae -
Michigan Retail Hardware’ Association.
President—J. Charles Ross, Kalamazoo.
Vice-President—A. J. Rankin, Shelby.
Secretary—Arthur J. Scott, Marine City.
Treasurer—William Moore, Detroit.
Executive Committee—L. J. Cortenhof,
Grand Rapids; Scott Kendrick, Ortonville;
George W. McCabe, Petoskey; L. D. Puff,
Fremont; Charles A. Sturmer, Port Hu-
ron; Herman Digman, Owosso.
Spring Brings Opportunities in Build-
ers Hardware Trade.
Written for the Tradesman.
With the approach of spring, there
comes an increased activity in build-
ers’ hardware. The fall may in some
localities be a better time for selling
this line; yet much of the goods then
delivered and installed are ordered in
the early spring months. It is, indeed,
the early order-seeker who gets the
lion’s share of the business.
At this time, therefore, the hard-
ware dealer, in planning his spring
campaign, should give some thought
to the builders’ hardware trade.
Local conditions vary; but whatever
the local conditions, there are always
opportunities for doing some.business.
Some dealers get good results where
there is little if any actual new build-
ing. One dealer did a fairly thriving
trade in a small place where not a
single new house went up in the en-
tire season. He did not plan on the
basis of a prospective building boom;
but he did not allow the fact, that
new building was at a standstill to
daunt his efforts to develop trade.
Most of the houses in his community
were old; he saw that they needed new
equipment; and the went after the
business energetically, and sold a lot
of builders’ hardware.
But of course the builders’ hard-
ware trade is of greater importance to
the man’doing business in a center
where much new building is going on.
Here, large orders are to be had; and
the great question facing the dealer
is how best to get the orders.
As on many points of salesmanship,
so in this connection individual opin-
ions differ. Some dealers prefer one
course, some another. Quite often
what would be sound policy in one
community would be a mistake in an-
other community. Local conditions
and local likes and dislikes must be
considered.
In many instances, however, the
most successful dealers declare that it
is desirable to go right out after the
business. They claim the extra ex-
pense involved by this course of pro-
cedure is more than. made up by the
extra business secured, and by the
certainty which advance knowledge of
these sales gives the dealer.
One city dealer who has worked up
an extensive business in builders hard-
ware gives me the benefit of his per-
sonal experience:
“T find,” the says, “that it not only
pays.to have a man outside looking up
prospective buyers and taking orders,
but that it also pays to have this man
an expert in builders’ hardware—a
man who can give suggestions and
whe is capable enough to look over
an architect’s plans and give a good
idea of what will be wanted.
“Many architects who have this
building work in hand have only a
general knowledge of builders’ hard-
ware. They have not considered this
phase of the work particularly. They
are leaving it until the main part of
the job is finished. But if a man goes
to them and is able to say, ‘You will
need this and that; for that room you
will need a certain kind of lock and
door-knob; you will need this style of
hinge and that variety of window
clasp,’ such a man will get large or-
ders. Mny architects are only too
willing to have an expert go over their
plans, room by room, and while they
may not agree with all he suggests,
they will yet have confidence in him,
and working with him, will make out
an order for all they require.
“What is true of architects applies
somewhat similarly to contractors.
These men perhaps understand build-
ers’ hardware better than does the
architect, but they are busy men. They
have a number of jobs on hand at a
time, and are only too willing to be
saved work. If an expert comes to
them to discuss what they will need
for their various houses, they will be
glad, as a rule, to consider his sug-
gestions. They will in turn suggest
certain things, and listen to what the
salesman has to say about their sug-
gestions. They will object to some
of his proposals. They may say, ‘too
expensive.’ Then the salesman will
either have to show that the cost of
this high class fixture wou!d really not
be great, or he will have to suggest
some other line, cheaper in price, yet
of a grade to give satisfaction. The
great. thing is, for the builders’ hard-
ware salesman and the contractor to
get together and work together.
“T have found cases where the con-
tractor preferred to come to the store
and make his selection there. But
quite often he is perfectly willing to
give his order in advance.
“I think, too, it is a good plan to
have the outside salesman carry
samples. Talk to a man about a cer-
tain lock or hinge, and he will listen.
Show him the lock or hinge, and he
will pick it up and examine it closely.
Samples undoubtedly bring orders.
That is another advantage of having
an expert on this kind of work. When
he first sees a building, he can esti-
mate approximately what it will cost.
He will know, therefore, about what
class of fixture will be needed. He
can pack up samples of this class of
goods, and canshow the buildears the
exact articles which he can supply for
the job.”
In every community where building
is extensively carried on, there are
private individuals who are having
homes erected for themselves. They
have engaged the services of some
builder; but it is they who are de-
ciding what is to be put into the house.
The man may be building a com-
paratively small house, and yet may
want everything in it of the very best.
It is with such men that the outside
salesmen of builders’ hardware find
a particularly good business.
“My salesman,” pursued the dealer I
have quoted, “finds out from the
builder who is the owner of the house
in course of construction. Then the
salesman goes to the owner, and
quickly finds out what class of goods
he wants. He offers to bring some of
the’ lines he has in stock. In prac-
tically every case the amateur builder
is only too glad to look at these. He
asks about the various makes and
styles. Perhaps he confers with the
builder. He decides what he will want
and places an order. The goods may
not need to be delivered for months,
but the order is secured and then all
we have to do is to prepare to fill it.”
An early spring campaign of this
sort helps both buyer and seller. It
guards against delay. If goods are
ordered in May or June, there should,
for instance, be no trouble about
delivering them in August. The in-
side finishing, therefore, will not be
held up, nor will the dealer have to
Foster, Stevens & Co.
Wholesale Hardware
wt
157-159 Monroe Ave. _ ::
Grand Rapids, Mich.
151 to 161 Louis N. W.
FISHING
Michigan Hardware Company
100-108 Ellsworth Ave.; Comer Oakes
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.
Exclusive Jobbers of Shelf Hardware,
Sporting Goods and
TACKLE
State Distributors
VIKING TIRES
do make good
VIKING TIRES give the user the service
that brings him back to buy more.
Cured on airbags in cord tire molds, giv-
ing a large oversize tire.
We have an excellent money-making
proposition for the dealer.
further information.
BROWN & SEHLER CO.
Write us for
Grand Rapids, Mich.
eB
—
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nsec ssan-nseneeee
ioe
February 21, 1923
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
lay in a great stock of these lines with-
out having some idea as to the quan-
tities he is likely to need.
There is another class of goods for
which orders may be taken early—a
class not always considered as belong-
ing to builders’ hardware. This is ce-
ment. Cement is usually needed early
in the building operations. Dealers
who hand’‘e this line, therefore have
almost to anticipate the work of the
contractor. They have to get after
his business ‘before excavations for
the foundation are being made. Some
men make this bid for business by
personal canvass among the con-
tractors. Many send out letters. All
should remind those who bought this
class of material from them the year
previous that they-are able to supply
them again.
There is business to be done with
the farmers in this line, also, and the
question of how to secure their trade
is worth considering. One small town
dealer has done much to promote his
sales of cement by putting his clerks
in a position to exp‘ain its use. On
one occasion he moved his safe from
the ground floor of his store to the
basement. He wanted it placed on a
concrete bottom, wanted the walls
to be made of concrete, and wanted a
concrete runway made from the hoist
to the safe, so that the books might
easily be wheeled into the strong box
every evening. The clerks did the
work, and turned out a job which
would have done credit to experts.
“How do you mix this cement?” a
farmer will ask.
Every one of the young men who
helped build that safe chamber is in a
position to explain fully. A good
many sales are directly traceable, in
that store, to this ability of the sales-
people to tell the customer how to do
it. For there is nothing so encour-
aging to the cement prospect as the
fact that other men, with no greater
experience than himself, have been
able to do things with it.
Victor Lauriston.
—_---.—__
A President’s Second Term.
Toledo, Feb. 20—We have heard
much about Harding’s candidacy for
re-election, and the central idea of all
that we have heard on this subject for
thirty months has been this, that
routine political policy required his
renomination.
There is an obviously unpopular
fact which ought to be reiterated un-
til it has become part of the routine
thought of the voters and political
policy has to pay attention to it.
Since the time of Andrew Jackson nc
President has served through a sec-
ond term that was as successful as his
first. Not only has the public never
had as much confidence in the Presi-
dent at the end of the second term but
the second term’s record has never
been such as to earn as much confi-
dence as the first had won.
The reason is not mysterious. A
worn out man cannot handle the
Presidency successfully. The Presi-
dency is now much too big a job for
any man, and the consequence is that
after a first term and a campaign for
re-election nobody is in fit condition
to start a second term. We have late-
ly seen Presiderts taking great care
of their health, but we have not seen
one succeeding in escaping this fate.
Whether a President might profit-
ably serve more than four years if he
dd not have to campaign for re-elec-
tion nobody can say. And it is not im-
possible that one man may-do better
with the weakened remnant of his
powers than his rival would have done
with fresh powers. But it ought to be
understood as a matter of routine that
when you put a man up for a second
term you must expect his second term
to be a comparative failure.
Harding’s Administration has had
its glories and its shames, and has
still a fair chance to have more of
both. Its glories have been such as
were peculiarly its own: its shames
have been such as it shared with other
administrations; therefore, in spite of
Mark Anthony’s words history will
remember it more for its good than
for its evil. Mr. Harding will do
much more wisely to rest on this
record than to adulterate it with such
a record as precedent bids us to ex-
pect from his second administration.
And if he listens to the routine
politicians and asks for a second term
the voters ought to understand that
in giving it to him they can have no
expectation of a term as good as his
first. Steven T. Byington.
——_o—____
“Store to Blame If Clerks are Friv-
olous.”
If salespeople of the younger gen-
eration do not show the interest in
work that they should, there is some-
thing wrong with the relations the
management of the store establishes
with them, Prof. Paul W. Ivey, of the
University of Nebraska, ‘told one of
the sessions at the recent conference
of the Interstate Merchants’ Councils
at Chicago.
If they think more of card parties
and dancing than they do of the ser-
ious side of their work, it is up to the
management ‘to see that they are
taught how to use their energies to
the best advantage.
The keynote of good salesmanship,
he asserted, is knowledge of the goods
which the salesman is handling. Only
through knowledge of the merchan-
dise, he said, can their interest in the
goods themselves and through that in
the methods of selling them, be gen-
uinely stimulated. It is on this point,
he added, that so many salesmanagers
make their mistake in training their
sales forces.
He related his experience in asking
salesclerks in 100 different stores for
information regarding a certain type
of hammer. The most information
he could get from them in the ma-
jority of cases was the vague state-
ment that it was a “good hammer,”
the “best on the market,” and other
vague and meaningless descriptions.
Then he read from a mail order cata:
logue, by way of contrast, a descrip-
tion of the same hammer, in which
all its good points were properly list-
ed and emphasized.
—_2>2.—____
Selected Seed.
A farmer who, mainly: out of curios-
ity, had grown a crop of flax had a
tablecloth made of the linen. Some
time later he remarked to a city wo-
man visitor at dinner, “I grew this
tablecloth myself.”
“Did you reaily?” she ‘said, much
astonished. “How did you manage
it?” i
It was plain that she had no idea
how tablecloths came into existence,
so the farmer lowered his voice mys-
teriously as he replied, “If you
promise not to give the secret away
I'll teil you.”
The guest promised.
“Well,” proceeded the farmer, still
in the same mysterious tone, “I plant:
ed a napkin!”
Pull
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WINDOW TRIMMING MATERIALS.
WINDOW DISPLAY ADVERTISING SERVICE CO.
McMullen Bldg.
Grand Rapids, Mich.
We carry a
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Arcady Chick Feed
Arcady Developing Feed
Arcady Growing Mash
_ Arcady Egg Mash
JUDSON GROCER COMPANY
GRAND RAPIDS,
MICHIGAN
REFRIGERATORS
for ALL PURPOSES
Send for Catalogue
No. 95 for Residences
No. 53 for Hotels, Clubs,
Hospitals, Etc.
No. 72 for Grocery Stores
No. 64 for Meat Markets
No. 75 for Florist Shops
_McCRAY REFRIGERATOR CO.
2344 Lake St., Kendallville, Ind.
Chocolates
Package Goods of
Paramount Quality
and
Artistic Design
We are making a special offer on
Agricultural Hydrated Lime
Bell Phone 596 Citz. Phone 61866
JOHN L. LYNCH SALES CO.
SPECIAL SALE EXPERTS
Expert Advertisin
in less than car lots. Expert Merchandising
A. B. ENOWLSON CoO. 209-210-211 Murray Bldg.
Grand Rapids RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
if —
—
=
—
—
—
~
WOMANS WORLD
Two Little Girls Who Wanted to
Write.
