The billboard (Jan-June 1899)

THE BILLBOARD. i it §1 l> III ; f li *■ I T ! I IP 111 li ill ill % f Williamsport, Penn. Editor of "The Billboard:" Business still on the go here, all hands at It from daylight until dark, my country wa- gon will go out on the road again next week full of samples- for Arms of this city and out- side:* I am the only one here who has four men attending to distributing alone, and the only one who sends a wagon over the entire county, both doing bill posting and distribut- ing. I now own and control all the bill boards and county bridge privileges in this county. To-day made two contracts for distributing. One was the firm S. R. Fell & Co.. for 10.000 samples of Paragon Tea. This is their-«ec- ond time in the last ten weeks. They are well pleased with the service and have made a contract for the year. It pays to do good work. The other firm is a new one here, it is the W. H. Hill Co., of Detroit, they con- tracted for the distributing of 10.000 samples of their famous Cascara Bromide Quinine Tablets. They will also do bill posting later in the season. Tours for success. GEO. H. BUBB. El Reno. O. T.. Jan. 23. 1899. Editor of "The Billboard:" Gentlemen—Please find enclosed *1.00, cer- rency, for which send me "The Billboard/' Mr. J. J. Sinclair, who has been managing my plant is no longer connected with it. I nave personally taken charge of same and business Is increasing very satisfactorily. Very respectfully yours. ^ } ^^ Dubuque, Iowa, Feb. 20, 1899. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear SIr-I appreciate your paper more than I can tell- It is so encouraging and instruc- tive, and brightens one up so, when trade is dull and one has the blues. My only complaint is that it only comes but once a month, which to so long_to wait for the valuable advice that can be found in Its columns every issue, ft preaches honest service to the distributors, and honest distrib- utors to the advertisers. There are still some dishonest distributors in the country, and in a rreat many cases the advertisers are to blame. For instance, an honest man starts in business as a distributor (Joins the *-,*-«* D If they will accept him) and then embarks on'the advertising world looking for patron- ■ axe He puts an advertisement in some good paper and solicits the advertising firms by letter, and in nine cases out of ten he never receives an answer. *ta sees a bad Job of distributing done, re- ports ITto thefflrn? that is having the work dnne. and for his pains is eiUier entirely ig- nored or receives a reply similar to this viz "We can attend to our own business without any assistance from anyone." They Just as much as tell him. that they think he is mak- ing this report to get a Job. Certainly I want the Jobs I can get honestly. but before I wUl falsely accuse anyone to get the work I will try and make a living at "But**?? advertisers continually discourage the honest distributor by giving the bulk of bis advertising to any Tom. Dick or Harry that will take it the cheapest, who as a rule are dishonest loafers and give him poor serv- ice and the worst of it. Now if the advertisers want to encourage honest distributors and get the best service, let them user only I. A. of D. members, who will guarantee honesty In their service, per- sonally superintend the work, and protect the advertiser from loss by a cash guarantee with the I. A. of D. The sooner they can be brought to see this Is to their interest and use I A. of D. members only, the sooner they wUl be able to get the honest result bringing service they want, and it will encourage hon- esty in all distributors. Then the advertiser would be able to get honest service in every town of any Importance that he wanted to By not doing this he Is giving a great deal . of His work. IS dishonest distributors, and Is thereby encouraging dishonest service as he •ends the bulk of his work to this class of men and boys. One thing more. I agree with Brother Stein- brenner. If we. as I. A. of D. members, guar- antee to protect all advertisers from loss, that use L. A. of D. members. It is no mow than fair that these same advertisers should guarantee to us© only I. A. of D. members wherever one is located. If you think this will be of any Interest to brother workers I would like to see it in your next issue. Wishing all brother workers and "The Billboard" the very best of success. , I am, Tours very truly, k ABTHDB LEONARD. Shelbyville, Ind., Feb. 13, 1899. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Tour esteemed favor at hand. Ton say you have many inquiries about how to keep paste from freezing. Use only the best grade of lump starch. Dissolve the starch in cold water, have your washboiler on the stove full of boiling water, (it must be boil- ing hot) two hands full will make nearly a half-bushel of paste of the right consistency. Then dip with a large cup or dipper and keep stirring, continually, and by the time your bucket a full your paste is done, except the adding of a big hand full of fine salt. We have pasted paper with the thermometer at 20 degrees below zero, and experienced no trouble. We have given a thorough test to all kinds of paste, and for quickness, cheapness and durability of work, nothing equals good starch paste. Care shold be taken to not overcook the starch, as that greatly destroys the adhesive qualities. Whoever gives starch a fair trial will not return to flour for city work or any one-day's trip. Respectfully and fraternally, T. R. CHAFEE. Kalkaska, Mich., Feb. 12. 1S99. