Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-29
out Of a prize box. She replied that II
had come from the stamp store.
HIS MOST FOOLISH ACT

HIS MOST FOOLISH ACT.
Mr.. G. Watt Taylor: II have been a
fool and been doing foolish things all my
life, but the foolcst thing ever did was
to undertake TO use the stamps. fei-
low wearing A-carat diamond induced
me to undertake the scheme. and i was
the little fly that walked into his parlor.
| consider the scheme more injurious
than any have ever seen or heard Of
have thrown the stamps away, and would
not undertake TO use them again Tor
fortune"
In conclusion, Mr.. Taylor said: "Our
fathers went 10 war about n stamp act.
want the merchants OF Richmond TO
get move on and DO this last stamp
business" Mr.. Taylor was loudly APP
plauded.
Mr.. Coleman. OF Coleman Brothers.
grocers, gave the details OF his first days
experience. telling how he had used the
stamps frcm 1880 one morning until
closing time that night and had then
thrown up the scheme.
Mr.. Thelhimer then told how Mr.. Cole
man had been forced TO give a lady s.
worth OF stamps when she had threatened
10 deal elsewhere, and after she had re-
fused TO accept s. bill instead of the
stamps that would have been due her.
WHY SHOULD THEY COMPLAIN?
Mr.. Busby made the point that all the
speakers had said they had found stamps
hurtful; then why did they want those
using them to be kept from doing so?
1t could not be argued that the protesters
were being hurt by the stamps.
Mr. Thalhimer asked M. Busby If he
gave stamps with every purchase but
the latter replied that his contract re-
quired him to give them only when asked
for.
Mr.. Harry Harvey said he had not
been prepared 10 oppose the system when
he came into the meeting but since he
had learned that he had been made to
pay just twice as much for his stamps
as others had been made to pay. he was
ready TO say he had been ill-treated, and
he wanted some sort of satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION.
None was forthcoming. and Mr.. Roths-
child. grocer, attacked the system, dwell
ing upon the fact that the stamp people
had not kept their contract, in that they
had granted the stamp privilege to so
many people in the same business, when
they had contracted to keep it more or
less exclusive.
Mr.. Murphy said the reading matter in
the backs of stamp-books told purchasers
not 10 deal with merchants who did not
had said his contract did not compel him
TO give stamps unless asked for them.
PAID MORE THAN OTHERS.
In response TO a question from Mr..
Thalhimer, Mr.. Busby said he paid per
cent. for his stamps. and had not known
until a few minutes before that any one
paid less
Are you going 10 give them up?''
asked Mr. Thalhimer.
Il shall take it under advisement," said
Mr.. Busby.
"You will consider breaking your con-
tract" said Mr.. Thaihimer, alludng to
Mr. Busby's previous allusion to his dis
approval Of breaking his contract with
the stamp people.
Mr. William King, grocer, then spoke
against the system. saying he had dis
carded it, because il took nearly all his
profits, giving the stamps to strangers,
instead of his own people.
ASKED TO SUPPORT THE BILL.
Mr.. Blake offered the following reso-
| luton, which was adopted:
BE il resolved by the merchants Of the
city Of Richmond in meeting assembled
| In the Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday
2Sth of December 1897. That the members
of the Legislature from this city be re-
spectfully requested to use their best eff
forts to cause to be enacted into law the
bill offered by Mr.. Murphy, from Rich
| mond TO prohibit the use of trading
stamps and trading checks and all SINH
( lar devices"
/ On motion, the Chair was instructed &c
wait upon the Legislature, present the
| resolutions. adopted at the meeting and
argue the case against the trading-stamr
people. The Chair appointed the follow
| ing committee: Messrs. George watt
Taylor. Moses Thalhimer, j. A. Grigg, {
| w. Antrim, p. A. Buchanan, w. +
| Poythress. and George Med Blake.
The meeting adjourned at 1920 O'clock.