OCR Text |
Show I j Manufacturers and Merchants Association i The Past, Present and Future Policies of the Organization By GEORGE S. M'OALLISTER, President. "This is an age of organization and specialization." This thought stimulated stimu-lated O. IT. Hewlett and a number, of other business incu to organize tho Manufacturers and Merchants association associa-tion Novombor IS, 1905. Tho policies as1 thero outlined wcro to encourage tho manufacture, production, distribution and consumption of Utah products of all kinds; to foster aud promote all the industries of tho state which have for their object Iho development of tho natural resources thereof; to bring about tho improvoracnt of the agricultural, agricul-tural, horticultural and dairy products of tho state, and to induco citizens of this commonwealth lo aid in all pos-siblo pos-siblo ways in tho development and promotion pro-motion of all industries which could t be successfully carried on, to (he end that i ho interinouutaiu region might become what nature intended it to be, not only a great mart of foreign commerce, com-merce, but a locality where disciplined industries would be carried forward to a successful issue. in order to bsing these principles be.-fore be.-fore the people of the state, the Manufacturers Man-ufacturers and Merchants association, both officers, aud members, at once began a system of general boosting. Through tho general aid of tho press, in all parts of tho state, a campaign of publicity of homo products was begun, and tho loyally of tho cjtizeus enlisted in supporting tho various industries in-dustries of the intonnountain country. Tho membership fee of the associa- f , lion was placed at a low figure, in tho hope that all classes of citizens would enlist in the great movement of developing de-veloping our v.'st resources. A manager man-ager for the organization was engaged to devote his entire time to boosting in every waj- possible, lo tho compiling compil-ing of data on the conditions of the prcsont industries, and to the investigation investi-gation of fields for new enterprises. A vast amount of iu formation iu tho shape of newspaper articles, circular letters and personal corrospondancc was sent out covering the work outlined. A vigorous campaign was conducted against the "mail order evil," with tho result that mauy of the merchants of the state have received direct benefits, bene-fits, and1t is felt lhat all the peoplo of the slate have been enlightened as lo the bad effect of withdrawing money from tho industries of Utah to tho .-iiilHMi, ui .-iiiiuui luuiou n-a iii Diner localities. Tho extortionate charges for coal" huve received a good deal of publicity and attention from tho association, and' tho subject of undue express charges has been taken up for consideration, with excellent results. In an attempt to create a sentiment among tho people peo-ple for a railroad commission, whereby many of those evils could be corrected, with a corresponding benefit to the merchants and manufacturers, the association as-sociation spent over $1000 in publicity work alone. Tho effects of this education edu-cation of the peoplo is gradually being seen in tho organization of a "freight bureau aud in (ho united efforts of the business men to demand their just duos in theso matters. This efl'eci. is shown by the discussion. which is even now being carried on through the press, the pulpit and tho public schools. Excursions Through State. Tho "get aequninled" excursions which hnvo been run lo different parti of tho statu havo boon an effective way of treating a sentiment of loyalty for homo products and a great 'feeling of "boost" among the people. On theso trips a general attempt has been mado to arouse the citizens to be loyal to tho jobbers and manufacturers of tho stato, and to induce the homo jobbers job-bers to be loyal to tho homo manufacturers manufac-turers of all Utah products. Tho motto of tho Manufacturers and Merchants association has been: "Build 3-our homos, churches, schools, hotels, business busi-ness blocks, and in fact every building possible, from Utah materials. Dsn Utah-made clothing, shoes, hats and other articles of wearing apparel. Keep clean with Utah soap and cleaning compounds. J'ltit U'lah-growu fruits, vegetables, grains, prepared foods, meats, candies. Hiug Utah songs, read Utah newspapers for her literature, and when you pass away from this busy life, leave instructions to bo buried in a IJtah casket, and have a Utah marble mar-ble or stoue monument placed over 3'our last resling place. These efforts will