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Business is at a standstill here at present, probably because of the extremely cold weather during the week of February 6 to 12. In the mornings the thermometer reg- istered as fallows: February 6. 24 degrees be- low zero; February 7, 38 degrees below zero: February 8, 42 degrees below zero; February 9. 47 degrees below zero; February 10, 49 de- grees below zero; February 11. 48 degrees be- low zero; February 12, 46 degrees below zero. Everybody says it was the coldest weather that has been experienced since New Years of 1860. We have a population of 2,000. two railroads, the G. R. & I. and the C, W. & M.. three mills, a large wooden ware factory, and are surrounded by good farming land and lumber country. I received "The-Billboard" all O. K. I think that it Is the best, and that every bill poster should take it. Tour Directory is Just what has been wanted and needed for a long time by every one in our line. I remain. Yours truly, FRED. G. STUART. Valparaiso, Ind., Feb. 14, 1899. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Allow me a little space in your columns of your valuable paper, "The Bill- board," along with the rest of the craft. It may be of some benefit to the bill posters at large. In looking over your February edi- tion we find the advertisement of A. Van Buren & Co.'s starch paste. They are right when they advertise their paste, as the best and latest paste made. They say that they have bad one year's experience; I can go them one better and say that I have used the paste for four years. Its only drawback worth mentioning is, that in very hot weather it ad- heres too quickly and makes the paper stiff and brittle. But this fault is overcome very easily in this way. Allow about one quart of boiled oil to the barrel of paste, add either in cooking or after, as in mixing paint. That will make a paste that any man can guaran- tee from three to five months, and no renew- ing necessary. I have some of the Liggett & Meyers Tobacco Paper that was posted the 17th of last November, and it is as good to- day as the day posted, notwithstanding that we have had more rainy weather than has been experienced for a number of years. The oil makes the paste transparent, so that even in the coldest of weather no brush marks can be found. And further, one coating keeps the rain from penetrating the paper both back and front. It preserves the colors in their original shade, and makes the paper appear as if it had been varnished with the finest varnish. . I have been complimented many times, by traveling men and inspectors, upon the ap- pearance of my paper. With best wishes, I am, . Yourse very truly, W H DRULLINGER. Mill Run. Pa., Feb. 18, 1899. Editor of "The Billboard:" "The Billboard" for February is upon my table and I have read a part of it. The I. A. of D. and Fair Department along with A. B. p. are "hummers," but the Sign Painters' Department is languishing. Why is this? la it because of lack of originality upon the part of its conductor, and in a dearth of items that it uses everything to fill up? And where are his contributors whom are supposed to be supplying crisp, newsy little notes every month? And it he has no correspondents or contributors to supply him. why do you not have a conductor to the sign painting who would have them and lots of them? What is the use of such a lot of dry material as we have been reading for several months on "How to Letter," and that from several au- thors. "Whom do they seek to teach, the masses or the classes? I am not an aristocrat, nor either a plebean. I respect those superior, and give the helping hand to those who are not so advanced. It has been inferred from the knowing ones that AnsTica is one of the greatest sign- painting countries in the world: but lo! when it comes to advertising with the paint brush. "There are not enough men.to do it" • • » "a deplorable dearth of sign .painters that possess the ability to carry it on, on the lines of advertising." Is that so? Let us see. While numerous sign painters have written me this few months, some are excellent pictorial sign painters and a few are bulletin painters. Here is a type of the clpss which undoubtedly has been referred to. "Dear Sir—Will you kindly send me informa- tion regarding the N. S. P. A.? How to be- come a member? What are the requirements, etc.? I am a house and sign painter of some 18 years experience, but the bulletin painting is new to me. and any information will be appreciated ." The question will not be "How to letter," but bow to get business out of sign painting by turning it to account in bulletin advertis- ing. Letter pattern are all right in their place, but are not easily handled for expedi- tion or dispatch upon the road. In this case it is the free hand who uses no other aids than the eye alone who wins out for swiftness and beauty of style, poise, color, etc. in a bul- letin. How many sign painters or even bul- letin painters are masters of the situation I know not, but from our informant it B^ras the lack of such proflceinces in American painters is deplorable. How shall the National advertisers know whom to employ in order to have tbier work done right? How will they know who are best and the most expeditious and of scholarly attain- ments? If it is a question of price the very best bulletin artists should be paid well for knowledge and skill and the National adver- tisers should see that they get such men. Where ran such artists be found? In the Na- tional Sign Painters' Alliance and amongst others who will be in it soon. If training through the Sign Painters' De- partment can make any learner more profi- cient as a bulletin painter, such training will be looked for and sought from the pen of some one no less than a genius in such line. By the oft repeated appearance of my name in "The Billboard," 1 feared I would monop- olize space needed by others better and great- er; but noticing your call for articles of in- terest to sign painters and for photographs of signs and bulletins. I cheerfully comply and promise my aid so long as my efforts will be of interest and instruction. Sincerely yours. A. E. HARBAUGH. Peru. Ind.. Feb. 14, 1899. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—1 read "The Billboard" with much interest, and profit. I therefore feel It my duty to help furnish items of interest, etc. So far our posting department is not doing much this month, only have Horse Shoe Plug, twelve-sheet stands; National Cigar, twenty- sheet stands, and some one three-sheet cloth- ing bills on our boards at this writing. We have distributed this month for Dr. C. L. Shoop. Racine. Wis.: Dr. W. S. Burkhart, Cincinnati, O.; Chamberlain Medical Co., Des Moines. Iowa.: F. J. Cheney & Co., To- ledo, O. Distributing is also coming from J. W. Brant Co.. Albion. Mich. I have increased my facilities for handling all kinds of out-door advertising. Yours truly, CHAS. W. STUTESMAN. Mansfield. O., Feb. 13, 1S99. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Work during the last month has been very light outside of the theatrical work. Have posted five stands of Sopolio for Enoch Morgan & Sons Co. Have also made a contract with Messrs. Foley & Co.. Chicago, for fifteen stands to be put up soon. The weather the past few weeks has made posting very difficult. Have put out two distributions for Dr. Miles Elkhart, Ind., also one for J. W. Brant. Al- bion. Mich., and one for Drs. F. E. & J. A. Green, Boston. Respectfully. E. R. EXDLY. Burlington, Iowa, Feb. 11", 1S99. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Friends—It may be of some interest to you as to what I have been doing here in Burlington. Since January 1, 1899, I have distributed for Dr. Shoop 5,300 pieces; for Dr. Burkhart, 6.500 pieces, and will start next week on a lot of 6,500 pieces for Foster-Mil- burn, and 5,000 for the Chattanooga Medicine Company. In the last few weeks I have contracted with Foster-Milburn; Wells, Richardson & Co.; Drs. Kennedy & Kergan, and the Brown Medicine Co. These are new firms on my list. It has taken time and labor to gain the par- tonage of these firms, and as long as I can do their work in this city, it shall be done in the very best manner, as I am always willing to do all I can to promote honest advertising. Trusting this may find space in your most valuable paper and wishing you all success in this new year. I remain. Your friend. A. E. DREIER. Dreier's District Service. Madison, Ind. Editor of "The Billboard:" I want to tell you of the business we have been doing-since we came here. We have pur- chased Oscar Pary's bill boards. We now control all bill boards and daubs in the city of Madison, Ind., and have a capacity of 1,000 sheets of paper. We did some posting for Battle Ax Tobacco, two 4x5 stands, five 4x3 stands, and ten eight sheet stands. All of these are on the boards now. besides the theatrical paper, and we still have some dead boards. We did work for Beeman's Gum Co., Star and Horse Shoe Tobaccos, millinery firm of Louisville, Ky.. Seymour Street Fair, and Omaha Exposition. We did some distributing for Dr. Miles, and Nine O'clock Washing Tea Co. As Mr. Jas. McDonald has accepted a Government position at Jeffersonville. Ind.. we will do distributing of all kinds. We do our own work, and we do not trust it to boys. We guarantee our work and will give any of the above mentioned firms as references. We always have a greeting for the old reli- able bill board the first of each month. "The Billboard" is a gem, and would be cheap if the price were twice as high. Thanking you very much for this space and the opportunity of writing, we remain. Yours very truly. MURPHY & RHOTON. Editor of "The Billboard:" I called upon J. O'Mella while In Jersey City, and was treated with courtesy. Jim says that anything that comes his way comes mine. I also called upon Mr. Fitch, of the O. J. Gude Co. to transact some business, and was also treated with courtesy, and left the O. J. Gude building with an invitation to call again. Good lu k to th^ w Ifre of "The Billboard." Yours, FRANK J. SCHANTZ, JR., South Amboy, N. J. Somersworth. N. H.. Dec.'29, 1898. W. H. Steinbrenner, Esq., Cincinnati, O.: My Dear Sir—Your very kind favor of the 19th inst. to hand. Replying to the same I would state that I consider the I. A. of D. of great benefit to both the advertising and distributing business. Men worthy of success are aided and rascals are detected. Being engaged in the "Insurance UusineB»." I have found time to devote to distributing matter, but for the past year distributing has been done but very little in this city and therefore I did not take into consideration the question of joining your worthy organization. Am a regular subscriber to "The Bill- board." This valuable paper needs no com- ment from me. Should there be an increased amount of matter for distribution, I can then consider the I. A. of D. Remember that the I. A. of D. and "The Billboard" are, in my estimation, deserving of highest commendation. Very truly yours ELISHA C. ANDREWS. ' Medicine Lodge, Kan., Feb. 18. 1899 Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—I can get more interesting read- ing out of "The Billboard" than any other paper that I know of, so send you SI to nay my subscription for year of 1899, I have done quite a little distributing, and some posting in the past year, and can con- trol 40,000 feet of boards in this county. My small "ad." that ran in November and De- cember. 