Written for the Tradesman.
This little scrap of paper, covered
with pencil marks, always brings tears
to my eyese. It contains exactly
thirty-one words:
Dear Aunt Prudence:
I love you and miss you very much.
I am home with mother now. She is
better. My doll is sending her love
and so dc I. Margie.
It was written many years ago by
a very little child who is now a grown
woman, and it sent me her whole
heart. It was, I think, the first real
letter that she ever wrote, and it con-
sumed a great amount of labor and
time. She has told me that nobody
helped her to write it, or criticize its
form or spelling; only her mother did
address the envelope. Nobody com-
pelled or urged her to write it—it was
the spontaneous and complete expres-
sion of her love for me; ever so much
more in it than any outsider could get
from the mere words.
I have received innumerable letters
since; some very long ones from wise
and witty and notable people; but
never one that has meant more to me
than that little letter on a tiny sheet
of letter-paper with Margie’s mono-
gram at the top.
Whenever I think of that letter I
see it beside another letter from an-
other child of about the same age, and
written at about the same time. I
cannot quote it here; it‘is too long,
and would disclose the identity of the
writer. It is more “correctly” written
as to handwriting and spelling; full of
small details of the life of the child
who wrote it. There is even an ex-
pression in it in French. I happen to
know,-because the writer told me so
afterward, that it was written in the
first place in tears of protest and
anger, consumed an inordinate amount
of time—extending over several days
—and several times rewritten and
copied. It purported to bring me a
message of love and remembrance;
but I always get from it a painful re-
action. Itis a forgery. It is not a let-
ter from the child whose unwilling
hand formed the words—it is a letter
from her governness, largely dictated
—especially including the expression
in French. It is altogether an affair
of compulsion—a duty letter. The
woman who, as a little girl, wrote that
letter to me told me not long ago that
she remembered the occasion perfect-
ly. The impulse to ‘write to me was
her own. Indeed, she wrote a letter
to me; but her governess took com-
mand, made her throw away the little
spontaneous letter, and compelled her
to “write a nice one.” She never
wrote to me again.
And no wonder. All her associa-
tions with the idea of writing to me
were embittered in her mind by the
memory of that conflict. The psy-
chologists would call that memory, I
suppose, a “complex.” If at any time
she thought of ‘writing to me, all the
associations of compulsion and _ acri-
mony connected with that long-ago
occasion would spring into vividness
and make the task unpleasant. So
no other letter to me ever got written.
I wonder if many among my read-
ers cannot recall things—or perhaps
some very particular thing—of this
kind out of their memories of child-
hood, creating associations of bitter-
ness in connection with perhaps very
simple things; varalyzing what might
have become a marked aptitude. I
suspect that many a talent—not quite
marked enough to maintain itself, as
it did in the cases of great geniuses
who become great in spite of all op-
position—is smothered in just this
way.
I know it is so in the matter of con-
versation and other forms of expres-
sion. Children who are continually
checked and criticised as to their
speech have no defense but silence,
and so they do not get practice in
conversation. In this very matter of
letter writing, if some one insists up-
on “correcting” every letter, they lose
all pleasure in the writing, all sense of
privacy,-all exuberance of expression;
and so one who might go far inthe
direction of delightful correspondence
—even of great power and fame in
literature—simply doesn’t write any
letters that are not absolutely neces-
sary.
We are always smothering the en-
thusiasms of children. Mothers com-
p.ain to me that their children do not
confide in them. Almost always these
are mothers who have acquired the
habit of receiving every confidence
with some sort of depressing or even
reprimanding comment. So we have
innumerable instances of children who
enthusiastically confide in—somebody
else who receives the confidences
sympathetically, and, perhaps smug-
gles in the criticism or the reprimand
more tactfully at some other time.
It seems to me that we cannot re-
mind ourselves too often that children
should be encouraged in free expres-
sion, and that the business of cor-
recting should be indulged in with the
utmost care and tact. These two let-
ters form a perfect illustration of the
results of two ways. Which do you
prefer? Prudence Bradish.
(Copyrighted, 1923.)
—_2--2
How does the man with bigger ex-
penses than you sell at lower prices
and get away with it?
stock oftener.
He turns his.
SUCCESSFUL SERVICE.
Remarkable Career of Russell H. Con-
well, of Philadelphia.
He who can give his city or town
better streets and better sidewalks, bet-
ter schools and more collegés, more
happiness and more civilization, more
of God, will be great anywhere. He
who can give to his city any blessing,
he who can be a good citizen while
he lives here, he who can make better
homes, he who can be a blessing,
whether he works in the shop or sits
behind the counter or keeps house,
whatever be his life, who would be
great anywhere, must first be great
in his own town.
Russell H. Conwell, whose words
from his lecture “Acres of Diamonds”
are quoted above provides perhaps the
most graphic illustration of the truth
and forcefulness of these words. If
we examine the factors which have
made Russell H. Conwell a figure of
National and international promin-
ence we find that his insatiable desire
to better the mental, moral and physi-
cal condition in his own community is
fundamental.
A study of his life which will short-
A GOOD RECIPE FOR
MILK BREAD
3 quarts of Lily White Flour,
3 pints of lukewarm milk,
1 cake of Fleischmann’s
yeast. Set in morning in
warm place and rise until
light. 3 teaspoons of salt,
1 tablespoon of sugar, 1
tablespoon of melted butter
or lard. Mix with Lily
White Flour until stiff, or
rom 20 to 25 minutes. Set
in warm place and let rise
until light. Make in loaves
and work each loaf from six
to eight minutes. Set in
warm place until light.
When light take warm milk
and sugar and put over top.
Keep good fire and bake
slow one hour and when
baked wash over again to
make nice smooth brown
crust.
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We Guarantee you will
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so instructed.
S
THE SIGN ES or auaY
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For Your Ve, Protection
Lily White
‘*The Flour the Best Cooks Use”
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For years every sack of Lily
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Lily White did not meet all the
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Lily White flour is as good as
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Why You Should Use Lily White
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Call up your grocer now. Geta sack
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it there when you are ready to bake
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sell Lily White flour.
VALLEY CITY MILLING COMPANY
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
**Millers for Sixty Years”
Ads like these are being run regularity and continuously in
the principal papers throughout Michigan.
by carrying Lilly White Flour in stock at all times, thereby
being placed in position to supply the demand we are help-
ing to create for Lily White Flour.
February 21, 1923
ly reach its eightieth anniversary
shows the development of a man who
was unwilling to be satisfied with con-
ditions as he found them, a man who
had an ideal of public service always
before him, a man who destroyed only
when he had something better and
finer with which to replace.
Russell H. Conwell was born in the
farm country of Western Massachu-
setts, in 1843. His educational aspira-
tions led him from the farm and he
entered Yale the year Abraham Lin-
coln was elected President. The Civil
War called him from his studies and
in 1863 he became a Captain in the
Union Army.
In camp he read law and after the
war was ended he continued his study
of the law and it was during this time
he worked as a reporter, and as a cor-
respondent made a trip around the
world, at that time a great undertak-
ing. After serving the newspaper
world and successfully completing his
studies he was admitted to the bar
and for eight years practised that pro-
fession in Boston where he built up a
successful practice.
The young lawyer had the gift of
oratory and began to make speeches
Read the guarantee. If
REASON No. 26
in General
Have
All good grocers
You will profit
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February 21, 1923
\
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
25
and deliver lectures. He studied the-
ology and on Sundays preached in old
historic Lexington in a little wooden
church. The church grew so fast un-
der hs guidance that the little church
was torn down and a finer one built.
There the feeling grew that he must
go out into the world as a preacher
and a teacher.
His fame as a preacher spread rapid-
ly and he was asked to preach a trial
sermon in Philadelphia. On Thanks-
giving Day, 1882, Russell H. Conwell
began his work in Philadelphia. In
all our large cities outstanding figures
arise who seem to be inspired with
the constant desire to improve every
phase of human life. His Temple
grew rapidly as did his service to the
community, and although his Temple
seats over 3,000, it is said he seldom
preaches to an empty pew.
In his church there were some
young people who realized they needed
more education; they appealed to Dr.
Conwell and in response he formed a
class in 1884 and taught the class him-
self. By 1888 he realized the need was
so great in Philadelphia and his class-
es sO numerous that it was wise to
obtain a charter so these students
_might have official recognition for the
worle they were doing. The charter
. read, “Primarily for working men.”
Starting as he has said with one stud-
ent and a fifty-cent piece, Temple Uni-
versity now enrol!s 10,000 students and
owns a magnificent property on Broad
street. Statistics are meaningless in
describing the growth of such an in-
stitution as Temple and the beneficial
results it has accomplished.
Among the greatest achievements of
living men, Temple University with
ten thousand students, which is one
of the twelve largest institutions in
the world, ranks among the foremost.
But apart from this monumental
work he personally paid for the edu-
cation of a great number of young
men in colleges other than Temple
University. Dr. Conwell will never
tell how many young men he _ has
helped in this way, but he has been
doing it for fifty years. :
An intensely practical man Dr. Con-
well long ago decided that caring for
the sick and the many unfortunates
was part of his work and set out to
accomplish good on these lines. The
Samaritan Hospital, well equipped, ad-
mirably located and well administered
was the result.
The striking feature of this man’s
work has been the utter absence of
self. No such programme as he laid
out could have been carried to a suc-
cessful conclusion without adequate
financial support. Dr. Conwell made
cver a million dollars lecturing out-
side of his church. This has all been
used in bettering the condition of his
fellow men and does not take into ac-
count his other sources of revenue
used for the same purpose.
Such men as Dr. Conwe‘l look out
and not in, look forward and not back
and forty years of untiring effort, self-
sacrifice and working toward an un-
selfish goal has given expression in
the university, the hospital, the church
and a life of public service.
“But what has this to do with me?”
you say. “Russell H. Conwelt- is a
clergyman. It is only right his life
should be one of service. I am a busi-
ness man. I cannot found a univer-
sity or preach inspiring sermons.”
The answer is to be found in the
fact that Dr. Conwell was never con-
tent to limit his interest to the par-
ticular job before him. As a news-
paper reporter he felt the inspiration
to find a larger sphere of usefulness in
law, but as a lawyer he saw beyond
the horizon of his daily work. When
he entered the ministry he still felt
the impulse to exert his influence be-
yond the limits of his occupation and
went into the field of successful ser-
vice. His work has been prodigious
for his activities and services in civic
betterment have been in addition to
his role as pastor to one of the great-
est church memberships in the coun-
try.
It is the man who can see farther
than the walls of ‘his office, the man
who is content not only to do his own
job and, do it well but who strives for
the betterment of the whole commun-
ity who will surely gather the rewards
of success. Such a man is Russell H.
Conwell.
—~-+____
Records the Government Requires
From Merchants.
The Government says that you shall
adopt a standard accounting system
which will enable you to find your
true net income.
If you have no such record, the in-
come tax inspector will estimate your
income on a percentage of gross sales.
Either the single or double entry
system of bookkeeping may be used.
Where the single entry system is used,
it is even more important to show
original records than with the double
entry method.
The bulk of your gross income is of
course made up of gross sales. Gross
sales should include both credit and
cash sales regardless of the amount of
money you have received.
Goods or money taken from the
store for your own personal use or
for the use of your family are treated
by the Government in the same ‘way
as gross sales. You must therefore
have a complete record of these with-
drawals.
Customers’ accounts usually form
the basis for deductions for losses
from bad debts. These accounts
should, therefore, receive special at-
tention and should be included in your *
permanent records.
The Government holds you respon-
sible, within five years after the tax is
due, for your records at any time the
tax inspector may need them to check
up on your income tax.
eee
He Was Willing.
“A Western governor had lost one
of the colonels of his staff and there
was an unseemly scramble for the
office, despite the fact that the colof-
el’s body was awaiting burial. One of
the most ambitious candidates went so
far as to call upon the executive and
ask:
“Governor, have you any objections
to my taking Colonel Smith’s place?”
“No,” the governor replied compla-
cently, “TI have no objections if the
undertaker is willing.”
SUCCESSFUL SALESMEN.
E. P. Monroe, Representing the Sher-
wood Hall Co.
Eber P. Monroe was born on a
farm near Wellsboro, Penn., Jan. 12,
1873. His antecedents were Ccotch
on his father’s side and Welsh on his
mother’s side. He was the youngest
son of a family of eight children.
