Page 120 - Past Chair Book-Pre 2020

122 The National Supply ami Machinery Dealers’ Association

agent who handles our goods on the best jobbers’ prices. For
the information of those who do not know, I will say I am speak­
ing particularly of mill goods and not hand saws. To the house
I refer to, we consign goods, and they pledge themselves to
handle our goods exclusively, and we sent solicitors there. The
best jobbing price is ample to compensate any jobber for handling
our goods. This particular man pledged himself to handle our
goods to the exclusion of any other make. There was nothing
unfair in that. It was at his option to take them. It was under­
stood that if he could not switch a customer off a competing
make he would turn the order down. He did not do it. If you
think that is a fair proposition, we will have to differ. You speak
of co-operat! ?n. You will find that our house is always ready
and anxious to co-operate with every jobber in the country who
is acting as our agent, but we have to have it from the other side.
If they do not support us they can’t find fault with us if we
go out and take business from the consuming trade, and we always
reserve the right to do it. W e give him the money, and the
difference is ample. I understand the proposition.
The dealers take the position that we shall give them a good
round percentage difference between the consumer and dealer,
and then insist that we shall go out and drum the trade, and turn
it over to them. There would have to be a revision of the discount.
I don’t know that that is the sense of this meeting, but I
am very much afraid that an Association which would require all
the manufacturers to do that would have a pretty hard row to hoe
right straight along, because the manufacturers cannot afford
to do it at the price they are selling at today.
As I said before, I do not think anybody in the way of a
jobber or supply dealer, has any kick to register against our
house.
I will say that this week I have had two days to work. It
has been my duty, and I did it, to withdraw prices from three
houses that sold goods to-a consumer at better prices than our
published discount to that trade. (Applause). I did that myself
over the firm’s signature. Gentlemen, I do not think you have
any complaint against us. If you have, come forward, and I shall
try to answer it. Mr. President, I thank you. (Applause).