1898. has been answered by about fifteen parties, who asked about the size and population of this county. This county Is thirty by thirty-six miles square, and con- tains a population of 7,000, almost all of whom are engaged lu stock raising. I also have territory outside of this county. Thanking you for favors extended. I remain Very sincerely, JOHN V. FISHBURN. On the Road, Feb. 9, 1899. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—I am proud to say that I am now representing Hamlin's Wizard Oil Co., of Chi- cago, 111., on the road, advertising their cele- brated remedies. But I have not forgotten the assistance you gave me. nor that of our Sec- retary. Mr. W. H. Steinbrenner, who merits the praises of all of the members of the I. A. of D. for the favors which he is willing to ex- tend to all, who are trying to make a success of the distributing business. The latter is coming to the front more and more every day since the reliable and only distributing association has taken hold of it. In the course of a few months the I. A. of D. will have a member in every city in the Unit- ed States and Canada, and if any men deserve credit, Mr. Steinbrenner and the rest of the officers do. If anyone is thinking of going into the dis- tributing business, I would advise them to write to our Secretary for advice, and at the same time send 10 cents for a copy of the old reliable and only distributing paper, "The Billboard." I also thank the following members for their help. Messrs,W. H. Care. E. B. Bridger, R. S. Douglass. Geo. W. Vanayckle, O. P. Fair- childs. and the rest who so willingly gave me the advice and assistance I asked of them Thanking you for this space and wishing you success, I remain. Respectfully. H. N. HOLSHOUSER, Member of I. A. of D.. Covington. Tenn. N. B.—My advertising business is still being carried on and any work sent to me will re- ceive prompt attention.. New Hampton, Iowa. Jan. 30, 1899. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Enclosed please find one dollar for this year's subscription. Business has been rather poor this month, but we hope to see it pick up soon. This is a town of about three thousand inhabitants, and has four newspapers, and I have a hard time to get the merchants to advertise on the bill boards, - but luckily for me there are a few who know a good thing when they see it. Last year my business was double that of the year before, and I am going to get some one-sheet posters and keep my boards full of my own advertising—take a dose of my own medicine, as it were. An advertising agent said to me: "Carver, you are a fraud: you want others to advertise, but you do not do any yourself." That started me to think- ing, and I am going to begin. I seldom receive any national work, but why should I? There are hundreds of towns that advertise. But in a business way, I do not know of any that is more enterprising or up to date. Long may you prosper. A copy of "The Billboard" is always worth the subscription price. Very respectfully yours. R. R. GARVER. Arkadelphia, Ark., Jan. 27, 1899. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—I have received three copieB of your valuable paper, "The Billboard," and am more than pleased with it. I have only been In the bill posting business a short time, but I mean to "push" it for all it is worth. By doing hard work, I know that I will make it a success, as all of the dis- tributing and. posting is to be done by my- self. I will be sure that it is done properly. Arkadelphia Is a town or about four thou- sand, and I have some good boards located in the business part of town. I have on tbem at present 50 two-sheets. Duke's Mxlture: 5 twelve-sheets. Old. Virginia Cheroots, and 5 eight-sheets. Battle Ax, and I hare tacked 300 West Tennessee and 50 Duke's Mixture. More paper Is expected this week. Some one has been doing very bad work for Dr. Miles Medicine Co., of Elkhart, Ind. Some six weeks ago I found eighteen of Dr. Miles' papers in my front yard. I was doing some advertising for the opera bouse at the time, and saw Just as many in other front yardB. It may be wrong for me to report this, but I feel that it is my duty as a licensed bill poster to let the firm know that they have not been getting what tbey have been paying for. You shall hear from me again, soon. Yours very truly, MYAL GREEN. Van Wert. O., Feb! li' 1899. Editor of "The Billboard:" "The Billboard" was received, and as usual we made a meal on It. I find that a real bill poster can not afford to lose one month's issue of your paper. Well, business has been very good considering the weather in Ohio. We had a little -bad luck, as we received 2.000 samples from Crawford-Taylor, bakers of Mansfield, O., through our wholesale deal- ers. Messrs. Humphrey & Hugle, which we were to put out on Feb. 16. Unfortunately the grand four-story stone building caught fire and burned to the ground, with a loss of $150,000, and, worst of ail, tbey were lovers of advertising. I do a great amount of work for them. In order to secure the work from Crawford- Taylor you must have the wholesale dealer to write for you, and If you do the work right he will write. The firm of Humphrey 6 Hugle will resume business, and they have notified said bakers of the Iobs, and they are receiving another shipment. Await- ing next month's Issue of "The Billboard," we are, yours respectfully, SMITH ft WHIRES. P. S.—J. Whlres and I hare, purchased tho Interest of C. C. Lichty, of the firm of Smith ft Lichty. a. ft W. THE BILLBOARD To the Editor of "The Billboard," and all Fuir-Mindcd Bill Posters: Greeting.'