When he was 13 years old his parents
removed to Montmorency county,
Mich., where Eber attended school
summers and made railway ties and
drove oxen with camp supplies dur-
ing the winter months. He fitted him-
self for a teacher and acquired thir-
teen certificates entitling him to
teach. He taught school three win-
ters and then engaged in the general
merchandise ‘business at Big Rock,
“with small capital and less success,”
as he expresses it. Two years ‘ater
—the fall of 1901—he went on the
road for the Wardner-Bushnell-Gles-
ner Co., of Springfield, Ohio, selling
reapers, mowers, binders and horse
Sy
rakes in Northeastern Michigan. Two
years later he transferred himself to
the McCormick Harvester Co., cover-
ing the same territory for a year for
that corporation. His next connection
was with the W. W. Kimball Co.,
working out of the Grand Rapids
office. He also represented the Grand
Rapids and Lansing branches of the
International Harvester Co. for sev-
eral years. He represented the Whit-
taker Manufacturing Co. in Michigan,
Indiana and Illinois. July 1, 1916, he
engaged to travel for the Sherwood
Hall Co. His territory extends from
Newberry on the North to Eaton Rap-
ids on the South.
Mr. Monroe was married Oct. 24,
1901, to Miss Jennie Pettinger, of
Grand Rapids. They have two daugh-
ters, 17 and 15 years of age, who are
students in the high school of Mus-
kegon Heights. The elder daughter
will graduate next June. The family
reside in their own home at 525 San-
ford street. _
Mr. Monroe is a mason up to the
14th degree. He is also an enthusias-
tic member of Muskegon Council, U.
C. T., having served the Grand Lodge
as chaplain and attended the Grand
Lodge eight times, three times as a
delegate. His fraters have started a
campaign to land him on the Execu-
tive Committee at the next meeting of
the Grand Lodge.
Mr. Monroe attributes his success
to the fact that he has never used to-
bacco in any form; that he likes good
apples, good fishing and clean stories.
He is genial, courteous, level headed
and generous to a fault. The world
could have several million more fel-
lows like E. P. without being crowded.
—_~+~-.____
One does not like the fellow who
criticises his business methods, but he
is probably a better friend than the
man who utters only compliments.
*
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Packed '% doz. in box.
MUSLIN WEAR.
A very complete line of Gowns, Slips, Step-ins, Etc.
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Prices $9.00 to $16.50 per doz.
These are still marked at opening price, and are Splendid Bargains.
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No. 625.
Jackets 36/44 $11.50.
Wabash Stripe Overalis,
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Complete Line of Scrims,
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Single, doz. $2.50; Double, doz. $5.00; Extra Extensions $2.00.
PAUL STEKETEE & SONS
WHOLESALE DRY GOODS
Ria
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.
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Polar Bear Flour
A MONEY MAKER
Can Always be sold at a profit.
Quality in the Bag Brings Repeat orders.
J. W. HARVEY & SON,
Central States Managers
Marion, Ind.
MICHIGAN
rr ‘__—_
Oriental Rugs Sell Well.
Conditions in the market for Orien-
tal rugs continue very satisfactory:
The buying done is described as good
by importers. Stimulation of building
and the current refurnishing of homes
by many people are important factors.
One of the things that are said to be
rather noticeable in the demand is the
increased interest in the smaller sized
rugs, because of the smaller apart-
ments that are being occupied. It is
said that this has some effect in cut-
ting down the number of larger sized
rugs sold, although the latter have
their main sales for office, club or
similar purposes. The disturbances in
the Near East have naturally affected
the rug market there to some extent,
although Persian rugs are still being
shipped.. The unfavorable aspects
from an importing standpoint there
have increased buying of rugs from
India and China.
—_>--.-——_-
Quaint Figures For Favors.
Quaint little wired figures, dressed
in paper, prints, ginghams and lace,
reproduce popular theatrical successes,
such as Chauve Souris. The Gingham
Girl, The Music Box and Spanish
Dancers. The latter have bouffant
skirts with large and gay figures upon
them and drapes of black lace. The
little figures are fastened to boxes of
cigarettes or bonbons for favors. They
wholesale for $3.50 per dozen. Quite
different in little favor figures, but
with a wonderful amount of charm
and character, are the Shadowettes, all
pure white. They are alluring little
women, one with a handglass, one with
a parasol one with a flower, one with
a musical instrument, etc. They have
cleverly made. little faces, and, in the
solid white, are extremely effective.
They wholesale for $2.25 a dozen.
ES ae
Designs Are Modern.
Most modern things in design are
to be found in new silks made by
American manufacturers. One of these
upon which the Metropolitan Museum
of Art has set its seal of approval by
purchasing it for exhibition in its new
collection of modern art, has the de-
sign of the mcedern skyscraper upon
it. In the Museum’s piece this is in a
crepe of a soft yellow tone, very
charming, and the skyscraper is only
seen upon careful examination. To
reproduce the life of to-day in design,
as the old masters did in their day, is
now considered the thing. One tex-
tile design introduces the flapper, flap-
ping in different ways entirely her
own, and the designer has made some-
thing effective out of it.
—\_2-2—
Ostrich Feather Shades.
Not exactly new, but little known,
are electric light shades of ostrich
feathers. They are made by the peo-
ple who do the feather fans. They
may be of any color, but samples
shown are of a warm orange. They
come with both the solid and the open
top, and the feathers in different ar-
rangements. They would be attractive
in certain rooms. A peacock feather
used on a parchment shade is the real
thing. It has a coarse net stretched
over it, and with the light inside, it
shows to advantage.
—_>+-2—__
Bed Covers For New Uses.
East Indian cotton ‘bed covers,
which are hand blocked and done with
vegetable dyes,
parasols and gowns. One very large
and beautiful cover in deep tones, with
a soft tan foundation and an-all-over
palm leaf design, had made from it two
hats, two parasols and one dress. The
parasols and hats sell at $15 each. The
covers are handled by one English
firm.
We are manufacturers of
Trimmed & Untrimmed HATS
for Ladies, Misses and Children,
especially adapted to the general
store trade. Trial order solicited.
CORL-KNOTT COMPANY,
Corner Commerce Ave. and
Island St.
Grand Rapids, Mich.
TRADESMAN
are used for hats, ©
February 21, 1923
man RAN EN ELE NEE NIN NTR NEN NRMP MEIN NN MN NNN NIECE NN NER
Why Buy for Later Delivery?
Many merchants are hesitating in placing orders for later
delivery because they: think prices are high. There are two
reasons why you should place your orders for later delivery |B
NOW. Sy
1. Cotton cost practically 75% of what it was in 1920, [5
IY NUN NUL NPI NET NEE NUL NUL NET NERY NOT Z NETIC NEL
while finished goods are less than 50% of 1920 FS
prices, showing that the Mills and Wholesalers are sell- 5
ing close in order to. keep business going. Prices are |
likely to be as high or higher later on and we know {kK
that assortments will not be as good because the wise |
merchants are placing futures now and getting the best [>
assortments. A tremendous cotton crop next fall is |
about the only thing that can stop high prices. There- =
fore, so far as prices are concerned the chances are in |
favor of higher prices instead of lower. 4
2. We find that City merchants are placing future orders |
very freely but the country trade hesitates to do so on {|
account of the conditions on the farms and the slow |
trade and collections this winter. We believe that con- |
ditions on the farms will gradually get better. If youdo [R
not place your orders now the merchant who does, will
have better assortments, patterns, etc. and will own his
merchandise at lower prices than you, with the result
that unknowingly you will be building up the other
merchant's business and tearing down your own. You
must have merchandise to do business with and by
placing your futures with us NOW you will secure your
business for the future.
(CAMEL NEE NIN NEY NUELEZ NUN NEL NGI NTE ULE NOTE STE NET NO
EE EEE
is Our salesmen are offering merchandise for immediate
| and later spring and fall delivery and we suggest that you
J . . .
P| at least give them the opportunity of showing you samples.
ig You will be pleased with the new styles and quality staple ;
Kj; merchandise we offer.
ne
s GRAND RAPIDS DRY GOODS CO. WHOLESALE ONLY ;
SOOO OO NOOO SONG ONG ONC NO NO PAOAOAGAIN
SEO GCRER UBUD RUORR EERE RSS REE EE ee
Number T506
MEN’S PERCALE SHIRT
NECKBAND
$8.75
We are giving you one more chance.
14 to 17; 14 Doz. Each Size to a Box.
Daniel T. Patton & Compan
Grand Rapids, Michigan - 59-63 Market Ave. N.W.
The Mens Furnishing Goods House of Michigan
SURE RESOEE REC RRP RES ERBERB ESB EEE
Duweelle
Human Hair Nets
A Product of Unsurpassed Quality—With Greater Profits
For You.
Our Window Displays, Counter Cards, Wall Hangers and Display
Cabinets are most attractive and impressive. They are creating sales
for merchants everywhere. :
Your profit is $1.20 per gross more in the sale of Duro Belle than in
the sale of other advertised nets. :
Buy Duro Belle and secure these dealer helps from your jobber and
display them prominently.
NATIONAL TRADING COMPANY
630 SO. WABASH AVE. CHICAGO, ILL.
En eit a sit
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Pin itbelttedsouti DeeiaaSoe tiicaeansesae tin
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February 21, 1923
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN 27
NT API E OODS. Cambrics & Nainsooks. Childs Walsts.
PRICES CURRE ON ST. DRY G ae ee = — 29 = Bho - ee i - 60
r e ee se ee “ oe i a a
List prices corrected before going to. press, but not guaranteed 614 Glory, 60-22-2222 ss 98% )0 Mostin Waist 5 3G7 toes 0
against changes. ee Eh ene at cee Casha aecac
r 'e
Dress Goods. Comtortabiin, Indian Blankets & Bath Ticking. Fleece Union Suits, Heavy ----.. 7 00/2
Robe Blankets. Straw ‘lekine: 220s 17 ize .75
36 in. All Wool Storm Serge ~~...
44 in. All Wool Storm Serge ---... 97
650 in. All Wool Storm Serge ~---.. 1 20
French Serges proportionately,
Danish Poplar Ot 42
Juilliards Novelty Checks & Plaids 1 85
64 in, All Wool Coating -_-_ 1 50@2 00
Linings.
30 in: Black Satine 222)
82 in. Wool Mixed Storm Serge -- my 8
36 in. Satine, black & colors sen
BG im: Perealinge: o.oo 16%
Windsor Cambric —----------------- 12
36 in. Radiant Charmeuse ~----.--. 481,
White Goods.
Indian Head.
$3 in. Soft Finish 2.22... 5. -. 22
36 in. Soft Finish —_
44 in. Soft Finish ae
64 in, Soft. Finish =. 38
All Linen Finish %c yard more.
Ginghams and Wash Goods.
27 in. Platn Colors —-..------ sec were
27 in. Checks & Plaids ~.--_-_---~-- 17
32 in. Checks & Plaids ~_--------_. 194%
32 in. Checks & Plaids, better
quality from —-~~----------._ 22144 @32%
a2" in. Pisses: foo 35 = @45
6a /40 in. Voiles ~.---_---_._. 1AONe
40 in. Organdies, all colors ~-.-....
32 in. Romper Cloth ~-_--...---- 23
27 in. Apron Ginghams -__-~- 12% @14
2 ih Oneviets 2 a 17
Plisse & Serp. Crepe -------- 20 Os
ma a COR
ao i, Mogras 2
32 in. Suitings, from ~-----.... Hingis
36 in. Chiffon, from ~---.--... 32 an
27.-in. Popuns o. 3.
36 in. Poplins, from —--------- aioe
Percales.
36 in. 64x60 ~_-___ Lights 16 , Darks 17
36 in. 68x72 __.-__Lights 16%, Darks 17%
36 in, 80x80 __---_ Lights 21%, Darks 22%
Crashes.
18 in. a Bleached ~---.------.-.... 22
18 in. P. Brown, ~.-~~-~-. 21
Other grades accordingly ‘and less less
10
16 in. Irish Imp. Br. Linen Crash 16
15 in. Bleache “Toweling .-.--.-. 06
17 in. Glass Toweling, Red Stripe _. 12
18 in. Absorbent Toweling ----. 16
16 in. Blea. Linen Crash, from 20 “to 25
Diaper Cloth.
18° cin; Med Star oo 1 35
20 in Red Star 22220 oe 1 45
a2. in. Red Star 03 1 55
24 in. Red Star i.00 2 oo 1 70
2th, See SCAR oo 1 85°
Oamask.
64 in. Mercerized ~--__ - 62%
72 in. Mercerized ~_--_ - 12%
68 in. Mercerized --
58 in. Bates or Imp. Hol. Red Dmk. 75
Pattern Cloth.
68x72 Mercerized ~-..-.._____-. 1 236
Larger sizes, good qual. from 2 2 50@3 oe
Towels & Wash Cloths.
Turkish Towels from $2.25@9.00 depend-
ing = size and qu ality, and whether
plain or’ fancy.
