The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-06-17

l0ll merchant. INeAe ave uVl tAAMAFA
people OF the laborlng class. Many are
Of the professions The churches and
schools arc levers that are operated
against this dishonesty, but II Is I'M
fortunate that. much Of Il is not reach
cd. We must, sooner or later, believe
every man q Scoundrel until he proves
himself 10 be IN honest man. Expensive
living. said the speaker, Is an evil the
retail grocer runs amuck. This SLOWS
with the advancing years The luGur-
les OF generation ago become the ac-
tual necessities OF to-day Even the
younger men Of the present know this
n true. American people live too high:
too many OF them live beyond their In
come. One class OF customers defraud
the retail merchant without pvcmedl.
tation. but there In n second class that
10 Intentionally dishOnest-the dead
beat class. These people move from
town TO town. from county TO county.
aud from one state 70 another. leaving
only when their ability to defraud has
ended. II Is from this class that the
retail merchant should be protected.
What Is needed? There should be
amended legislation that win give this
protection. Our laws in West Virginia
seemed to he framed almost entirely so
that the retail merchant can be de-
frauded. At present II Is almost Inn
possible to collect the small debt, $40 to
S25-beyond which the careful and con-
sentative merchant seldom extends
credit. There isn't Etnte law that en-
ables the collection OF the small debt.
Even II the man to whom goods are
sold on credit desired To DO 20, he can
not waive the exemption given him by
law. Even u he gives his Judgment
note, Il cannot be collected. Laws
should be passed that will compel per
sons to pay their honest debts. The
new state association should move In
this dlrectiOn--if Il can make dishonest
people honest. n will Indeed accomplish
a great work. At any rate, there Is
room for reform In legislation. AZ
present II Is impossible in West Wiz
Ginla to Earnishee wages. The speak
er did not believe the retail merchants
would abuse a law giving them the
power TO collect debts In Ohio there Is
a law that gives the merchant the pow
er to SOLICIT debts from persons who
have had steady employment three
months continuously and have earned
more than $50 month That is step
in the right direction. The speaker be-
Heved another great work for the as
ISOLATION, Is the formation OF credit
lists The address was listened to with
great Interest throughout and Mt the
close afr. Reid was literally applauded.
RaIsS Of the Association.
The committee on rules and regula-
lions then made its report through its
chairman, Mr.. Behrens, The report
was read By Secretary Stroebel The
report was quite volunlnous, OF which
- L. = hWNaf aNsHNnulHa
The association Is called the Protec-
tive Association Of Retail Grccers and
Merchants OF West virginia Its OBJ
iects are to correct credit evils, estah-
lish credit bureau. TO oppose oppreSs-
I've legislation and generally advance
the interests OF the retail trade. All
retail merchants in West Virginia are
eligible. There are two classes Of mem
bershIp, Individual and through local
associations Conventions are TO be
held annually. the place to be desiana-
ted at each meeting. Officers are eliEi-
BILE for reelection. The president. Vice
president. secretary and treasurer and
Ave members shall comprise the execu-
tive board The officers are to serve
one year. There are three vice presi-
dents Officers are 10 give bond tor the
faithful performance OF their duties
June I. There was some discussion re-
glrding admitting grocers In Bellaire.
Martins Ferry and bridgeport, towns
closely aIlled with Wheeling, and those
az towns In states likewise situated
with reference 10 West Virginia com
munl.ies, but the proposed amendment
to the bylaws did not meet with favor
and was not pressed. In conventions,
associate delegates vote once for each
ten OF the first fifty members OF the
local association, and one vote for each
additional twenty-five members. In
dIvldual members vote rs follows; one
vote for i.cOO population or less; one ad-
dIt!onal vote FOR each 2,0OO OF the next
1000 population. and one additional vote
Tor each 5000 NJ the next 10000 popula-
ZION. The constitution and bylaws
were then adopted without opposition
While the report Of the rules and
regulations committee was being con-
sIdersd, Mayor Butts arrived. aad nd-
dressed the meeting. He was pleased
to welcome to the city the delegates to
the convention and hoped all would en-
GOV themselves. Chairman Smith Te-
sponded and said he hoped the mayor
would not deal harshly with any erriuE
brethren. The mayor looked doubtful
al this. but smiled when deleuate
moved that the city police be given a
day on duty, and the smile became a
laugh when another moved that the
mayor himself be given a vacation
while the grocers are tinging the town
with a brilliant carmine.
Mr. T. ", Blayney. OF Roney's Point,
was the next speaker. his topic being
'sSferchants' Associations and Theft
Usefulness to the Retail Merchant"
Mr. BIaynsy's Talk.
Mr. Blayuey said. in part:
"The seasons for the existence OF an
association are so apparent that they
have brought US from our homes to
otir states chief city TO form a state as
ISOLATION for the protection az ourselves
and our business interests against the
evils and obstacles that oppose us on
every hand. We easily realize that we
can only secure our rights and promote
our best business interests by banding
together. Gentlemen. the day has
passed and gone when every man IN
business thought that every man IN the
same business was an enemy. IN those
days. now happily passed. grocer
could be on friendly terms With every
man In every other line, but ne mus
carry a knife for his fellow grocer.
Now we have different ideas about
these things. We realize that every
grocer is a brother to every other gro
Ger; not such brother as was Gaia,
but kind and friendly brother. ready
to divlde harmOniously or contend tair-
Iy for oil the trade going. No men
fight so desperately as brothers when
once they get started. and two grocers'
once they declare war upon each othc:,
generally Rght like demons. Price IS
their weapon; they soon batter down
each others light shield OF profit and
tho struggle goes on. The armor oil
cost is cut and slashcd until II hangs on
each body In taiters. Finally the bleed.
ing contestants separate anu they int
-, f-.a.4 "a attv,gftnfy tho attention