—This is an open letter, and an answer from It. Nolan to Houghtaling & Stahlurodt's false statements in their would- be paper, which they hide behind when they ure caught in a trap like they are in this ease. 1 hey persuade, .the advertiser that If he does nut place the work through them, it can not beVdono successfully. They lead him to believe that the average bill poster is a thief and that he can not secure good serv- ice unless lie employs them to watch Ills In- terests. This they call soliciting. For this they charge us 10 2-3 per cent, commission, in other words, they misrepresent, malign and vilify us and then charge us one-sixth of the gross amount for the service. I can prove that Houghtaling and Stahl- brodt never persuaded the 1*. J. Sorg Co. to go on the bill boards. They never created the business. After the posters were printed and some few had been posted, they secured the placing of the remainder. Some bill posters may believe that agents are entitled to a commission in a case of this kind, but I do not. I wrote them so. They answered by publishing a paragraph in their dirty paper which stated that Alpena needed a bill poster. This was a lie. They knew it was a lie. They lied deliberately and maliciously in the utterance, for the man who gave them the business to handle had his own agent inspect the work and O. K. my bill. This agent also gave me a letter of recommendation to aid me in securing'other'work: This he did voluntarily and solely because he liked the showing 1 gave him. Yet you will see in the last issue of their paper that they claim It. Nolan, the Alpena city bill poster, buys these-Inspectors with complimentary theatre tickets. This does not speak very high for the traveling agents who represent the big firms. Now, here is where Houghtaling & Stahl- brodt have to swallow what they published in their would-be paper. In regard to the P. J. Sorg Spearhead Tobacco posters that were posted in Alpena. Mich., by R. Nolan, the above gentlemen claim that all the work was done through them and not by the P. J. Sorg Co. They also claim that they asked frequently for a report sheet and bill, but Mr. Nolan refused to send them any. Why should Mr. Nolan send them a report sheet and bill, when he was not doing business with them? I notified them on Aug. 7th, (which they can not-deny, as they published it in their own paper), that I would not accept their work and allow them to make 16 2-3 per cent, commission off of me. On Aug. 7. therefore, I stopped doing business with Messrs. lloughlal.iug & Stnhlbrodt. I then wrote a letter to Mr. Sorg to that effect. Mr. Sorg shipped the paper to me anyhow, and I posted it and gave him such great satisfac- tion with the work that he gave me $30 worth more to show the appreciation of my service. Still, Houghtaling & Stahlbrodt will say that 1 am not an honest bill poster, and can not be depended upon and also go so far as to say that you want to look out for R. Nolan or he will do you up. If they are such awful clever men, I should think they would not let an Alpena bill poster do them up, and not only do them up. but catch them in one of the lowest and most con- temptible lies that ever was printed in a newspaper. They don't believe R. Nolan In what he says; they don't believe Mr. P. J. Sorg, the firm they handled the advertising for. and. worse still, they arc trying to make out that F. P. Birmingham, of Detroit, Mich., the Michigan state agent for Sorg Spearhead Tobacco, is not worthy of being an inspec- tion agent, as they say I buy inspectors with complimentary tickets for the theatre. This is what they print in their dirty paper, and here Is where 1 show these men up for accusing me of not being honest; and I take great pride and pleasure in doing it. This letter is direct from Mr. Birmingham himself: "Mr. R. Nolan. Alpena. Mich.: "Pear Sir—I wish to state that I have inspected your work in your city and country route, and it gives me pleasure to state that it was done in At shape, and wish to thank you for the good location which we received on same. "I shall place you on my book as one of the best bill pemters in Michi- gan, and can assure you of all our work In your locality in the future. Thanking you for the past favor, I wish to remain, "Yours trulr. "F. 1\ BIKMIXGIIAM, Detroit, Mich.. State Agent. II have seen the original, and the above letter la n true mid faithful copy of same.— Editor of "Tho Billboard."1 Now. plensc notice that this gentleman In- spected my country route, as well ns mv city work. Houghtnllng & Stahlbrodt sniil in their paper that I did not get any paper through the P. j. Sorg Co.. nnd that what Mr. Nolan told was a bare-faced lie. Here Is whore Mr. Nolan gets them foul nnd turns the tabic completely around nnd makes them tne_ untruthful gentlemen. You will notice that thcro is proof here for every word It. Nolan tells you. and that Is more than they can produce. Next comes a letter from the P. J. Sorg Company to show you that I contracted with him for tho coun- try route and ho pnld me promptly for it and did not take any 16 2-3 per cent, oft either, but he referred me to the above firm for my pay for the city work. You will notice how he appreciated my work, at the ending ot the letter, dated Nov. I, 1898. It. Nolan. Alpena, Mich.: Dear Sir—We have yours of the 2Sth inst., enclosing invoice for city work, $13.00; also, invoice for work on coun- try route, amounting to $30.00. The bill posting on country route having been done under arangements with us, we enclose check herewith for the amount of $30.00, of which kindly ac- knowledge receipt. We are obliged to return your invoice for city work, and respectfully refer you to our letter of October 1st, explaining that we con- tracted with Messrs. Houghtaling & Stahlbrodt, of New York, for this lot of bill posting. Of course, you under- stand that you must collect the amount of your city work from them. We appreciate the fine display you given us, and trust that at some time . the near future we will be in a po- sition to give you more work. Very truly yours, P. J. SORG CO. [The above Is a true and faithful copy of the original.