The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-08-11

ofhcers or the New orSnhiAhtiohs hiect- cd Last Night-Trading Stamps and Department Stores Declared to be Detrimental to Business-To-day's Programme.
 The National Retail Butchers in ses- sion in this city had busy time of 1t yesterday and disposed of several mo- mentous questions. Three sessions were held. The morning session was called to order at 1O:15 with President Frank lin in the chair.
 The first business was the hearing of the annual report of the secretary, Frank Snouffel of Cedar Rapids, Ia. His report showed the membership of the association to have increased from 15,O0O to 21,900 during the year. which is considered very good. The amount reported on hand was $7,200.
 Charles D. Hart of this city then pre- scented resolution in regard to trad ing stamps. In effect the resolution was that the trading stamp system is a nuisance and a detriment to the trade of any city, that 1t is founded on a wrong basis, and that wherever it existed 1t wrought havoc to the local trade. The resolution further sug- gested that the legislature of each state be asked to pass law regulating the trading stamp business and allowing no such company to do business in any state without first depositing a guar antee sum with the treasurer of said state that its promises would be full filled.
 This resolution provoked much spir- ited discussion. It was the unanimous opinion that trading stamps were in- deed nuisance and detriment to the retail merchants and that every effort should be made to abolish the systems. The resolution was referred to the com mittee on policy, as was also a similar one regarding department stores. This committee conferred and at the after noon session advised that both mat ters be referred to the association in each city in the union and that they each individually appeal to the legisla- ture of their respective states to pass law regulating the same.
 The recommendation made by Presi- dent Franklin in his annual report that it would be advantageous to the butch CTS of the country if abattoirs were erected in many of the business centers of the country was tabled for future consideration. It will not be acted upon at this meeting, but will go over until next year.
 The advisability of dividing the na- tional association into an eastern and western league was considered to some extent at the morning session. Adjournment was taken at 12 o'clock. The delegates reassembled at 2. The discussion of the above question was immediately begun. It was argued by those in favor of such movement that economy demanded 1t, that the expense of sending delegates to national con- vention each year was enormous and was paid by the individual members of each association. Those opposing it used the very strong and convincing argument that union was now needed more than ever before and if the na- tion association was divided the effect would be far more disastrous to the re- tail butchers than can be foreseen.
 President Franklin opened the dis cussion, arguing against the motion, claiming that it would only cause dis sension when union was most wanted. He was followed on the affirmative side by Louis P. Zent of Buffalo, James G. Comerford of Rochester, E. F. Hop- ton of Binghamton, N. Y.; w. w. War ren of Massachusetts, w. G. Wagner of New York city, I. w. Stillman of Danbury, R. T. Millimann of Brook lyn: and on the negative by Frank Snouffe1 of Cedar Rapids, Ia., and J. F. Callahan.
 After consuming several hours In de- bate a vote was taken, with the result that the proposed division will not be made It was, however, decided to form an eastern and western associa- ton, but still retain the national body. This arrangement, it is thought, will be very beneficial and result in the saving of considerable money. The country was divided into two parts, with the state of Ohio as the dividing line and one of the states in the eastern asso- ciation All states east of Ohio and south, including Kentucky, are in the eastern, and all west are in the western association. There will still be a na- tional association and national con- vention, which will be held every two years, or as often as considered neces- sary.
 At yesterday afternoons session a national president was elected in the person of William G. Wagner of New York city. His term of office will be two years. The other officers will be chosen from the presidents, vice presi- dents and secretaries of the two asso- citations.
 The two associations thus formed will to some extent take the place of each state association. Each state will not have a convention as heretofore, but all matters of business will be transacted by the two new associa- tions.
 Each of the two new associations held a meeting last night, elected officers and decided upon the place for their next meeting. The eastern association officers follow: President, James F. Callahan of Springfield Mass. first vice president, Charles E. Hart of New Haven; second vice president, D. F. Hopton of Binghamton, N. Y.; treas urer, F. J. Wallace of Meriden; secre- tary, Daniel J. Haley of Troy, N. Y;