TRACT SOCIETIES AND PREMIUMS.
By S. N. Haskell
The Publishing Association has been very liberal to the Tract Societies in various ways since they have commenced their systematic labor; and it is still anxious to do all in its power to encourage systematic labor in the spread of the truth. The premiums offered to encourage tract workers in obtaining subscribers for our periodicals have been very liberal. The “Way of Life” is furnished at cost, giving all the profit to the Tract Societies, providing they will take them in large quantities, and use them to obtain subscribers for our periodicals. That there might be no barrier in the way of this work, the Association proposed further to take back those copies of the “Way of Life” that are not used, if unsoiled, the Tract Society paying transportation both ways. Notwithstanding this, some Tract Societies are obtaining more or less names for the REFORMER, and ordering the “Way of Life” sent directly from the Office. The friends at the Office are willing to do all they can, but there must be a co-operation on the part of the Tract Societies to build up the Association. It can be readily seen that if all the Tract Societies should pursue this course, it would put the Association to great expense without any profit, as it would require much additional help to do the business. The Office needs the benefit of the retail price on its retail trade, to pay packing, shipping, etc. The president of one of our Tract Societies makes the following proposition: “Charge our Society with 20 ‘Way of Life’; then, as we obtain subscribers, and wish them, we will order them and you can charge the postage.” Now with all respect to the Tract Society, this we think a little sharp on the Association. After writing repeated letters of explanation to the proper officers, we have pursued the following course: we have sent to the secretary of that Conf. Tract Society 50 “Way of Life,” so that they can fill orders to individuals in that State165themselves. Whatever number of the “Way of Life” is not used, sometime in the future can be returned to this Office, as above mentioned. S. N. HASKELL.