—Editor "The Billboard "1 „,«)?"' readers - you will notice that no better proof can be produced than these two let- ters you have just read, and still Houghtal- n£ & ,H ta . hlb > rod ,5. are tryin « to ma *e you be- lieve that R. Nolan is not an honest bill poster and does not give his advertisers " 8I S t nd a " because be knows too nS them ?fi->> e - W „L° rk fiolieit °« a °<» won't allow them 16 2-3 per cent, commission. .t/JfnT.^ the inde Pendent bill posters W 5?i™ ". cU their °, wn work and nas n6asso- ciation to cover his points and who Siv»<. "otmne but straightforward, honelt sefv^ce and defies the world to say anything differ! iJtLflf ^ 0UbIe W . 1 . t . u tne above sentlemen with tL™ t °' an wi i' not ao any business ?■!?.£"?"? lnany anape. manner or form. ?„ Vi! at is a " l hat ? urts *bem. They state !",.«*'' 1 aper that they bave my money for posting the Spearhead Tobacco for the eity ,h/„ k h * Wou l d like to know "bat business they have with my money, as I ordered Mr. r. J. Sorg to pay them their commission and send me the balance, as I was not doing busi- ?hT„ w,th »«•"?• Mr. Sorg informed me that i t l e .» a , n V >unt ?J the city work "as to be col- lected from Houghtaling & Stahlbrodt. but I am going to look to the P. J. Sorg Co for ?Z, ."£• as my accol >" is with the latter! receive ft!' 6 enouBn m0Dey to liT e on until i Now brother bill posters, look at Messrs Houghtaling & Stahlbrodt. the firnf that claims to be your friend and looking out tor EST ,n ,^ eSt by makin S bill postinl a suc- cess, it happens to be the other way; the ££"£ sentlemen tried to contract with me for the country route, but they thought my price was too high and they could not see where they would make anything on tbl d ,J? ;„ ^ tn . ey thought they would throw "^. in the ? lT L but X fooled tbem very badly and secured the work myself from Mr Sorg m I„ a, .1 very slad tnat l S a «: these gentlf- men the opportunity which they speak of Sn »n5 8 ,V'. they always wanted to show me nlw»v.i, th i at eVe . r ? ° ne l have worked for always had complaints against me. Still, the above gentlemen would keep on doing busi- ness with me if I would onlyact as a dummy so as not to let the other bill posters t h h ^, US fl h °^ the „ country know how tteyh£™ dSSounr" S ™ ° D tDe 16 2 - 3 *** cent «o« is a e ° od thinB that there is one bill poster who is not afraid to tackle these peo- wm *£ ,1 want to te " oi " Posters that this will do then, more good than anything they have ever had before. It will teach the% gentlemen how to treat bill posters decentlv and not to rob them in broad daylSht! It will also teach them to tell the truth .hi_ mor ^. Qt F he bill posters would express n^, r ° pin ' on in r es a rd to the syndicate bUl P « «Ifi who ^7 tr , yins to stea " their names ns well as their city, so that they can nut Up 1 2 ,ant «»<» "lo business, it would be a great deal better for all. You can do you? own contracting and bill posting, and what you do. do It honestly: the advertiser will al- ways stand by you the same as they are do- ing with me. Fence your town in the same ?„ .. ^ aVe . mlne % aI L d ,et none of those sharks in unless they do business on the square ,h^.t Xt Isan article which also appeared in their would-be paper in regard to Mr. Nolan being fired bodily from the Michigan Bill Posters Association. I now have the pleasure . b ,tr o au ,clng to you Mr. George Leonard. ? f Gr o.' d , 5, a P' ds - Mich., the God of the Mich- igan Bill Posters. He also states that I wis an awful nuisance to the association, as every man I did work for had complaints to make *.?.", . me ' a «? .! bat was wh y they fired me out of the Michigan Association. This is where Mr. Leonard tells a bare-faced lie. for I notified the association to take my name off the list three different times, for the simple reason that they could not keep their snout out of my business. To show you that my statement is correct and that if I was a nuisance, why did they keep me on their list without paying dues or assessments for two years? Of course. George 1b afraid that he will lose his commission, too but the trouble with Mr. Nolan and the Mich- igan Bill Posters Is that t refused to post some paper for the New England Mince Meat Co. This firm contracted with me to post 500 sheets of paper at 5c per sheet, for 30 days, and Insisted on my having the space ready for same. I did as contract called for. but when the paper came there was only 25 sheets nnd there was 75c express charges on It. This I refused to pay and told the express agent to notify the shippers that I refused to accent It. which he did. In a short time after this I received a letter from the Michigan Associa- tion with all the threats Imaginable, telllnn mo what they would do if I did not accept this work. Now I was fighting for my own rights and they were trying to help the firm to do me up. This Is where I wrote a letter lo them which hit them so hard that they feel it yet. I forbid them to ever use my name in their as- sociation in any manner, shape or form, and also