create work aud industry for Utah and her people." That the resources of the stale might be kept before (he people, the chamber cham-ber ol commerce was created by joining join-ing the Manufacturers and Merchants association .with the Utah Stato .Fair association aud tho Real Estato association. asso-ciation. Theso three associations have maintained tit considerable expense a most beautiful and artistic, display at ."G and jjS West Third South street, in Salt Luke City. Here wero exhibited 1 the products of Utah's mills, factories, mines., farms and orchards, and tho GEORGE S. M'AiLISTER, Presidont M. & M. Association. work of her artists and scholars. It is a place worthy of tho best treatment treat-ment from the citizens of tho state, and it is to lie regretted that comparatively compara-tively few of the citizens -have ever visited the oxhibit, although during tho year 1007 many thousands of visitors from other states have visited the exhibit ex-hibit of Utah's resources, and thus obtained an excellent idea of tho slate, her people and the -wonderful resources and industries of tho place. Present Policy Association. The present policies of tho M. & M. 1 association are' practicallv what they have been from the beginuing. Officers Offi-cers aud members of the organization have been doing all thoy could to benefit bene-fit the manufacturers of the state bv 1 making personal visits to merchants and inducing them lo sell all they could of homo-made goods. Tho abolishment of the merchants' license tax was urged bv the association in order that our merchants mer-chants might not be placed at a disadvantage dis-advantage over tho merchants of other largo cities this tax was not in effect. Much work has beeu done by the association in answering letters of inquiry in-quiry as to Utah's advantages as a manufacturing center, and through tho efforts of tho association many new enterprises have been developed. Tho industries committee of tho association, " through investigation, has saved tho K,'T public, from a number of "got rich- Kt quick" schemes and other fako proposi- iKsj lions which have attempted to oblaia an opening in Iho city. W As to the future- of the Manufacturers and Morcharfls' association, timo alono tiP' can demonstrate. As tho present or- sf ganization has decided to throw a good ileal of the strength of its efforts into T the. Commercial club, and rightly so, & since (ho organization can haudlo many : fen-matters fen-matters more easily than a separate as- Mji$ sociation. it seems probable that tho gSgiS efforts of the M. & M. association mav become, somewhat circumscribed. Thero will still be amply opportunity, how- fp ever, for the growth of an organization mffii to handlo a campaign for the supporti n$k-of n$k-of "homo goods." which cau bo car- j kTgp ricd on with even" inoro vigor than when h'P& tho association was engaged iu so mauy ' f'i&i more undertakings. Mf The secretary of the association' Mi should havo complete lists of tho i'WM- gooas oi an maniuaciiircrs ot utan. Jio l could visit tho various commercial . j pb2 bodies of tho state, givo lectures and j furnish valuable information Qn v.haji Utah had to offer; he could thus in- " fmg?i form himself of the needs of the pco- : pie of different localities and interest t '- them in obtaining tho desired industries . ' P5 which -would develop tho resources of 'Ru euch separate localit'. Conventions 06 1 mm Utuh's manufacturers should bo held i'BKI from timo to time, where topics ot 1 3!rt vital interest to the producers could ,c be discussed. Boosting excursions could j " bo given as hcreloforo and demoustra- A pi tions given of what Utah produced in gfi, X tho way of goods, lileraturo and art. .! "f. As to Mail Orders. '' Tho campaign against the drnin of: f. j Utah's prosperity through tho mail or- J - dor craze could be continued on a larger ' scale through an alliance with the !Nu- . tional Manufacturers' , assooiatiou, ''ks- Many other matters pertaining to tho i welfare of tho manufacturer of thjw rL stato could bo taken up and haudb J'f I,IUJ with moro effective- results. It is-nut-' ' jjL'- nral that tho larger organization, liko tho Commercial club, should gradually ) absorb many functions of tho different! . ; commercial organizations of tho city '. f 'fe aud yet wo feel that thero will bo ample. J opportunity for tho display of energy ' ; by the Manufacturers aud Merchants' SL association in a somowhat moro limited! . Ewttr field than formcly, but with tho gTeateS -," RUi--m! effectiveness of a direct application. ; ! 'Pej4 |