Page 130 - Past Chair Book-Pre 2020

I he Xalional Su/'l'ly and Machinery Pealers' .Issoeialion

I believe the proper distribution of goods in many lines we
handle is through the jobber. There is no question of sentiment
about this at all. It is a question of profit. Tor instance the
manufacturer has the manufacturing proposition to look after.
If he can manufacture his goods of high quality, no matter how
many he manufactures, they are no good unless he has an outlet
to sell them. The next question for the manufacturer is, how can
he best distribute his goods? In other words, from the manu­
facturer's standpoint, what is the cheapest way to distribute them?
I think we are unanimous in most lines that the distribution
is through the jobber, not only for the protection of the jobber
but because the protection of the jobber is profitable to the
manufacturer.
I believe this condition is brought about by lack of co-opera­
tion, and I do believe, organized as we are today, that as long as
we keep our demands in reason— and I am sure there is no
disposition to do otherwise— that the manufacturers will be glad
to co-operate with us and help us to keep up our organization, and
in that way make it profitable not only for us but for themselves.
Gentlemen, I thank you. (Applause).
P resident S tro ng: Now I am sure M r. M oyer feels real
good.
M r. M o y e r: Yes, good. (Laughter).
P resident St ro n g: I s there any other gentleman on either
side who will favor us with a few remarks ?
M r. B r to n : It occurs to me that this is the proper time to
bring up a matter interesting 1o manufacturers as well as jobbers,
and that is to make the use of the metric system compulsory.
The Herald prints something every day and tells us that the
apothecaries are all in favor of it. You know how hard it is for
us to adopt it in our line of business. It strikes me that it might
be well for this joint meeting to put itself on record. I know it
would cost a large sum of money to adopt the metric system.
If this thing goes on, and Congress gets hold of it, as they
have been petitioned by sixteen hundred representative concerns
in the East, if there is no opposition afforded, there might be some­
thing done, and we want to lock the door before the horse is
stolen.