Huck ‘Towels from ea r doz.
depending on size and
whether part linen, hems toned, etc.
Wash Cloths from 45c per doz. to $1.50
depending on size and quality and
whether plain or fancy.
Bath Sets from 75c@$1.30 each.
Draperies.
$2 in. Crotonme 2. 16%
Harmony Art Cretonne ~_-~--~----~- 25
Normandy Silkoline -----.------... 19%
36 in. Better Grades Cretonnes from 25c
ooo fc on quality.
-Scrim: fe from _-.. 104%@19%
36 in. *plain & Fancy Marquisettes
from 164c@32%c, depending on quality.
Curtain Nets from 25c@62%c, Gonenting
on width and quality.
Blankets.
45x72 Cotton Felted Blankets --.. 1 07%
50x72 Cotton Felted Blankets --.. 1 20
54x74 Cotton Felted Blankets ---. 155
60x76 Cotton Felted Blankets ---. 175
64x76 Cotton Felted Blankets ~_-- 1 85
68x80 Cotton Felted Blankets ---- 2 30
72x80 Cotton Felted Blankets --_- 2 50
Seconds about 5 to 10% less.
Singles and Single 2nds yecoortonstey.
64x76 Barlan Heather Plaid ~_----
72x80 Barlan Heather Plaid ------ 2 90
—- about 5 to 10% less.
les and Single 2nds proportionately.
0x76 Plain Woolnaps ~~ _-..-----. 2 30
gene Plain Woolnaps -.--.---.-.. 2 55
66x80 Woolnap Plains ----.------- 3 35
72x84 Woolnap Boge ee ss 3 70
Seconds about 5 to 10% less
cuts les and S "isd 2nds propottionately.
vs Woolnap - pe sa aauccmrs
80 Woolnap Plaids —~--..-...... 2 65
He Woolnap pei ee ae age 3°70
72x84 Woolnap Plaids —_----.----- 415
Seconds about 5 to
10% 1
Singles and Single 2nds proportionately.
= Blanket Comfortables -..... 2 5@
6x80 Comfortables .. 3 10
Fo480 Comfortables .. 3 25
64x78 Comfortables: <_............ : =
66x80 ee a ces ene mn
66x84 Two in one ~~... -. 3 5008 18
72x90 Bath Robe. Bisnikets with
Cords, Tassels & Frogs ---.---- 4 00
Crib Biankets.
90x40 Stitched . oc 72%
30x40 Sealloped — ~ Ih
36x50 Stitched —-
36x50 Scalloped -110
e6x50 Bound oe 1 40
Camp Blankets.
Camp Blankets -........ --. 2 50
up
Auto Robes.
Auto Ropes 200 2 50
Woo! Blankets.
66x80 Wool Mixed ----.---.. 5 75@6 25
66x 80 All Wool ~-~...-----~.- 7 50@8 50
70x80 Wool Mixed -_-.--~.--- 50@7 50
70x80 All Wool -~----~------- 8 50@12 00
Comforts.
Small — ee oe ea 22 50
Lareee sizes, r grades
SOT 24 00@48 00
Sheets.
63x96 Pequot 2-2 15 95
63x99 Pequot —
17 35
72x90 Pequot —- 17 36
72x99 Pequot = 19 00
Six90 Pequot: 22 18 85
RIs99 “Pequot: 2 20 65
63x90 Pepperell ._.2.0 2.0 13 45
§3x99 Pepperell 22 14 71
[2x90 Pepperell. 15 50
joste® Pepperell 220 16 86
Sieve Pepperell 200 —~ 16 45
Sixes Popperel) ..0 0 18 01
TeR0e HOCK WOOd 22208 oe 15 25
12599 Lockwood. 8 16 69
81x90 Lockwood 22... .-. 16 75
8ix$9 Lockwood 2.22... 18 34
Cheap Seamless Sheets -....-_.--- 13 60
Cheap Seamed Sheets —-.-_._--___--- 9 00
Pillow Cades.
40506 FOGUOt 4 32
45580 Pequot 4 56
42n6 Pepperell) oo 3 90
45x06: Pepperell oo 414
42x36 Lockwood 20220 3 96
45x36 Lockwood —_......_._......,. -. 4 20
Cheap Pillow Cases --_-.--.----.-.- 2 25
Bedspreads.
72x84 Bedspreads —..-.-_--.--_--.. -- 1 50
Better qualities and larger sizes up
to 5 00
Carpet Warp.
White Peerless ee 50
Colors: Peerless oo gs 56
Olicioth.
G54) White: oo 3 20
5-4 Meritas OW ite os — 3.70
5-4 Meritas Fancy ----.-----------.. 3.60
6-4. Meritas: White 2-20 4.70
6-4 Meritas Fancy ~--------.----.-. 4.60
Batts.
3 Ib. Quilted Cot. Batts _..__ 83 per batt
3 Ib. Plain Cotton t _... 75 per batt
8 oz. Small Cotton Batt -.10% per batt
, oz. Small on Batt 4 R per batt
1 lb. Wool Batts ~....-.... 5 per batt
2 lb. Wool Batts ----. 2 60 per batt
Wide Sheetings.
7-4 Pequot Bleached ~------..-.-.. 50
8-4 Pequot Bleached ~_.---.-.----- 55
9-4 Pequot Bleached ~--._--.-----. 60
10-4 Pequot Bleached ~---------.--- 65
7-4 Pequot Brown --- _-..---------. 44
8-4 Pequot Brown —__- ~~~ ------ 50
9-4 Pequot Brown __._~_~-----.--- 55
10-4 Pequot Brown __........_.._.... 60
7-4 Pepperell Bleached —_---__.-. 42
8-4 Pepperell Bleached — -.--..---- 47
9-4 Pepperell Bleached —~__..-_._ 52
10-4 Pepperell Bleached —___.--_--- 56
8-4 Pepperell Brown ~_-...------. 42
9-4 Pepperell Brown. ~_.-2--.--_-_. 47
10-4 Pepperel Brown -—-~.--~---____ 52
7-4 Lockwood Bleached —______-_-. 43
8-4 Lockwood Bleached —__.._____ 48
9-4 Lockwood Bleached —.__-.---_ 53
10-4 Lockwovd Bleached _-________ 58
8-4 Lockwood Brown —._~_..-_ __ 43
9-4 Tsockwood Brown __-.._.._.- 48
10-4 Lockwood Brown -__W_-___-__ 53
Tubings.
42 in, Pepperell 3 88
45 in, Vopnerell 2 ;31%
42: Tn. Peguot oe 36
45 in Pequet os eae
42 ny CaDOE 30
45 tn. Cabot 31%
4-4 Bleached Cottons.
EiGHSOR le 2 a ee 20
Hope 17%
Cabot 17%
Fruit of the Loom —___________-_-__ 21
uto 17%
Big Injor, 20 15
4-4 Brown Cottons.
Black: Roch ig05 se 16
pale deed -
Giant
Cheaper Cottons ~.-----.---W.. a it%@i8
Feather Tickings from = 23.05 28%@30
Fancy Satine Tickings from... aa
36 in. Imp. Hol. Ticking ~-...-__ 37%
Denim.
220 25
240 23
260 21%
Prints.
In Various colors —--.----- -...... ©11%
Cheese Cloth.
36 in. Bleached Curity Gauze -~-._..
Better Grades -.-.__-. ae KOOsOIO
Flags.
Small Spearheads, ae. oe
Larger sizes from 4x6 ft. to 10x16 ft.
ranging from, each -— _.-... $2.00@8.00
: : eee Goods.
25 in. White Shaker _________.______ 12%
27 in. White & Twill. Shaker agit
Cashmere Twill? oo
27 in. Light Outings —-..____.. 13%
27 in. Dark Outings -._-._.-.. 14
36 in. Light Outings —....-_... 16%
386 in. Dark Outings —--....... is
Notions.
s Si: SFO. 2 ee
Kohinoor Snaps, ro. ee
MitisnapS, ero. 2. 16
Satin Pad S G Garters, doz. _----- 2 00
Sampson fly swatters, doz. ..----.- 15
Roberts needles, per M. ----.-.--- 2 50
Stork needles, per M. -..--....-.. 1 00
Self Threading Needles, paper --.. 06%
Steel Pins S. C., 300, per box -... 43
Steel Pins M.C., 300, per box --.. 45
Brass Pins S. S., 166, per box -... 43
Brass Pins S. - 300, per box ---. 175
Brass Pins M. 300, per box -... 80
Coats ene esa: eee 69
Clarks M. BE. Thread, doz. —..-.--. 59
J. J. Clarks Thread, doz. -~-----.. 56
Belding Silk, 50 yd., Gem. 2.02 90
Cobro Silk net with Slaatte, gro. .. 4 50
Gainsborough Hair Nets
Single Strand 80
Double Strand ---.
Wolverine nets, gro.
Arrow Net, gross __
mire: Belle, dog. 2 aoe ee 0
R. M. C. Crochet Cotton, per box 75
B-4 O. N. T. Cro. Cotton, per box 90
Silkene Crochet Cotton, per box -_ 90
Sansilk Crochet Cotton, per box -. 55
M & K or Dexters Knit. Cot., white,
Fleishers Knitting Worsted Skeins
Fleishers Spanish worsted balls —-
Fleishers Germant’n Zepher Balls
Fleishers Saxony Balls
Fleishers Knitting Worsted Balls
Fleishers Scotch & Heather Balls
Excello Suspenders, doz. ---------. 4 50
President Suspenders, doz. ~_----- 4 50
President Suspenders, Ex. Heavy 6 00
DO wD dO 1
a
o
infants’ Hosiery.
Cotton 1x1 Rib Hose ~___----_----- 1 00
Combed Yarn 1x1 Rib Hose ------ 1 85
Mercerized Lisle Hose, Cashmere
Silkk Hl. & toe, 60% Wool Hose 4 ue
Silk & Wool Hose ---.-_-.---.----. 6 12
Children’s Hosiery. :
BS No. 1 Cotton Hose ---_--~--- 2 22%
R. & F. 07
2 Thread 200 Needle, 3 Ibs. on 9 2 50/8
R. .10 F. .05
Misses 300 Needle Combed Yarn
FIONG oer ee 2 25/7
10 F. .06
Misses Cot. 28 oz. Dou. cant) Hose _ c
Misses Merc. 344 Needle Hoge” -- 3 85 re
10 F. .05
Ladies’ Cotton & Silk oar.
176 Needle Cotton Hose -_--
220 Needle Cotton Hose -_---_---- 1
220 Nee. Co. Yarn, seam back Hose : 50
232 “Burson’’ rib top --..-----.-- 25
232 ‘‘Burson’”’ rib top, out size Hose 4 60
5620 “Burson” split sole Hose --.. 4 25
220 Needle Mercerized ...---- 4 00
Pmt. 100, lisle, hem top ---
460 Needle - full Mercerized ia
Pmt. 11 - § 6
260 N’dle 18 in tie boot mock sm. 6 7
10 Strand 18 in. Boot Silk -....... 9 00
Ladies’ Full Fash., 42 Guage, all
He ELORB 2 19 50
Ladies’ Fleeced & Wool.
220 needle, 2 Ib. combed yarn 2 2
200 needle, 2% Ib. comb. Pare hose 3 00
200 n’dle, 2% lb. O.S. comb. yn. hose : =
176 needle out size Hose .....--....
Men’s Hose.
E. & F. Hose Cotton ~-_-----.---.-_- 1 50
aoe med. weight Cotton ~..... 1 *
& D. Heavy Cotton Hose —----- 16
tie Needle Cotton Hose —___-------- 1 $s
200 Needle Combed Yarn Hose -_-- 2 15
200 needle full mercerized Hose -_.. 3 00
240 needle fibre plated Hose -~--... 4 75
Pure Thread Silk Hose ....--.-...... 6.00
Nelson’s Rockford socks, bdl. ~----- 1 50
Nelson’s Rockford socks, bdl. __--:. 1 70
Nelson’s Rockford socks, bdl. ~----- 1 90
‘2% Ib. Wool Se eidg abana eaceemanes
3 26
3 Ib. Wool Sox -....----<--<--- 3 sas 1
Egypt Ribbed Union Suits a ="
e
“Hanes”’ No. 958 Ribbed U. S. —- a 0
Part Wool Union Suits, all sizes 12 0
50% Wool Union Suits ---..-.-.. 13 00 =
Heavy Fleece Vests & Pants __ 3 00 ps
Part Wool Vests & Pants _._. 5 50/16
Rise of .60
Spring.
Boys’ 72x80 pin shee "i Ath. . S. 4 75
‘“‘“Hanes’’ 756 & 856 72x80 oy eae
Atheltic Sutton 6 12%
Misses’ Underwear.