requested them to read my letter at their association meeting, and to withdraw my name from the roll. Still the above associa- tion claims they have fired me, but they know better tban that. Now if any of the above gentlemen have anything more to write about R. Nolan let tbem come on and tbey will get all they want for I have some very interesting matter to go into print in regard to bill posting. I want to draw all the bill posters attention to one thing, that is. that every bill poster wants to stand by good, reliable "Billboard." which is published for the benefit of the bill poster, and this is one of the best proofs of it, aB I could not have shown myself clear to my readers had it not been for "The Bill- board." They throw their paper wide open to you and give you all the news space you require as long as you deserve it. Now "The Billboard" has done more for bill posters that all the soliciting agents have done in the city of New York or Chicago either. I know that I have received a. large amount of work through "The Billboard's" pointers, and they don't ask you how many sheets of paper you posted, and who you post- ed it for either. That is what the New York paper is trying to find out from billposters. If you town is any good, and if you have not got a good founda- tion they will come and pull it down and put one up for themselves. You will always find B. Nolan doing business at the same old place and will find him with the finest bill posting plant and finest line ot bill boards and loca- tions that you would wish to look at. and R. Nolan Is not afraid of being hurt by Hough- taling & Stahlbrodt either. Now in regards to Alpena being open for a first-class bill poster to fill the wants of Mr. Houghtaling and Mr. Shatlbrodt, he would have to be a dummy, therefore, the gentlemen had better come themselves and open up a plant then they will have a chance to take lessons on bill posting from R. Nolan and learn how to tell the truth. They can then go back to New York and stick out their shingle and say they are graduates of Alpena, Mich., and then the people will take some stock In what they say. Now if the above gentlemen and their partner, George Leonard, of Grand Rapids, can scheme up any more lies, you will always find R. Nolan ready to answer them with A No. 1 proofs which is what they have not got, I remain. Yours. R. NOLAN. The only Alpena City Bill Poster. Editors Note.—The question of commissions is a mooted one. It has not been settled, de- spite the mandate of the association which fixes it at sixteen and two-thirds per cent. The dissatisfaction is not confined entirely to bill posters in the small towns. Some of the large city firms believe that ten per cent is sufficient—among them Col. Burr Bobbins, of Chicago, and M. Breslauer, of Minneapolis. We deplore the vituperation and abusive per- sonalities of this controversy. Hard language only stirs up anger, engenders bitterness and promotes dissention. Still when a person is smarting under a sense of wrong he is liable to be hot and forcible in his utterances. Dis- cussion is ever to be preferred to apathy though, even when the former Is violent and explosive. Moreover, this department was created for the very use to which Mr. Nolan puts It, i. e.: to give anyone with a grievance a hearing and justice in so far as the hearing will pro- cure it. Mr. Nolan is a bill poster and a good one. We have investigated and proved it to our entire satisfaction. There may be those of our readers who will regard him as eccentric, others who will think that he ought to belong to the association and still others that his opinions are wrong, but none will deny that he is honest in his convictions. We hardly think there is a single fairminded man in the craft but what will admit that it was wrong to attack him in print. In conclusion we would observe that the matter has been thor- oughly ventilated and suggest that both par- ties to the controversy drop it, even if in so doing they agree to disagree. Savannah. Ga.. Feb. 13. 1899. An open letter to J. E. Cunningham. Bald- winsville. N. Y.: Dear Sir—After reading Nolan's letter In January "Billboard." and yours in the Feb- ruary issue. I feel It my duty to give ex- pression to a feeling which I believe must have existed In the mind of every bill poster endowed with good business qualifications, after he read those letters; you and every other bill poster who has harbored those narrow ideas on the subject of solicitors and their commissions should hasten to get out of the business, or at least confine yourselves to the county newspaper which has only a local circulation, when you are seized with a desire to write an article so utterly incon- sistent as those in question. It is a recog- nized fact that the vast amount of bill post- ing done by National advertisers to-day was secured by the untiring efforts of solicitors who have made a life study of increasing the posting business, and yet you calamity howlers want to starve out the solicitor. I am willing to gamble that the commissions I have paid solicitors in the past six months is more than the combined receipts for post- ing done by Nolan ot Alpena and yourself, and they have honestly earned every cent of it. Respectfully. CHAS. BERNARD. Salimas. Cat.. Feb. 17, 1899. Editor of "The Billboard:" Dear Sir—Have just received an order from r>r. Shoop Family Medicine Co.. of Racine, Wis., for the distribution ot printed matter, the work to commence at once. A consider- able quantity of matter has been distributed In this city by Hood, and by Cheney ft Co., of Toledo, the work being done -In both cases by one man and two boys. You can imagine the results. I have made It a rule never to employ boys. The Native Sons hold a convention In this city next April, and there will be between five and twenty thousand men assembled. Yours very truly, LOUIS B. JENKINS.