Page 14 - Past Presidents' Club Book 1

First Animal Conz'cntiim 15

remarks he said that he looked upon the American business man
rv- being- a mighty fine fellow; and I think that we can all endorse
the remarks of our esteemed President—at least we think that
of ourselves. I hope you gentlemen in this connection, speaking
of fine fellows, those who have their wives and daughters with
them, will remind them that I do not live in Detroit. I have
already been taken for the esteemed member of your Executive
Committee from Detroit, and I think it may lead to some compli­
cations.
In regard to the work before your organization, it is similar
in character to the one we are attempting to accomplish in the
National Hardware Association,— trying to induce the manu­
facturers of the country to recognize that we, as jobbers of hard­
ware, and you, in your supply departments, are the proper dis­
tributors of goods. We have induced the manufacturers of hard­
ware, to a very large extent, to admit this fact. A few are yet
unconvinced. It was my pleasure last week to be in the city of
Milwaukee where the retail merchants were holding their con­
vention. They had procured a large hall, possibly half as large
as this, filled with exhibits. I approached, with a young man
representing a jobbing house, a manufacturer. When I compli­
mented his line he said “Do you know something of my goods?”
I said “I do.” He then showed me a new article and quoted me a
price. I said “I suppose if I bought these goods from you that I
would have to get them through some jobber?” He said “Jobber
the devil; I send it direct.” I said “I suppose you charge me the
tetail price?” He said, “If you buy a gross of these goods I will
* sell you as low as I sell any jobber in the United States.” He
said “We do not care for the jobber: we sell them our seconds.”
I handed him my card. (Laughter).
M r D ru r y : He dropped then ?
Mr. F ern l e y ; No, but he has probably had cold sweats
since. I approached a man in whose goods you are interested,
the first man you are not. 1 approached a manufacturer of— I
will not mention his name, as I might be accused of advertising
somebody’s goods, and I would not unless the remuneration was
large. It was lanterns. He took one apart and showed it to me.
1 asked the price, and he told me. 1 said “ I can buy another