Implement Dealers' Bulletin du lieu suivant : Abilene, Kansas • 10

10 THE IMPLEMENT DEALERS' BULLETIN ttuitmiiiitMiwiwwMMWmtmiMtmiuiwitmmitMwwn mmm mmmmmmmmmmm WHY NOT REGULATE THE EXPRESS BUSINESS? establish a general parcels post that would fatten the mail order houses at the expense of the retail merchant. This is not the kind of paternalism that is required. Regulation of the express business would solve the entire problem." AFTER LOCAL NEWSPAPERS. get away from the fact that the agent is a necessary link in the chain of distribution. We have in mind a concern that is confirmed in the direct-selling habit.

This concern would consider agency relations with a legitimate retail dealer as a contamination, and to even suggest a connection that would violate the sacredness of the "Direct from factory to farm." principle would be profanation. Yet the latest scheme of this concern is to constitute a farmer buyer of a gasoline engine an agent, who is to receive a commission of $10 on each engine solid within a year in his vicinity through his instrumentality. To use a farmer as an agent in preference to a legitimate retail dealer, from one point of view, is a distinction without a difference, as far as the sanctity of the direct-selling creed is concerned. From another point of view it merely adds to the iniquity for which this concern must answer, since by the establishment of farmer agents the greatest possible indignity is placed upon the regular dealer. But all these things aside, the course that is being pursued by the company referred to in inaugurating this agency scheme, is the best possible evidence that some sort of an agent in the conduct of the gasoline engine business cannot be dispensed with.

This should lend emphasis to the contention of the regular implement dealer that he is the logical and legitimate medium for the distribution of gasoline engines, and it should confirm the attitude of those manufacturers of gasoline engines who maintain a policy of protection to the dealer. Farm Implement News. The Hardware Reporters, in an article under the above caption, takes a sensible view of the theory that because the express companies are annually declaring enormous dividends, the result of extortionate charges, the U. S. government should enact parcels post legislation, and engage in the freight carrying business.

The article in part follows: "It is a noteworthy fact that while the advocates of a general parcels post system haw manifested a marked degree of animus towards the express companies, claiming that they are usurping the functions of the government by carrying mail matter, and urging the establishing of parcels post as the only means of relief from the high rates charged by the carriers, few have suggested government regulation of express rates as a means to the end sought. This is indeed all the more remarkable when one considers that the government has been and is today especially active in investigating the affairs of industrial corporations with a view of determining the existence of monopoly and whether or not the great corporations of the country are complying with the law in the conduct of their business. "Why should not the express companies be investigated? Why should they not.be subject to government regulation? With all this hue and cry against the express companies charging exorbitant rates, giving poor service, and entering into competition with the government in carrying mail matter, they are still doing business in the same old way and declaring fabulous dividends. Quite naturally the express companies are opposed to parcels post and are 'doing all -in -their power to prevent its passage by congress. It is their activity in this direction that is.

responsible, in a large measure, for the parcels post propaganda. "But because these things are so it does not necessarily follow that the government of this country should enter into the express business. If the peoplle want lower express rates it is within the power of the government to grant them. It is not necessary that it engage in the express business to accomplish this, neither is it necessary that it One of the big Chicago mail-order houses has been sending to a number of leading Kansas newspapers, situated at important points throughout the state, an offer of a big advertising contract, at high rates. Some papers have been offered 10 pages, others 25 pages, others 50 pages.

The catalogue house offers to furnish the advertising material in plate, so there is no cost for "composition" to the printer. It is all "velvet" and about the easiest money which has been offered to Kansas newspapers for a long time. Be it said to the credit of the Kansas newspapers that nearly or quite all that we have heard of as having received the offer have turned it down. They refuse to help the mail-order concern get into the territory of the local merchants. Of course it was probably "good business" on the part of the Kansas newspaper to refuse this advertising.

It would have made trouble for them with their local advertisers. But it serves to illustrate this fact most forcibly namely, the mail-order houses want to buy space in the local newspaper. They realize that it is the best medium that there is for reaching the class of trade they are after. The local newspaper is absolutely the best way there is to get business for retail merchants, and the mailorder houses; if they could use it, would doubtless make vastly better use of it than many of the local merchants do. The lesson in this is that local merchants have right at hand a weapon for fighting mail-order houses which the mail-order houses themselves regard with jealous eye, and would be delighted to use if they were able to do so.

The Merchants' Journal. PARKERS JUMPING HORSE, CARRY US ALL THE ONLY SUCCESSFUL PORTABLE! AND THE GREATEST MONEY MAKER JUMPINC HORSE CARRY US ALL iN THE AiVUSNENI LINE. ON TH MARKE1 4 I LIHC 1 machine earned $15,850 In 28 weeks in 1904 1 machine earned $17,943 in 29 weeks in 1905 1 machine earned $16,092 in 25 weeks in 1906 1 machine earned $16,017 in 27 weeks in 1097 1 machine earned $12,862 in 27 weeks in 1908 1 machine earned $16,84 i in 25 weks in 1909 1 machine earned $18,521 In 28 weeks in 1910 Above flsrures will be verified to prospective customers. Write for catalogue and prices to C. W.

PARKER Abilene and Leavenworth. Kans. Main Office and Factory, Leavenworth, Kans, THE DEALER INDISPENSABLE. Even the avowed direct-sellers in the gasoline engine business cannot.