Vellastic Vests & Pants eas 3 * is
Heavy Fleeced Union Suits ~_..._ i § 50/8 A
Med. Weight Fleeced Union Suits t 5 = /2
Part Wool Union Suits ------_- 13 -
Rise
Vellastic Fleece Union Suits .. 7 0072
Spel Rise .75
in
Misses Gauze 12 cuit Union Suits .. 4 25
LSS1 ‘“‘Sealpax’’ Athletic Suits -... 8 50
Ladies’ Underwear.
7 lb. Brush Back Vest & Pants, nee
Heavy Fleece Vest & Pants, Reg.
7 25
8 00
8 26
9 00
Wool Vests & Pants --.---.-_. Reg. 15 00
Ex. 16 60
Med. Wt. 8 lb. Ribbed U. S. --_Reg. 8 00
: Ex. 9 00
25
50
s 0
11 lb. Brush Back Union Suits, —< =
x. 13.
Silkateen & Wool U. S. ---_-- Reg. 23 00
Ex. 25 00
Mer. & Wool Union Suits ~_Reg. 23 00
Ex. 25 00
Spring.
1x1 rib, 12 cut Vests, Dou. extra .. 3 00
1x1 rib Bodice Top Vests ae 215
2 35
1x1 rib Tu. V. N. vests, lace tr. Reg. 2 25
Ex. 2 50
12 cut, lace & cuff knee Union
Suit; Double Bx. 2020 ee 6 25
1x1 rib, band & bodice top lace
union Suits 62 Reg. 00
Ex. 6 00
Men’s Underwear.
Red Label Shirts & Drawers —__-. 9 50
Red Label Fleece Union Suits ~... 17 00
Black Label Shirts & Drawers -.-- 0
Black Label Fleece Union Suits —. 15 50
1658 Hanes U. S. 16 lb. cot. ribbed 13. a
San. Fleeced Shirts & Drawers ____ 7 0
“Hanes” rib. shirts & drawers -_ 8 00
Wool Shirts & Drawers -...---... 14 00
San. Fleeced Union Suits __-___ 13 50
Heavy Ribbed Union Suits ~.... eas _ 50
Part Wool Union Suits ~ -----..... 6 00
Mer. & Wool Union Suits -..-__. 4 50
100% Wool Union Suits ~_____ 54 seer 00
Lawrence Shirts ery Drawn 7 00@7 =
Bai viggan Shirts & Drawers _.. 4 2
Balbriggan Hcru Union Suits -. 8 00
Ribbed, Ecru Union Suits -.... - 8 75
64x80 pin check nainsook, Ath. S. 5 37%
72x80 pin check nains. Ath. — 6 25
Fancy striped nainsook —..- 8 00
B. V. D. Athletic Suits .. ~ 12 60
Fancy Strip Madris -_.. -- 9 00
Bathing Suits for Spring Delive
Men’s all pure worsted, plain —-.._ 23 50
All pure worsted with chest pig
0@32 -
Ladies pure worsted plain —...-... 25 0
Ladies all pure worsted striped and
color combinations —~..--... 27 00 up
Men’s Dress Furnishings.
Slidewell Collars, linen —.-_-__. 1 60
lannel Night Shirts... <= 10 6 50@13 .
“Linine’’ Collars, per box ~--.--.-__
“Challenge” cleanable, doz. .-...... 2 7
64x60 percale dress shirts -~_...... 8 00
68x72 percale dress shirts —.._.. 9 50
Fancy Madras Dress Shirts 13 50@21 00
Silk & Satin Stri. on good gr. 22 50@36 00
Men’s Work Furnishings.
No. 220 Overalls or Jackets __16 ate 50
No. 240 Overalls or Jackets ~_.--_-- 5 00
No. 260 Overalls or Jackets ~_...-__ i3 50
Stiefels, 285, rope stripe, Wabash
stripe Club or Spade overall or
jacket, 2 seam triple stitched __ 16 50
Black sateen work shirts -. 10 50@12 00
Golden Rule work shirts ~_..______ —- oe
Piece dyed work shirts -......___
Best Quality work shirts _.._9 noise.
Boys’ Furnishings.
Knickerbockers ~.-..-....___ 6 00@15 00
Mackinaws, each -
Overalls, Brownies, etc. 6 50
Youths’ overall, 265 Weight __.___ 10 2
Coverall Heavy ar et 12 ve 5
68x72 Dress Shir Se 8 50
“Honor Bright’ ‘Stitels Wabash
Stripe Romper, red trim ________ 9 00
“Honor Bright’ Khaki Romper,
Eted = teins 50
“Honor Bright” Plain Blue ntoacls
Hed: thi 8 50
Ladies’ Furnishings.
Middy Blouses, red, green or navy
Parker & Wilder, wool flan., ok 4 00
Tricollette Overblouses, each —..... 3 25
64x60 Percale aprons, hts 8 50
64x60 Percale aprons, nee aaa
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
February 21, 1923
—_
— =.
= -~
- “
ce
BUTTER, EGGS 48» PROVISIONS
= =
S —
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Perils and Profits of Packing Pickles.
Thirty to thirty-five years ago the
consumption of pickles in the United
States was probably no more than 10
to 15 per cent. of what it is to-day.
The grade of the pickles taken from
the farmers was about the same, but
the methods of salting has greatly im-
proved and the percentage of loss is
considerably less and the finished ar-
ticles have improved wonderfully.
In the old days—before the advent
of the pure food laws—many added
preserving and coloring agencies were
employed. In addition to salt, vinegar,
alum, sugar and spices, all of which
are allowed, there was used such items
as copperas, sulphurous acid, acetic
acid, sugar, coloring, saccharine and
other chemicals. In 1907 the use of
such articles in the preparation of
pickles was abruptly stopped. The
United States now produces the finest
pickles in the world.
In the 80’s pickles were grown to
some extent in Rhode Island, Massa-
chusetts, Southern Oiho, Eastern
Michigan, Northern Illinois, Eastern
Minnesota and Western Iowa. The
production in any of these sections at
that time would not now be consider-
ed as very large. In those days there
was probably not more than thirty to
forty pickle-salting stations in the
country, where there is now consider-
ably over one thousand. Pickle rais-
ing has changed considerably. The
most productive sections of those days
have played out to a considerable ex-
tent and new sections have had to be
developed to take care of the increas-
ed demand, and now we find most of
our pickles coming from Michigan,
Wisconsin and Indiana, with new sec-
tions opening up, such as New Jersey,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Colorado and’
California.
Cucumber vines do not seem to pro-
duce the same quantity of pickles—
either in the old or new sections—that
they used to. It was not unusual to
find a station that would take in 50,-
000 bushels of cucumber pickles a
year. Now a station that can keep
an average of 10,000 bushels is con-
sidered a valueable location.
The cause for this decrease is dif-
ficult to explain. It may be due to
several reasons: Deterioration in the
seed or the soil; or a disinclination
on the part of the growers to give
cucumber pickles the necessary care
and attention they require. . Cucum-
bers are necessarily a crop that must
be planted by farmers who have small
farms, with large families and plenty
of help; the large grain or stock far-
mer cannot devote the time to them.
The acreage must be in small patches
of from one-half acre to two acres in
size, according to the help available
for picking the cucumbers.
The increased demand -and the in-
creased cost of production ‘have natur-
al‘y raised the price of green cucum-
ber pickles considerably. In 1890
40c a bushel of fifty pounds, or 80c per
100 pounds, was the average price paid
to the growers for pickles not exceed-
ing 3% inches in-length and there were
sections where pickles could be pro-
cured at 30c per bushel. Fifteen cents
per bushel, or 30c per 100 pounds, was
the average price paid for a good run
of large pickles and 10c per bushel,
or 20c per 100 pounds,- was the aver-
age price paid for “nubbins.”
yy In those days pickles were usually
raised close to the processing or fin-
ishing plants, and there was either no
freight to pay or a very low rate, often
not exceeding 5c per 100 pounds. Pic-
kles gradually advanced in price from
40c to 50c, to 60c, to 75c and then to
$1, and they have been up as high as
$1.50 per bushel. Freight rates have
doub!led and trebled and sections have
had to be developed where the freight
is ten times what it was twenty-five
to thirty years ago.
The cost of erecting and maintain-
ing pickle-salting stations has in-
creased proportionately. It is now
necessary to have five salting stations
to get as many pickles as we used to
receive from one. The money invest-
ed and the help required to operate
them have proportionately increased.
The overhead of 10c per bushel has
advanced to 50c; the cost of securing
acreage has necessarily increased.
The farmers seldom come to you to-
day and ask for permission to plant
a certain batch of pickles, or are will-
ing to pay you a dollar a pound for
the seed as they used to. Instead it
is necessary to employ men with auto-
mobiles to canvass the country and
spend hours in talking and influencing
the prospective grower to take the
seed “free,” and get him just to
promise to plant it; regardless of
whether he ever does plant it, or even
if he does plant it to pick the crop
when it is ready. Now a bushel of
pickles can be considered as worth or
costing around $2 to $2.50—delivered
—at the processing plant that used to
cost 50c to 60c.
The acreage in the United States for
the ten years prior to 1921 gradually
increased. The crop during that
period was more or less uncertain,
with ‘hardly a year up to what would
Learn to Say—
iLola
Distributed By
LEWELLYN & CO.
WHOLESALE GROCERS
GRAND RAPIDS DETROIT
ONCE
USED
ALWAYS
USED
AT YOUR GROCER
KENTSTORAGE COMPANY
GRAND RAPIDS ~ BATTLE CREEK
holesale Distributors
“The Wholesome Spread for Bread”
1. VAN WESTENBRUGGE
Carload Distributor
GRAND RAPIDS MUSKEGON
Order a bunch of GOLDEN KING BANANAS of
ABE SCHEFMAN & CO.
Wholesale Fruits and Vegetables
22-24-26 Ottawa Ave. Grand Rapids, Mich.
WHEN YOU THINK OF FRUIT—THINK OF ABE.
THE TOLEDO PLATE & WINDOW GLASS COMPANY
Mirrorse—Art Glass—Dresser Tops—Automobile
and Show Case Glass
All kinds of Glass for Building Purposes
601-511 IONIA AVE., S. W. GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
Moseley Brothers
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.
Jobbers of Farm Produce.
MILLER MICHIGAN POTATO CoO.
Wholesale Potatoes, Onions
Correspondence Solicited
W'Girand Wapide, Michiens
Frank T. Miller, Sec’y and Treas.
hele se
February 21, 1923
have ‘been considered an average, and
many of them no more than 25 to 40
per cent. of a normal yield. The
by United States Department of Agri-
culture’s annual report was obtained
in 1921, there being a total of 63,220
acres.” In 1922, due to the adverse
business conditions, the total was re-
duced to 52,831 acres.
The yield in 1921—possibly on the
average for the ten preceding years—
could be considered on a 200 per cent.
basis. This unusual or abnormal year
in pickle production turned out to be
fortunate because the 80 per cent. of
the 1921 acreage—planted in 1922—
did not produce more than about 25
per cent. in 1922 as compared with the
1921 yield. The prices paid in 1921
were the maximum, being on the aver-
age from $2 to $3 per 100 pounds for
vat run, according to quatity, size and
location of salting stations as regards
freight. The prevailing prices in 1921
were: 70c to $1 per 100 pounds for
large and 50c to 80c per 100 pounds
for nubs.
Because of the apparent overpro-
duction in 1921 the prices were gen- ->
erally reduced in 1922 to $1.50 to $2
for the same vat run, 50c to 70c for
large and 40c to 50c for nubbins.
Owing to the uncertain future and the
uncertain crop most of the salters and
packers are endeavoring to get their
acreage this year on the same basis as
last year.
The method for securing acreage is
a branch of the business each individu-
al salter or packer must develop for
himself. Acreage is secured some-
times by personal contact, talks and
arguments with the growers; either
individually or collectively in meetings,
and each time the virtues and advan-
tages of growing pickles are explained.
It is generally known and under-
stood that you cannot hold a grower
to his contract, but he can hold you
to yours. For this reason it seems
equitable that some clause should be
inserted in your contract, or agree-
ment, that would relieve you in the
event of overproduction in the quanti-
ty that you would be compelled to
take and the price you should pay if
adverse business conditions should
prevail at the time of delivery.
Care should be taken to avoid too
much or-an overproduction. A large
crop that cannot be financed or dis-
tributed successfully by one company
affects all; by a few companies it
spells an unsuccessful year for all; by
all companies it means ruin to all.
F. A. Brown.
———_++>—____
How to Talk Bread Profit.
