Page 24 - Past Chair Book-Pre 2020

20 The Xational Supply and Machinery D ealers’ Association

a good deal of work. We have laid the foundation for the work
of next year, but I do not think we get the aid of other members.
I think too much of the work is left to officers. I believe if we
take up the address of Mr. Strong, and read it point by point,
and the addresses of Mr. Drury and of Mr. Anderson, we would
get a great deal of good.
Let us get together as individuals and help the officers. I
do not believe in the last year that we have gotten the help from
the members that we should. This next year let us make it the
banner year of the Association. Let us make the membership a
good strong one, and by all means give help to the officers and the
committees. I thank you. (Applause).
A motion is made to adjourn.
P r e s id e n t S tr o n g: Before the motion to adjourn, we
would like to hear front Mr. P»rion, whose location is about the
same.
M r . P r i o n : I want to say that I am more than surprised
to see so many supply dealers. I had allowed myself to hope for
such an organization, as I have never seen why the plumbers’
supply trade, the general supply trade and the electric supply trade
should get any better results than wre should. I always considered
it was simpler in our line than any other line because we have no
one between us and the consumer and the manufacturer. If the
manufacturer will help us to do away with the man with the office
in his hat, we will do a good work. I do not see why we should
not be protected, as the so-called insurance broker. The insur­
ance companies are more numerous than any one line of manu­
facture. Every house is tabulated with a certain retail price.
We are not only paying that insurance, but we are paying the
broker fifteen per cent because we can’t get a better price any­
where else. That is the way the consumer would be in this. The
same broker in this insurance line who gets fifteen per cent does
not have to gamble with the line that has to see whether an arti­
cle will sell. He does not pay the insurance until he gets his pay;
he does not run any risk, and is protected more than any one
else. In fact, some of our friends in the staple goods business
think it is robbery if we get fifteen per cent. Did you ever hear
of the United Biscuit Company cutting any price?