Page 34 - Past Chair Book-Pre 2020

3S 2 he National Supply and Machinery D ealers’ Association

Now is the time we want that twelve and a half per cent.
We do not want to wait a year or two from now, but we want it
now while we have a chance to divide some of the profits the
manufacturer is getting. Still the difference between the mar­
gin of discount we get and the twelve and a half per cent would
be two or three times the average profit that the machinery man is
making today. We do not want it in two or three months from
now, but today.
I believe there ought to be an effort to bring these manu­
facturers to time.
I was at the meeting in New York, at the Hoffman House,
and the manufacturers saw your Committee which had this thing
in charge to bring it before the manufacturer. They were afraid
to stand back of what they said in Cincinnati.
I think we ought to elect a committee today to bring the
matter up before the manufacturers. We do not want to go on
ideals, but we want to know how many dollars we have in our
pocket by the end of the year. (Applause).
AIr. C l a r k e : Some of the members of the Alachinery Man­
ufacturers Association seemed to think that each manufacturer
ought to settle the question of discount with their own agents.
They have talked a good deal about committing themselves as an
Association. That seems to be the trouble.
It would be a splendid thing if we could get the Association,
as an Association, committed to this twelve and a half per cent
as a minimum, and then let each manufacturer and each mer­
chant make his own contract between themselves as to what the
discount should be. That discount all depends upon the condi­
tions surrounding the transaction, or the agency, and the class of
goods sold.
The manufacturers seem to be very shy about committing
themselves and committing each other to this twelve and a half
per cent, although I think the majority of them feel today that
the dealers should get it. There are some who are objecting to
giving the twelve and a half. If we could get them all in line it
would be a fine thing. T h e --------------------- Machine Company has
gotten out a machine, and in their letter they do not say “Please
don’t cut this price,” but “Don’t add anything to this price.”