If I were a Bread Saiesman and had
a grocer on my route who objected to
handling bread because, in his estima-
tion, it offered insufficient profit, I
would talk to him something like th's:
“Mr. Grocer, do you realize there
have been as many fortunes made in
the grocery business as in other lines
of merchandising? Well, there have
been, and there will be. There are
some men in every line of business, in-
cluding the grocery business, who
study out the underlying fundamental
policy that is the foundation of profit.
“The underlying policy and foun-
dation of profit in the grocery busi-
ness is turn over, There is no article
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
that you handle that gets so rapid a
turnover. There is no article that
you handle that gets so rapid a turn-
over, with so little invested and in-
vested for so short a time, as bread.
“If you invested $1 in any thing you
sell and sold it at $2 you would
make 100 per cent. profit and that
would not be so bad, would it? But
take bread for a better example of
rapid turnover, little invested capital
and short period of investment. Just
figure this out with me.
“To-day I sell you twelve loaves of
bread at 8c per loaf for $1—roughly
figuring. You sell the 12 loaves and
have a profit of 24 cents. To-morrow
you take the same dollar and buy
12 more loaves and again make °24
cents. You-understand you use the
same dollar every day in the year and
get a 24 per cent. return daily or we
will say $1.50 per week which at the
end of the year makes you $78.00.
Now remember this accumulation of
$78.00 has been made on the original
investment of only $1 and the turn-
over has made you a profit of very
near 8,000 per cent—can you beat it?
“Tf you could make that much
profit by such rapid turn-over on
every item in your stock you could
be doing business—the same sales as
you now have—with about one-tenth
of the investment. This does not em-
brace all the advantages of handling
bread, however. Bread brings your
customers in daily contact with your
store, this is valuable because those
who. would otherwise come in only
occasionally for other articles. will
when buying bread from you, get the
habit of coming every day—and you
know we are creatures of habit—and
that would be a good habit for your
customers to form for your sake.
“Thus, bread brings far more profit
to your store than the direct profit
made on the bread sale. One more
important thing, Mr. Grocer, remains
to be said: ‘Unless you sell good
bread the customer who comes once
may not be enticed into coming again.
Such a loaf as our Better Bread will
bring customers back again and
again, and by handling such a well
known, well advertised loaf of high
quality, always satisfying bread, you
give your store a reputation for high
quality in food stuff.”
Fred D. Pfenig.
—_+-<.—___
’ Kronen Soap Wrappers.
Swiss soap manufacturers have hit
upon the happy expedient of using
Austrian ten-kronen paper money as
wrappers for their product. The con-
stant fall of the Austrian crown has
made it cheaper to wrap soaps in
crowns than to print special wraps.
In addition, the customer of specula-
tive turn gets a premium in the shape
of a ten-crown note, which may pos-
sess future value.
Weber Flour Mills Corp. Brands.
Tea Table $7.90
Oven. Spring 22 ee 7.40
For Sale by
“Yellow Kid” Bananas are a
wholesome and delicious win-
ter fruit that is inexpensive
and very healthful.
“A pound of Bananas is better
than a pound of meat.”
Vinkemulder
Company
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Watson-Higgins Milling Co.
NEW PERFECTION
The best all purpose flour.
RED ARROW
The best bread flour.
Look for the Perfection label on
Pancake flour, Graham flour, Gran-
uated meal, Buckwheat flour and
Poultry feeds.
Western Michigan’s Largest Feed
Distributors.
You Make
Satisfied Customers
when you sell
*“SUNSHINE?”’
FLOUR
Blended For Family Use
The Quality Is Standard and the
Price Reasonabie
Genuine Buckwheat Flour
Graham and Corn Meal
J. F. Eesley Milling Co.
The Sunshine Mills :
PLAINWELL, MICHIGAN
M. J. DARK & SONS
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.
Receivers and Shippers of All
Seasonable
Fruits and Vegetables
VAR
PT. HURON
MAKERS OF
FANCY COOKIE CAKES AND CRACKERS
LONG ISLAND SANDWICH—Our Specialty
Samples sent on request.
Phone—Melrose 6929
Detroit Branch
3705 St. Aubin Ave.
re
oi
4
S
&
Ne
+
x
*
oe
oy
:
vi
TRADESMAN.
February 21, 1923
Show Cards Last Step in Successful
Advertising.
The shoe retailers is confronted
with two great problems. The first
is what to put on his shelves, and the
second, which is just as great, is how
to get it off the shelves.
Buying to-day is a big problem.
The other side of the problem is how
to move the merchandise you buy.
You have specialists. Some spec-
ialize in women’s style; others in the
juvenile style. So on in the adver-
tising business which is just as broad.
Advertising through the retail store
window I believe is one of the most
important angles of advertising to-
day.
I have for about fourteen years spec-
ialized on window advertising—not
window trimming, although I got my
start trimming windows over sixteen
years ago.
Retail merchants to-day look upon
their windows almost entirely from
the standpoint of elegance and beauty.
But they must also look upon them
in the terms of sales. Are you buying
newspaper space showing a few shoes,
leaving everything to the imagination
of the reader? You are saying some-
thing about that merchandise because
you must say something if you ex-
pect to sell something. ©
The customer comes into your store,
you take a shoe, hold it out in front
of her, deaf and dumb? You don’t
do it. No sane merchant would do it.
You say something about that shoe
and that is what the show card does
in your window, it is a salesman and
you have to have the salesmen to-day
if you want to keep the front doors
open. There are any number of ex-
amples of show card advertising that
I could bring out. I am going to
point out just a few of them to you.
The main point I want to bring out,
one of the best places to do your talk-
ing is the place you do your business.
You are paying big rent for your store
and the rent is based the same as the
space that you are paying for in the
newspaper. It is based on. circula-
tion. Circulation is what you are pay-
ing for in your store front and I be-
lieve anyone will agree with me that
about 85 per cent. of your rent, or
close to it, is the face of your store.
Now take advantage of this circu-
lation in front of your store. Get peo-
ple in front of your store, take advan-
tage of those that are right there. The
‘great thing in advertising is to talk
somebody into something, said in an
understandable way. When you can
talk something new, you can put over
a suggestion, a point of sale for the
copy on your show cards, you only
have to bring this person about three
or four steps before you close the sqle,
That is the real secret of show card
advertising.
I am sold on all medjums of ad-
vertising that are good, but I say,
complete this little step. The show
card is the last step on your ladder
and you want to make it just as easy
as possible to get them in the store
after you spend hundreds of dollars
to get them down to the store.
What people stop and look at and
what they buy are two different things.
It is not the people who look who
show on the cash register, it is those
you sell.
When I say show cards, I don’t
mean a big slap-out sign, “Fire Sale,”
or something like that. That is not
show card advertising. Show card
advertising has to be worked in the
same way than any other advertising.
You have to give care and the skill
to the preparation of the copy, to the
lay-outs of the card. Give them some-
thing that is yours, that has your per-
sonality behind it. That is the whole
secret in show card advertising.
I don’t mean sticking one card up
in the window here, “Spring Styles.”
It is taken for granted in spring that
. they are spring styles. Say something
about the spring styles.
It is all well and good to use ‘price
tickets, too, if your ideas are that
way.
You all realize that the greatest
power in the world is words; whether
they are written or spoken they’ve
got to have a personality behind them.
That is one thing about advertising
copy. On your show card, have just
enough copy to put over a thought in
a clear concise way. Don’t try to
make it tricky. Keep that in
mind in your show card and all your
advertising copy. Government statis-
tics show that only 76 per cent. of the
people in this country have ever pass-
ed the sixth grade. If so, don’t use
big words because that class of peo-
ple have to read your card.
Another point I want to bring out
in selling prospective customers, don’t
continually appeal to them about sell-
ing them shoes. You know they only
buy shoes: when they need them.
You've got to sell them on the idea
of comfort; on the idea of style, you’ve
got to continually harp to them what
is what and why they should have it.
You can’t expect to put a nice new’
shoe up in the window and expect
them to understand everything about
it. Get them out and show it to them,
but say something about them: That
is the big thing that the show card
will do.- It puts a voice in your win-
dow.
I am not talking with the idea of
having you replace other advertising
with the show card, I am saying get
the missing link in there. The show
card successfully bridges a gap on the
desire you have created to buy in your
other advertising and the opportunity
to buy. That is what the show card
does, backs up your other advertising.
H. E. Pease.
—--2-22
Your Windows and the Dull Season.
There never was a time in the his-
tory of merchandising when the show
window was of greater importance
than it is right now. For months
buying conditions have been alto-
gether abnormal. People are willing
to buy but they want to be “shown”
—the display man can “show” them—
if he is given a chance.
Now is the time to put all the
pressure possible on show window
display. The business that the shoe
merchant will do between the first of
the year until spring opening will de-
pend to a great extent upon his show
window and how it is handled. He
will get from his window just what he
put into it—no more or no less.
The big idea is to make the window
as attractive as it can possibly be
made. To compel the passerby to
stop and look at it, it must force at-
tention and the shoes must appear at
their very best. This is no time for
showing shoes carelessly. Put the
price on everything and make every-
thing look better than its price. This
is no time for skimping and counting
pennies.
Give the display man what he needs
to make the most of his windows and
he will justify the expenditure. The
merchant who refuses at this time to
spend enough to make his windows
attractive is like the soldier who
throws away his gun at the beginning
of the battle—he might as well sur-
render and be done with it. Buying
really necéssary fixtures, decorations,
and window equipment is a matter of
spending money to make money. Of
course no merchant can afford ex-
travagance at any time, but he should
at all times have the business sense
to buy the thing he actually needs in
his business.
Don’t skimp on your windows now
—they are your biggest trade asset.
Spend enough to make them really
efficient.
Changing the entire appearance of
a window from time to time is a sure
way to get attention. No matter how
handsome your permanent back-
ground may be, it will pay to cover
it up occasionally to give it an entirely
different color effect. For example,
if the regular back-ground is Amer-
ican walnut or any other wood, it can
be completely changed in appearance
by covering it with some of the plain
or figured fabrics that now can be had
in great variety of color and pattern.
People who have grown used to the
usual back-ground may pass them
by unnoticed but they can’t get
by the window with its changed
appearance without stopping for at
least a brief inspection. It is unnec-
essary to explain the psychology of
this»-but it works, and the greater
the change, the greater the results.
Shoe displays that attract, and hav-
ing attracted, sell, are needed now.
S. Blumberg.
Bertsch shoes and oxfords.
Back of the Trademark
This modern factory, housing an organization of skilled
shoemakers, is back of the H-B trademark. Back of it also
is a record of over 30 years of honest shoe values. More-
over, back of it is the good will of thousands upon thou-
sands of Michigan families, who know the satisfaction
Herold-Bertsch shoes give. You Mr. Merchant, can cap-
italize that good will by carrying a FULL line of Herold-
HEROLD-BERTSCH, GRAND RAPIDS
February 21, 1923
Tampering With the Rights of the
People.
Grandville, Feb. 20—Vast strides
are made every year in our country
along lines of improving the status
of our people. Along educational
lines, and in the matter of health and
medication.
I noticed not long ago an account
in one of the daily papers of a man
who was arrested and jailed because
he refused to send his children to a
distant central school after the rural
school building not far from his home
had been declared vacant for all time.
The man had the interest of his chil-
dren at heart. He disliked the risk
of sending kiddies of kindergarten age
to the central school with a mixed
crowd aboard a bus. It was a risk
and the parent had a God-given right
to have the say as to how his little
ones should be educated.
That right of parental care of the
little ones is being taken away from
parents in the State of Michigan,
caused by the incessant appeals made
(not by farmers) but by clackers from
outside towns who well know that
centralized schools draw trade to their
towns, regardless of the rights of
parents in the premises.
The greatest men of this Nation be-
gan their educatioir in the now de-
spised rural school and the advocates
of the destruction of country district
schools talk loud and long about the
benefits to be derived from the central
school system. Doubtless there are
some “advantages, but for the child
from five to eight this is nil. The
place for the little ones is at the
country school near home, not miles
away at the big town building, far
from home and friends.
A parent who has an abiding love
for his children will naturally shrink
from seeing the little ones bundled
into a big bus, wth strange boys and
girls, and whirled away from the pa-
ternal care, into town in search of an
education that can best
them nearer the home nest.
This propaganda for centralized
schools is a fad of the town, not of
the. rural community. Farmers did
not originate it, yet it is taking fast
hold in some communities and will
countless sweep all before it as has
many other senseless and expensive
fads along other lines of endeavor.
We see assemblages of the mercan-
tile community taking hold of this
‘centralized school idea, resoluting in
its favor, when the fact is the regulat-
ing of the school facilities for farmers
is none of their business.
