Page 79 - Past Chair Book-Pre 2020

First .imiuiil C om ynA m

that would come in, as I or Mr. Brown or some of the others might
have different ideas of cash discounts, and this might influence
the sale, although the nominal price might not he altered.

M r. B rown : We did not take up the cash discount question
with the consumer: that, I believe is 011 the program for this
morning. We did take up the question of twelve and a half per
cent, and, after discussion, we thought it better to leave it out.
The second resolution which was read by the Secretary and
seconded was unanimously carried.
The third resolution was read by the Secretary.

P resident S t r o n g: This last resolution combines two
distinct subjects. You can vote on it together or separately.
Mr. C l a r k e : I suggest that the last resolution be amended
to read “Not less than twenty per cent.”
M r. B rion : Regarding the first resolution, I can see a great
deal of trouble in it. It would be a great deal of trouble for a
company wanting to buy $20,000 of machinery, to cut the man out
of five per cent. You can't sell it at five per cent.
I think it is up to us to make a firm stand against the man
with the office in his hat. 1 am not a large machinery dealer, and
haven’t as much interest in it as you. I am speaking more freely
011 open market tools.
M r. B rown : Say a Western buyer goes into a Chicago
machine house. The salesman shows the machinery and gives him
the catalogue. The buyer will go home and purchase the goods,
through a local man. He may be a man who sells mining
machinery| he will write to the manufacturer and get the same
discount as you or I or any one who handles the manufacturers’
product.
M r. B rion : That resolution is right against the gist of the
purpose for which this organization was created. Our constitu­
tion. I believe, speaks of that particular thing. (Looks at
constitution.) No, it does not mention it, but I remember at the
original meeting it was stated that this organization was to protect
the man who carried slock. If the Association stands for the
middle man in the machinery line, I think it will have to stand
for the man with his office in his hat in the supply business. I