- Rockville. Ind. Editor of "The Billboard:" I see in the January number of your valua- ble paper an article by J. Clarke Hennessey, "Are Bill Posters' Prices Too Low?" He calls Mr. J. Todd Johnson down on bis article in "Profitable Advertising." I want to say right here, that Mr. Hennessey is cor- rect when he state that a good bill poster can make good money in the smaller towns. I will tell you how I started In the business. When I was 15 years old, I was around the local theater in Rockville, Ind.. and one day I came across a copy of "The Billboard" and was looking over it. I became Interested at once in an article on "Honest Bill Posting." and as there was no good hustling bill poBter in my town, I at once built two tali boards, and secured work Immediately. When I got remittances I would build more boards. So I run along for a year, and I contracted with the California Fig Syrup Co., and did their distributing, honest house-to-house work. Next came the old reliable Dr. Miles, of Elk- hart. Ind., and the ystill kept coming. I went on enlarging my bill board capacity as money came In, and when I had gotten all the boards I could get up in Rockville. I enlarged my territory to the county. I have a nice busi- ness now, and cover nineteen towns, all told. I run an advertising sheet to distribute while on my country route, and an Opera House Program. To-day I have space for 900 sheets of paper on bill boards, not barns, sheds, etc. I do work for the following firms: Llagett & Myers, St. Louis; I. M. Dishon, ' Terre Haute; John Finzer & Bro.. Louisville: Ed- ward A. Stahlbrodt, New York; Hote, The Sign King, and lots others, and any ot these gentlemen know when a bill poster does good work. I forgot to put my friend Sam Hoke on the list He is a nice gentleman to do business with. (Come again. Hoke.) I would advise any small town bill pooler to cover his county and advertise in "The Billboard." telling the advertisers what you can do. Give them good honest work, and they will come again sure. Do not get your town licensed, it is of no use. Join the I. A. of D., but no other association, as I do not think they are any good. I want to tell the large advertisers about billposters who hare good plants in the towns I have visited. Monticello. 111.—John C. Bush has three or four good boards, all well located, and does good work. Does work for Dr. Miles. Gibson City. HI.—Chancy J. Grins has no boards to be seen. It Is a good town for the right kind of a hustler. Kewanee, 111.—Mr. Kehoa: Here Is the second Ike Monk of Illinois. All kinds of boards, and as fine a theater as they get them.- Geneaseo, 111.—J. P. Murry & Brothers have a few boards In this thriving little city. (Luck to you, Jffurry.) They give good ser- vice. Galena. 111.—Galena Gazette Bill Posters: Only a few boards. This is a good town for a hustler. Richland Center. Wis.—Mr. John A. Coates: Here Is a good man; good town, good plant and good work. Try him. Baraboo, Wis.—Mr. Shumway is "O.' K " Has good plant. Grand Rapids, Wis.—Has good boards, but no billposter of any account. Rochester. Minn.—J. C. Judge has good boards and lots of work. St. Charles. Minn.—Here is my old stand- by. E. H. Ingham. He has a first-class plant, and Is also a sign painter. Austin. Minn.—Has some good boards. St. Peter, Minn.—J. H. Ludke owns as line boards as you can get. He also does good work. Marshall. Minn.—Good little town: 3.000 population. No good bill poster. There is a man there that does not hustle. Pipestone. Minn.—Has no bill poster. Luverne, Minn.—Has no good bill poster. Rock Rapids, la.—Good man and boards. Le Mars, la.—Here is my friend, Mr. White. I want to compliment his plant. He has a daisy. Try him. Nevada. la.—Mr. Miller has a. fine line of boards, and is all right Send him your work. Carroll, la.—Mr. Thomas has a good plant He is a good man. Dennison. la—My old reliable. Mr. B. M. Stevers, is the peach ot them all. Send him the paper: he will do the best I have had dealings with all of these gen- tlemen, and as I am a bill poster myself, I know when I see good work. Yours in paste. EMMETT LITTLETON. „..,. - . _ t Wooster. O., Jan. 27, 1899. Editor of "The Billboard:" As I left home on the 26th of April, and have been In poor health since I left Cuba in September with the 8th Regiment O. V. I., (of which I was a member), I have not been interested in distributing as much as I would like to be. I would like to know when my yearly subscription to "The Billboard" is up. so that I can subscribe for it again. I could not do without it I only received the April. November and December copies last year, but that is no fault of yours. I know you would have been glad to have sent your paoer to me while in Cuba, and reading It would have helped to pass many a weary hour there for me. and perhaps I could have done some distributing for some ot our world-wide advertisers. I noticed several sign-boards alongside of the drug stores, painted in Spanish letters, advertising Mel- lln's Food (as I could tell by their trade- mark.) It sort of cheered me up to see an American firm's name In a foreign country. Ot course I do not know whether the firm put up the advertisements, or the proprie- tor of the drug store, but I know they were there in Santiago, and in good shape, too. Please ■ let me know as soon as possible about my subscription, and oblige, yours re- spectfully. FRED. A. SCHUCH.