There is danger running carryall
loads of children across country to
and from home and city. One has
only to note the numerous accidents
happening every day through auto-
mobile carelessness to know that it
is tempting fate to consign your little
child to the care of strange drivers
and to the-mercy of a promiscuous
crowd.
Little children certainly, under eight
years, should have the close super-
vision of their parents, and those par-
ents should have the right to keep
their tender little ones as near home
as possible, not turning them over to -
the tender mercy of auto drivers from
nine to ten months in the year.
I have always maintained that there
was no argument for the saloon. I
say to-day there is no argument for
the centralization of country schools.
There is a place for everything and
everything in its place. The town
merchants have a purely selfish motive
in pleading the cause of such schools.
Let not the farmer be deceived. ©
Another instance of interference
with the inalienable rights of man
came to my notice a few days ago.
I think it was a school board that
issued a manifesto that no. pupil
should attend school who had not
been inoculated with vaccine matter
against danger from contracting small-
pox. What do you think of that?
Here is a family of seyera] healthy
be taught:
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
children of school age forbidden the
privilege of school unless -they are
subjected to the dangers of a blood
poisoning disease. Out upon such
arbitrary rulings. Had I a family of
small children attending school. I
should not acknowledge the right of
any school or other board under the
shining sun to dictate my management
of those children. If it were Russia
we might expect such tyranny, but
here in free America, never. The
dangers from vaccination are declar-
ed by many physicians to be far great-
er than from the disease against which
it is used.
Many have been ruined in health
for life by vaccination. Certainly it
is flying in the face of providence to
thrust this vile vaccine matter into
the young and healthy veins of our
children.
Trust the people and keep your
powder dry. Old Timer.
——_2.22———
Wild Speculative Buying in Sugar
Market.
Trouble started early this week with
the publication of a report by the De-
partment of Commerce on sugar pro-
duction and consumption which seem-
ed to indicate that consumption this
year would exceed output of the 1922-
23 crop by over 700,000 tons. The re-
port was misinterpreted in many quar-
ters and was played up in rather sen-
sational manner by the newspapers. It
was influential in bringing about an
intense speculation in sugar with raws
jumping one cent a pound. Followed
hasty explanations by the Department
which did not wholly succeed in mol-
lifying the trade. The Department
pointed out its figures really indi-
cated a surplus at the end of the year
of some 476,000 tons, taking into con-
sideration the carryover of 1,203,000
tons from the previous crop. This
surplus, however, is much smaller
than that of the previous years and
compares with an average pre-war Car-
ryover of 750,000 tons. To add to the
excitement a statement was issued by
Messrs. Guma and Mejer, well-known
Cuban statisticians, that the Cuban
crop harvested last fall would fall
short of their first estimates by several
hundred thousand tons.
This statement also has been at-
tacked by other competent authorities,
who maintain that the latest Cuban
crop will be fully as large or larger
than the crop of 1921-22. Last year
the world’s consumption of sugar ex-
ceeded all previous records. This was
due in part at least to the exceedingly
low prices prevailing during the
greater part of the year and to re-
plenishment of depleted stocks result-
ing from the hand-to-mouth buying
in 1921. The latter is supposed to
have accounted for 500,000 tons. That
consumption this year will equal that
of the prévious year is a matter con-
cerning which one man’s guess is as
good as another’s, but the weight of
opinion seems to be against it. At any
rate, the sugar market has become a
highly speculative affair and man
observers profess ta see danger of a
recurrence of the situation which
Ask about our way
BARLOW BROS. Grand Rapids, Mich.
_ existed
in 1920. In the spring of
that year, it will be recalled, specula-
tion boosted the price of sugar to un-
heard of heights. The inevitable re-
action ‘brought severe losses to all con-
cerned. - The trade feels that a Gov-
ernment crop estimate even when ac-
curate, sometimes does more harm
than gaod.
—_—_~~-+>——___
Some New Price Data.
In a recent bulletin the Bureau .of
Labor Statistics has subjected its
wholesale price data to a new arrange-
ment so as to present a more repre-
sentative grouping of various com-
modities. For example, those food-
stuffs which go from the farm to the
consumer with little or no change in
form are included in both the farm
products and the food groups. When
*
31
the general average of wholesale
prices is computed, however, no ar-
ticle is counted more than once. Un-
der this system the Bureau has com-
puted the index numbers of various
commodity groups from 1820 to date.
The number of commodities listed has
been considerably enlarged since the
first statistics were compiled, expand-
ing from 192 in 1890 to 404 at present.
The various commodities have also
been reweighted in accordance with
the census data of 1919. The Bureau
has adopted the plan of revising its
weighting every ten years, following
each census. The new publication
shows not only the index numbers for
commodity groups, but also supplies
the yearly average price of a large
number of important commodities
from 1890 to 1921 inclusive.
Shoe Mfgs. and Tanners
~TUT-ANKH-AMEN |
Dead for 3,000 years.
Then bang!—Advertised—and all the world
bawls for more news.
If advertising can put life into a dead one,
what can’t it do for a live one?
Don’t be a TUT. Wake up now and let the
world know you carry the best shoes made.
Hirth-Krause Company’s
grief defying ROUGE REX SHOES for wear
and comfort style expressing, MORE MILE-
AGE SHOES for dress.
Send in your order Now and get set on
speedier turn over and greater profits.
Remember Tut
HIRTH-KRAUSE COMPANY
From hide to you.
Lost and forgotten.
Grand Rapids, Mich.
surprise you.
211 Monroe Avenue :
Attention, Country Merchants!
AWNINGS—TENTS—COVERS
Competition in Grand Rapids has lowered prices 20 to 30% less than
they have been. We will extend to you the same prices and workman-
shp that the city merchant has been getting. We offer and sell you real
merchandise and guarantee satisfaction.
How to measure your own awning correctly.
First, measure the wall from 1 to 2,
Second, measure the extension from 2 to 3,
Third, measure the front from 3 to 4,
and write down the figures in your order as
shown. Tell us the Firm name you want on
the curtain, add also. whether Pull Up or Roller Awning.
Remember a 2c stamp will bring you samples and prices that will
GRAND RAPIDS AWNING & TENT COMPANY
Grand Rapids, Mich.
grant bereits feaeindinb mane
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
Gabby Gleanings From Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids, Feb. 20—Leonard
Mathey, of Chicago, is now district
sales manager for the Peerleess Yeast
Co., of Union City. After reading a
paragraph from Hargrave’s sales talks
in the Sampie Case, one day last
week, Mr. Mathey said he closed the
biggest deal in over a month. It all
happened in less than an hour. When
evening came he mailed a dollar for
one year’s subscription to the official
organ of the U
Hargrave says he cae know who
coined the statement that. “Salesmen
were born, not made,” but he’s sure
it was someone who was looking for
a plausible excuse for his failure. Then
he goes on to say, “Push out your
third vest button.” It is really funny
how you can push out that third vest
button without getting ‘ ‘chesty.” Got
to do it with fresh air; cigaret fumes
won't work.
_Here’s some more good stuff from
Hargrave: “The faiiure in life seldom
ever blames himself—the world’s hand
has been against him, he claims.”
“Yellow curs keep close to the well-
trodden paths;” It is the thorough-
bred among salesmen who get the
business and the cur who gets the
gate.”
Saiesmen traveling from Grand Rap-
ids all have the same story: “Business
is very good in all lines and prices
are advancing slightly.”
Wire advanced 10 per cent. last week,
while several items in heavy iron
climbed 12 per cent. and some few to
15.
There’s oftimes comedy stuff in
committee work. Saturday when the
U. C. T. banquet committee met. Cap-
tain Burgess, the general ‘chairman
gave the members their final instruc-
tions something like this: “Now, Dan
you do this; and John, you do that;
Walter and Sam will do so-and-so.”
Whereupon Dolson, on decorations,
enquired: “Oh, but Captain; what are
you going to do?” “I am to see that
each of you do your full duty,” was
the quick reply.
Members of the You-See-Tee Club
have suddenly taken to bringing
prizes into the meetings. The Wood-
house representative has donated
cigars and so has the hired man for
Tunis Johnson. Flour, candy, gum,
preserves, bread and hams have been
given by salesmen from their several
lines: ‘Gus Kaser, feeling it was his
turn, asked John Martin, chairman of
amusements, if he thought the guests
would like some of his pilis next Sat-
urday.
John Berg, representing Pitkin &
Brooks, is again making his territory
after spending what he supposed was
the winter months in California.
Every member of Grand. Rapids
Council will receive a postal card dur-
ing the coming week, which he is-ex-
pected to fill out and return prompily.
‘Failure to do so may cost the organ-
ization money. It may mean, too, that
some dear little wife, who has stoked
the furnace for six days and kept the
home fires burning may lose her place
at the banquet table. That might
mean trouble; anyway, ‘the committee
hopes so. *~
City Manager, Fred H. Locke, ad-
dressed the You-See-Tea Club mem-
bers and their guests at the Pantlind
Especially is .
this true of iron and steel products.
Hotel Saturday at the noon-day lunch-
eon on the subject of new traffic laws
for Grand Rapids. Mr. Locke has the
rare faculty of being able to convey a
multitude of thoughts in very few
words. His listeners were so well
pleased that he was elected to honor-
ary membership in the Club by a ris-
ing vote. Miss Lorraine Peters gave
two violin selections and was present-
ed with a large box of candy. Next
Saturday a number of vocal selections
will be rendered by Mrs. Bessie Wol-
ford with Miss Esther Martin ac-
companist. There will be no regular
speaker for the occasion. John Rip-
pinger has asked the pleasure of pre-
senting one of Wilson & Company’s
famous hams to the most popular lady
present. Any commercial traveler in
Grand Rapids next Saturday is wel-
come to the luncheon at 12:45 in the
Rotary Club Rooms of the Pantlind.
Grand Counsellor H. D. Bullen, of
Lansing, and Grand Secretary Maurice
Heuman, of Jackson, will take part in
the annual ceremonies of Grand Rap-
ids Council U. C. T. on March 3.
J. H. Millar, the candy salesman,
Was a near eye witness Wednesday
when Dr. Oterheld, of Ovid, was
killed by a Grand:Trunk.train at Shep-
ardsville. In a blinding snow storm,
with a big freight engine sidetracked
and blowing off steam, as most engines
do, the doctor stepped right in front
of a West-bound passenger +train.
Salesmanship is not the art of en-
tertaining. Back in ancient times the
good “mixer” was successful and
much sought after, but he has been
slipping ever since the year of 1 B. D.
(meaning Bone Dry.)
Outlining a selling campaign for
your customer is more interesting to
him than the latest “smutty” story.
The latter may get a smile, but the
former gets repeat orders.
One writer says “The besetting sin,
as I view it, of a majority of commer-
cial travelers is over-estimating them-
selves.” Pray, what does he mean,
anyway? A successful salesman must
have a thorough knowledge of his line
and a pretty good opinion of himself
in order to command respect and gain
the confidence of his customers.
Fred H. Locke was formerly a sales-
man. Now he is a Manager of a thirty
million dollar corporation, with -150,-
000 stockholders, a great many of
whom call up every day or so to tell
him how he should conduct his busi-
ness. As City Manager, Fred’s busi-
ness is not to make money for the
stockholders, but to save it.
The advertising man for Morris &
Company, the big meat packers of
Chicago, is a great believer in the
power of: suggestion. Recently he
“worked” the head waiter in a large
Chicago restaurant: to place a copy of
the Saturday Evening Post on the
front table, opened to show. a double
page advertisement of Morris hams.
Later he visited the kitchen and
learned that over 200 people had or-
dered ham and eggs for their evening
meal.
Traveiing salesmen are observing
fellows and some of. their experiences
are amusing if not exasperating. One
Grand Rapids man says he has a cus-
tomer with a hobby for removing
pencil marks from pin- -tickets, so that
they may be used again. These same
pin-tickets are sold in small lots for
50 cents per thousand. Another says he
~
has ‘been kept waiting for five minutes
while the country merchant removes
an uncancelled postage stamp from a
return envelope.
Mrs. A. F. Rockwell has returned
from Howell, where she was called
by iilness. Her brother’s family were
all sick at one time, three with scarlet
fever and two with the: “flu’—and no
help to be had. “Rocky” went along
and amused himself by milking six
cows, night and morning, feeding
forty head of hogs and caring for a
dozen horses in addition to numerous
odd jobs incident to life on the farm
in dead of winter.
Thomas Ford has taken on a side
line in the shape of a newly patented
rake which collapses on the backward
motion, thus removing the leaves and
sticks which otherwise have to be re-
moved by hand. The device is so
novel and practical that every dealer
who is approached by Mr. Ford buys
from one to ten dozen on sight.
