The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-29
PIG Meet ng Of Merchants Held and the
Murphy ELL Endorsed.
TIE SPEECHES YER QUITE SPICY.
Mr.. j. II. Bnsby Was the Only Person
Present Who Was Not In sympathy
With the sentiments Expressed.
Committee Appointed To Act.

AANANArr+N
in this city was attended by about one
hundred and nfty representative business
mon. with only one dissenting voice, IL
was decided to ask the Legislature 10 pass
the Murphy bill.
All classes Of the retail trade were rep
resented and there were some wholesale
merchants present.
Mr.. George Med Blake called the meet
ing to order and Mr Moses Thalhimer
nominated Mr.. James Il. Vaughan ior
chairman. Alr. Vaughan was chosen 10
preside over the meeting.
DELEGATES Thomas Il. Murphy ana james
T., Anderson were invited 10 take sears 1n ~
he platform aud did so. Alr. Murphy -
the iefron Of wnat Is known as the AMI
Traiinr stamp bill. Mr. Anderson vas
prcscnt simply as an interested st,..r.'.o
Mr. Blake told about the maubu ui a%1.o" %
Of the movement against the use "a eS,,,d
inc etamus and checks lie had lounu
sentiment very largely Ia favor OF we
Nfurphv bul which was modelled after we
one passed TO prohibit the use ol ,.,.s
stamps in the Dls.Iict on - IN, 10, ,,,eni-
Rlake said after the bin had been unanl-
r,ortslv reuorted TO the House II was re-
committed in order that II might be Inoie
fiilv discussed and it will come up again
before the committee on JanuaI! ''"'
MIR. BUsBYS POSITION.
Mr. II. Busby said he handled traulng
etamps and would like TO hear some ono
1917, ,rhv the business was not leslt-
innate one He could see no Ieason a..
conrnariug 10 with lottery. re tvyn -.
etoclx I'm the talk about its BENG a scne'nv ,d',
~ encourage people TO DehSN' 49, a,,r
get something for nothing. III lnV s'sg H.,
mn fail 10 carry out their promise 'h'y
H. RWsbv said the stamp scheme was q
obean one for reaching the ptopoi -
less expensive than advertsihs ~ 49,
,l-c~e Ve could not see where ~ tne
.,drie b1d anv right 10 object 20 mer-
cbarts handling tho stamps. MT b.s
-4otod I'm concluding his remarks' ina
bo had tho exclusive control OF the stamps
I'm The furniture business s,c
Mr. Blake asked Mr. Bushy II ne ulu
not think he should get stamps as cheap
,,,, ono eiee Before tho question
oouid he answered Mr. Blake adde'a
,rsn+ 10 prove 10 YOU that you are ~
business YOU know nothing apoul.
fore the House Committee the stamp ~
admitted that they sold stamps l9 eDi-
rrorchonts at per cent. and 10 DINERS al
o . nor cent Have you ever seen inc
presonts given away? | have and VIII
cvbifff come of them before the House
Committee when the bin comes up AGAIN
I'm one case. where s. worth OF chechS
were returned q few cups ana sauCers
which could have been ooutht 4oI -' WI
co couts-werc given.
Mr. Busbv's reply 10 this was thar ne
thought Il was for those I'm tho business
and not tho outsiders 20 kick
SORRY TIE HANDLES THEM.
The first -cd-hot speech against the
stamps was made by Mr.. f. n. Cloves.
lie said he controlled the stamps Tor the
Bicycle and typewriter trade ana ne was
sorry he ever heard OF them He said
the stamps were an injury % his busi-
ness. but he could not give them up MS
long as some rival might use them. for
that course would also be hrrttul 20 his
business The sum 0nd substance oi the
whole matter he said was that tho use
Of stamps was harmful 70 the merchant
who handles them and they were hurtful
10 the trade Of Tho man who hasn't them.
He said ne would rejoice 10 see the stamp
business broken up by law.
Mr.. Bauehan gave IN Illustration ~
how the stamps injured legitimate busi-
ness and MT. Louis Nachmr followed
him I'm a foroeful speech in dcnunci9tion
of he stamps "I am doing n legitimate
business" said he. "The stamps and
checks are hurtful 10 my trade Tho
whole scheme IS simply lott 'ry rnd"
now name. II is mcrcpf lE in SELF
defence / tried 20 get the stamps for my
customers but ! could not get them be-
cause another house In The same line m
rGdc h7d the exclusive right 20 them. As
this subject presents itself 20 me u is
er. I favor any business that IS calcu-
lated TO help an the people but am OPP
posed % any scheme that helps only
few at the expense OF the masses.
Mr.. Poatross. shoe merchant. said one
OF the harmful effects Of the use Of
sfanlus was that it encouraged people
who had accounts at ono store 10 cen
with new house. paying cash IN order
TO get the stamps; leaving theiI aeots
Ia. Nit U
inc hie trade applied for stamps and
could not get them
NIr c, =. Sauor objected 20 the Murphy
biii sirr1n1v for the reason that he thought
it's terms were too broad He sald it
might interfere with merchant giving
counons with goods sold and then re-
decming the same with some niue B.tl
THE hiil might AFFECT such mcIhous dS lhr
newspaner employ in giving presents for
so many coupons returned ID oruei 20 III
cr-a GO fFr.f~ circulation
Ar. Tn0mas IS. Murphy sald MI
Sauers fears were unrOunded Inc tll
was not designed 10 keep person from
giving away 0r.v personal property. No
iav. could prevent thls. what we op-
fcct to" said MIR. Murphy, are rake
schemes and this stamp and check DUST
ness Is the most internal fake scneme
know or
ar Mummy went on 70 say tnat tne
stamp man nad stated Derore the rouse
committee tnat he SOLO 70 big merchants
only. Next day in q news paper the same
man hai SAID TINS rent was one IN Whlcn
the big merchant was tfyIng 10 crush out
me uftle one rnis w-I0le scneme was
one n. Murphy SAID. that reminded MN
of a bovcott. some merchants were torc-
cd nv ,-4rfots ocVicos. 10 take stamps,
and Others were refused them
SOME CROSS QUESTIONING.
Mr BlsDy. mere IS no fompusion 20
buv stamps. Tnis stamp man pays MS
fa
sell his gCOdsy
Mr.. Murphy: DO you think. now as n
business man, speaking 10 business
man. that this stamp scheme Is legltl-
mate method IN Dusinessf
AT. BusDy; 1 90. Dld 1 not tnlnK so
1 would not use tnem.
MT. Blake: Dont you tninK II mo-
nopolyy
Sfr. BusDy; II Is not monopoly. ANY
one VINO chooses can start rlval trad
ing stamp company.
AIT. -lowes: claim II IS monopoly
ana 1 curse the day ever became ac-
qualnted witn TINS monopoly
Mr. Dusny. As 1 sald before any one
can sell trading stamps. ana wouin nKe
to nave the cor rtrOmng interest IN tne
business
NJ Cloves: Yes. as the stamp man.
Mr.. Moses Thalh.mer made nla'r
nointed nd eloquent appeal for the
Murphy I'LL He sad he believed in do
Ing business SQuNre'y and openly He
was born in Richmond has snent his
ife here and never found !, neccss ~ 10
resort 10 tricks 20 secure trade. He had
never had any reason TO pay people 20
buy his goods and when the stamp man
came 10 his firm the proposition made
was rejected. There is too much de-
ception IN the stamp trade Mr.. Thai
himer claimed that merchants handling
%. ivrs ehou give stamps 10 all customers
... . Imply 20 those who ask Tor them.
Uul he was infOI-sd that this had not
been done lie said he was convinced