The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-08
STARTING A BUSINESS BOOM.
An Organization Of City Merchants
Which Promises a Harvest of Gold.
The Various Enterprising Projects Proposed
at the Meeting Last Night for Adyanc-
ing the Business Interests of the City.

night at the Superior Court room, for the pur-
pose of taking some steps to improve the condi'
ton of retail trade in the city, was attended by
about fifty gentlemen, including Col j. b. Black.
J. w. Hess, j. R. Perry. l. N. Helms Herman
Bamberger, H. c. Levi, w. L. Elder. 81. H. Lee
M. Lee, of Eastman, Schleicher & Lee Val Schaaf
w. F. Christian, Alexander Taggart, Charles
Carter. Professor Koerner. Alex. Heron, A. G.
Grooms, Joseph Staub, A. Dickson, George A.
Reissner, F. NJ. Ryan. G. w. Johnston, P. F.
Bryce; A. B. Meyer. ]. A. Buchanan, James Blu
chanan, II. L. Brown and G, w. Brouse.
1t was o'clock when the meeting was called
to order by j. r. Perry, and Mr.. Herman Bam-
berger was chosen to preside. In returning
thanks for the honor, Mr.. Bamberger said he
gratifed by the turnout, indicating as 1t did,
the necessity of united action to enable Indian
apolis to take the popular and prosperous posi-
ton it was entitled to by reason Of its advan-
tages and population. It is time that croak-
ers were sent to the rear. and live business
men must come to the 'front.' Sometime
ago We had mercantile association, and it did
some good for the city, but it was merged into
the Board of Trade-a case Of the tail wagging
the dog. That organization had never done any
thing for the retail interests Of the city, and the
time has come when something must be done to
light. We have no attractions now-certainly
the Union Depot and South Meridian street are
not such. The attractions of city are
Its beautifully decorated show windows
of the retail centers which draw the people to
1hfrla "a 70 fnnrn 70 md in
duce them to step in and buy something. This
meeting, Mr.. Bamberger said, was the outgrowth
OF preliminary meeting held last week. at
which time committee was appointed to draft
time.
j. r. Perry was then selected secretary and,
by request. gave briefly an account of the meet
ing of last week. Being member Of the COM
mittee then appointed, Mr.. Perry said no new
constitution had been drafted-that the basis of
organization of the old mercantile association
was broad enough to accommodate oil who
wanted to join. That association had done good
work on that basis, and a new one could do so.
Expressions being called for. NJ HENS said
he believed that %he resumption Of excursions,
given under the auspices Of the Mercantile Asso-
citation, was the best thing possible for securing
the trade OF the surrounding country, upon
which the city must live, If it 10 TO live at all.
Unless there is something Of this kind done, we
shall eat up one another, and outside material ls
absolutely necessary. Much could be done for
the general good if the jealousies of those who
are in the same line Of trade were extinguished.
Mr. Taggart said that if q permanent organ
ization was to be had, it should not be devoted
to gathering in thu few dollars that excursion
lists may bring, but it should advertise the State
and keep in Indiana the emigrants who go
through it to the West. The State is one of the
best, and we ought to get these emigrants to aid
in build up the State and city permanently.
Mr.. H. G. Levi said he Endorsed Mr. Taggarts
views. and extended them to cover the manu-
featuring interests also. The city should be
built up in that respect by advertising its name
abroad. The house which the speaker repre-
sented, he said, had been built up within the
past two and half years by advertising and
push, and energy. The firm was very well sat
isfed with the condition of things, and would
welcome competition in its line. 1t would be
glad to see fifty such houses here. Excursions
would doubtless be of some benefit but one
thing to be desired is good banks. There have
been failures of the bad ones, We want
Some good ones
j. E. Sullivan said that the railroads could
help Indianapolis by equazng rates for our To-
cal dealers This may be remeded by united
action, such we have here tonight One
trouble, the speaker said, was that Indianapolis
merchants seem to fear the markets of sur
rounding Cities but he had taken his business
directly into the territory contiguous to Chicago
St Louis, Louisville and Cincinnati, and estab-
lished himself there. Fear of competition and
of spending a few dollars for advertising and ex-
tending business keep too many back for the
good of the city.
H. H. Lee said that the Board of Trade was
good thing, but 1t was not combative enough,
and the best thing for the business men to do is
TO gather, as they were on this occasion, to act
In united capacity for anything that may be
thought to be for the best interest of business
men of this city.
Mr.. j. w. Hess said there would be- no con
fict of interest with the Board of Trade if this
organization should be formed. There is field
for each one to occupy. We DO not expect to
bankrupt the retail trade of the towns of
trate the trade OF the State that
goes to the larger cities of adjoining States
The objects now to occupy the attention of the
proposed association are to arrange for excur-
sions, and for an exposition to be held in the
new City Hall next fall, running for month or
two That hall was the result Of movement
which had its inception in the Old Mercantile
Association. He moved that the Indianapolis
Mercantile Association" be now organized.
This was carried unanimously, whereupon
Chairman Bamberger remarked with much salts
faction: THE child is born, and it is fully
named"
The secretary then read the constitution and
bylaws of the previous organization. as far as
recommended by the committee. The preamble
reads as follows:
danapolis. believing that by organized corporation
our business interests may be advanced do hereby
associate ourselves together and adopt for gov
eminent the following constitution and bylaws. The
objects of this association shall be to advance the in
forests of the business men of indianapolis.
The chairman urged that the meeting take
some action 20 put into effect the determination
expressed just before TO organize an association.
there being some ''backwardness in coming for
ward" in supporting the committee. Finally,
George w. Johnston moved that the draft pro-
posed by the committee be adopted. Several
seconds were heard.
Before that question was put W. L. Elder
moved that the membership fee be fixed at S.
which carried This fee and the annual
dues are needed, Mr.. Hess said, for incidental
expenses, but mostly as guarantee fund, which
will insure the running of excursion trains The
trains are self-supporting, but the guarantee
fund must be on hand
r NJ Ryan thought the annual dues should be
fixed by the executive committee, and that this
guarantee fund should be raised by assessment
pro rata, according to the probable benefit to be