A solicitous creature, who knew that
the line was popular, approached Dan
Viergever at the Saturday You-See-
Tea luncheon and enquired if he
hadn’t found it rather hard to keep up
the sales of Van Dam cigars, to which
Dan replied: “Great. gawbs, man!
Grand Rapids is only beginning to
appreciate Van Dams. Here, try one
of the new two-for-a-quarter and tell
me where you can get a better one for
the price.”
Walter. D. Murphy, of Columbus,
Supreme Secretary of the United Com-
mercial Travelers and three other Su-
preme and State officers will visit
Grand Rapids Council on Saturday,
March 3. They will be the guests of
honor at the annual banquet in the
Pantlind, but it is understood that no
“shop” ta’k goes. All business will be
wound up during the day. By the
way, work begins at 9:30 that morn-
ing in the U. C. T. Council chamber.
One of the largest classes in the his-
tory of Grand Rapids Council will be
initiated into the mysteries of frater-
nalism.
The dear public was kept blissfully
ignorant of a near coal famine in
Grand Rapids last week. Breen &
Halladay and other large dealers had
teams out until long after dark deliv-
ering fuel in 100 pound lots to tide
folks over Sunday. Sufficient coal to
meet immediate necessities arrived
Lansing’s New Fire Proof
HOTEL ROOSEVELT
Opposite North Side State Capitol
on Seymour Avenue
250 Outside Rooms, Rates $1.50 up,
with Bath $2.50 up.
Cafeteria in Connection.
139-141 Me
Lar aT)
HAND RAPIDS *
February 21, 1923
Western Hotel
BIG RAPIDS, MICH.
Hot and cold running water in
all rooms. Several rooms with
bath. All rooms well heated and
well ventilated.
A good place to stop.
American - plan.
able.
WILL F. JENKINS, Manager.
Rates reason-
Beach’s Restaurant
Four deors from Tradesman office
QUALITY THE BEST
Witten ate
ao dt
One half block fas¢
of the Union Station
GRAND RAPIDS NICH
CODY HOTEL
GRAND RAPIDS
$1.50 up without bath
RATES { $75) up with bath
CAFETERIA IN CONNECTION
OCCIDENTAL HOTEL
FIRE PROOF :
CENTRALLY LOCATED
Rates $i.50 and up
EDWARD R, SWETT, Mar.
Muskegon i=2 Michigan
HOTEL WHITCOMB
St. Joseph, Mich.
European Plan
Headquarters for Commercial Men
~ making the Twin Cities of
ST. JOSEPH AND BENTON HARBOR
Remodeled, refurnished and redecor-
ated throughout.
Cafe and Cafeteria in connection
where the best of food is ob-
tained at moderate prices,
Rooms with running water _ 50, with
private tollet $1.75 and $2.00, with
private bath $2.50 and 33. 00.
J. T. TOWNSEND, Manager
CUSHMAN HOTEL
PETOSKEY, MICHIGAN
The best is none too good for a tired
Commercia! Traveler.
Try the CUSHMAN on your next trip
and you will feel right at home.
HOTEL
Rates $2 with Lavatory and Toilet
GRAND RAPIDS NEWEST HOTEL
350 Roorms—350 Servidors—250 Baths
HOLDEN HOTEL CO., C. L. Holden, Mgr.
ROWE
$2.50 with Private Bath
3 Short Blocks from Union Depot and Business Center
HOTEL BROWNING
MOST MODERN CONSTRUCTION IN
GRAND RAPIDS
ROOMS with Duplex Bath $2.00; With Private Bath $2.50 or $3.00
Rooms $2.00 and up.
The Center of Social and Business Activities
THE PANTLIND HOTEL
Everything that a Modern Hotel should be.
With Bath $2.50 and up.
4
3
q
east ee
Aan ROI mk sity SN NOS,
February 21, 1923
Saturday, but owing to*heavy snow it
could not be handled until Monday
morning. ‘Hereafter, when using the
word “service,” it might be well to
mention coal dealers are near the top,
in spite of all the nasty things folks
have been saying of them.
K. A. Simon has engaged in the
drug business at 903 Lansive avenue,
Jackson. The stock, fixtures and
fountain were furnished by the Hazel-
tine & Perkins Drug Co. Mr. Simon
was for many years clerk for H. M.
Dean & Co., druggists at Niles.
L. W. Van Dusen, grocer at 602
East Kalamazoo avenue, Lansing, has
added a line of drugs. The stock,
fixtures and fountain were furnished
by the Hazeltine & Perkins Drug Co.
Mr. A. G. Kaser, who has been seri-
ously ill for the past two weeks, is
improving.
. C. Payette, manager of the
Woodhouse Co., left last week for
Hamilton, Bermuda, accompanied by
his wife. They expect to remain
about a month.
The Grand Rapids Furniture Co.
has secured a Supreme Court injunc-
tion against the Grand Rapids Furni-
ture Shops, prohibiting the use of that
name because of its similarity to the
first named corporation. The injunc-
was obtained by Travis, Merrick,
Warner & Johnson, attorneys for the
plaintiff and appellant.
Ed. Fuller, of the firm of Hubbard
& Fuller, retail druggists at Green-
ville, succeeds the late William F.
Griffith as Central Michigan travel-
ing representative for Farrand, Will-
iams & Clark, of Detroit. Mr. Fuller
will continue to reside in Greenville.
Wesley G. Van Ness, who _ has
clerked several years for the Conklin
Drug Co., Jackson, has engaged in
business on his own account at 138
Francis street, Jackson. The fixtures,
furniture and stock were supplied by
the Hazeltine & Perkins Drug Co.
_James L. Benjamin, of the Benja-
min store, Monroe avenue and Cres-
cent street, has sold his interests in
that establishment preparatory to
opening a stock of clothing and fur-
nishings goods on West Leonard
street. Mr. Benjamin has also sold
his home on James avénue to a Mr.
Van Antwerp, of Rockford, who was
formerly engaged in the printing and
publishing business at that place. Mr.
Benjamin has also purchased a home
on Benjamin avenue, which he will
occupy in the near future.
The reduction of 20 per cent. in
mileage rates, ordered by the Inter-
state Commerce Commission, is hail-
ed with delight by everyone in any-
way connected with the business life
of the Nation, and, especially of
the Pacific Coast, who have so much
territory to cover. There is no
branch of business that ought not to
immediately feel the impetus of re-
vived business as this ruling goes into
effect, for it means thousands more of
men on the road and millions of add-
ed business as the result. This rate
cut means $60,000,000 released to
multiply in the markets of the Na-
tion’s business. To the real thinkers
of the financial realm it appears that
every dollar of this great savir~ will
revert to the railroads in the vastly
increased aggressive policy of those
commercial houses which will reach
out for more business. Credit for the
passage of the ruling goes to the
united efforts of all associations of
commercial travelers, which, com-
bined, have a membership of 912,000
traveling salesmen. It is interesting
that the bill was introduced in the
House by Congressman Julius Kahn,
of California. It passed both houses
unanimously, the only bill to be so
strccessful during the last session. It
became Federal Law when it was
s'gned by President Harding on Au-
pst 18, 1922. And under. the ruling
cf the Interstate Commerce Com-
merce Commission announced Feb. 1,
hecomes effective on and after March
15, 1923. Real rejuvenation in busi-
“ness is March 15.
MICHIGAN TRADESMAN
Through the courtesy of John H.
Millar, the gabby scribe is in receipt
of a program printed just twenty
years ago. It is of the annual U. C.
T. banquet and consists of sixteen
pages filled with cartoons and comic
stuff. Among other things the follow-
ing is still good in these days of jazz
hounds, lounge lizards. ‘Man that is
born of woman is but of a few days
and full of microbes. The moment
he hits the earth he starts for
the grave, and the longer’ he
travels the faster he goes. His visible
reward for long days of labor and
nights of walking the floor with teeth-
ing baby is an epitaph he can’t read
and a tombstone he doesn’t want. In
the first of the seven ages of man he
is licked, in the last he is neglected
and in all others he is a target for the
lying, meddlesome mischiefmaker, a
woman who won’t tend to her own
business. If he does not marry his
first love he’ll always wish he had,
and if he does he’ll always wish he
hadn’t. Yet no man ever follows free-
dom’s flag for patriotism (and a pen-
sion) with half the enthusiasm that he
will female beauty. He will brave the
lion in his den, face the booming can-
non, tread the ocean foam beneath his
feet, and yet will tremble like a half-
frozen, egg-sucking dog when called
to account by his wife for his cussed-
ness.” Twenty candidates were in-
itiated at that meeting just twenty
years ago and the total membership
in Grand Rapids Council was 209. A
scattering few of those old timers still
remain as active members. Some
have long since gone into different
lines and others to distant lands, but
the great majority of those merry-
makers, just twenty years ago, have
passed on to their reward and are re-
membered only by their good deeds
while among us some twenty years
ago. John B. Olney.
so-so
Pen Pickings in Michigan.
Lansing, Feb. 20—A recent visit to
Detroit Council, No. 9, recalled the
fact that there are some interesting as
well as creditable features connected
with it.
Past Senior Counselor Hitchings is
once more filling the Senior Coun-
selor’s chair in his usual diplomatic
and praiseworthy manner. Secretary
Treasurer Marks has had charge of
the finances “since Towser was a pup”
and the comparatively few suspen-
sions recorded indicates that he knows
how to collect and, when necessary,
he can confer the degree of the order
in a creditable manner. They have a
Past Counselor who has not forgotten
the charge of his office or the obliga-
tion which every counselor is sup-
posed to remember.
They have several charter members
who attend the meetings regularly re-
gardless of their advanced age or the
inclement weather. John A. Murray
looks, acts and says he feels as young
as he did in the nineties and still re-
tains an active interest.
The broad shouldered and_ still
broader minded Mike Howran, who
was a charter member of this Coun-
cil, later shifting his membership to
Cadillac Council, occasionally visits
his parent council and assists the or-
der at large by passing out some
wholesome advice, as well as enter-
taining in his genial way, by recount-
ing some of the practical jokes which
oldtimers were in the habit of spring-
ing upon each other in days gone by.
In speaking of Mike, let’s mention
the fact that he has been a member
of the order for thirty years, and,
while some silvery locks adorn his
noble brow, yet there are strong in-
dications that he will still be a mem-
ber of the order thirty years hence.
The “Smiling Sunny” Jim Golding,
formerly of Grard Rapids, then Lud- .-
ington and finally Detroit is still ac-
tive in the order, as is evidenced by
the number of applicatiors for mem-
bership which bears his signature.
Jim hasn’t changed a bit in the last
ten years except that he now admits
that he owns the best mother-in-law
in the State of Michigan. Being well
acquainted with our own, and unac-
quainted with his, we are inclined to
question his claim to this distinction,
but we are diplomatic enough not to
argue the subject.
A brother Spencer, of Council No.
296, Greensboro, N. C., was a welcome
visitor at Detroit, No. 9, last Satur-
day night. Brother Spencer is an-
other of those who live in two grips
and a Pullman car a greater portion
of three to six months at a time and
has found that when once the practice
of visiting other councils is started, it
becomes a source of pleasure rather
than hardship and that both visitor
and the various councils with which
he comes in contact profit thereby.
His remarks were greatly appreciated
and I wonder sometimes why others
of the craft do not avail themselves
of every opportunity for such friend-
ly visits. H. DB.
——-->-+ + ___
Cadillac Food Dealers Broaden Their
Organization.
Cadillac, Feb. 20—A real fellowship
meeting of the Cadillac food dealers
was a notable event in the life of the
Cadillac Merchants Association on the
evening of Feb. 7.
The get-together took place as an
extra special commencing with a ban-
quet at 7 p. m. at the Hotel McKin-
non which was attended only by those
who deal in foods of various kinds
at wholesale or retail.
J. D. Widgren, as chairman of the
special committee on arrangements,
presided, while Ray E. Johnston acted
as secretary.
The chairman, in opening the meet-
ing, stated the apparent need of
closer action of a co-operative nature
amongst all dealers in foods and that
a broader association comprising all
the lines would enable each line to
accomplish in greater degree meas-
ures that would be more _ beneficial
than was true when each acted in-
dependent!y and as the wholesale deal-
er in fruits, vegetables, etc., the whole-
sale dealer in flour, sugar, etc., the
wholesale dealer in groceries and
meats, as well as the wholesale dealer
in baked goods were intimately as-
sociated with the retail dealer of these
foodstuffs, it was not only practical
but advisable that an organization be
broad enough to include in its mem-
bership all the lines enumerated. He
offered as a suggestion that the name
of the association be changed to such
a one as would include all the lines
and in as few words as possible.
On motion, a committee was