The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-04-09
FOR MUTUAL PROTECTION.
The Merchants and Other Business Men
of Westminster Organize.
Business Men of Other Towns Asked to
Form Similar Associations.

The organization of the retail merchants of
Baltimore for the purpose of increasing their
trade, and their successful efforts in inducing
the Western Maryland Railroad Company to
run frequent excursion trains over their main
line and branches to Baltimore, has aroused the
business men of Westminster to a considera,
ton of means of protecting their trade. The
action of the retailers of Baltimore is recog-
nized as a legitimate one for their own inter
ests, but this competition must be met, and
for the purpose of organization and action a
meeting of the merchants and other business
men was held in the Babylon Building on
Wednesday night. For temporary officers,
Geo. w. Albaugh was called to preside and
Chas. II. Vanderford was chosen secretary
After some discussion of the action of the
retailers of Baltimore, in which there was
unanimity of sentiment for organization and
action, Fred. D. Miller offered the following
preamble and resolutions, which were
adopted:
'WHEREAs, the business of retail mer-
chants on the line of the Western Maryland
Railroad is threatened by the concentration
of the retail trade in Baltimore by reason of
frequent excursions trains, at low fares, to
that city, therefore be it
''ReSOlUed that an association he formed,
to be called the Retailers Association of
Westminster, Maryland, for the purpose of
the development and growth of the city and for
mutual protection in the maintenance OF the
business interest of the community.
"Resolred, further, that the retail mer
chants and business men of other cities and
towns along the line of the Western Mary
land railroad and its branches be requested
to form similar organizations for like pur-
poses, and appoint committees to act with
committees of other associations, so that
III ho ,ln to
carry out the objects of the organizations
The meeting voted 20 form an association
to be known as the "Retaiers Association of
Westminster, Maryland,' with the objects
and purposes as expressed in the first resolu-
ton, and elected permanent officers as fol-
lows:
Fred. D. Miller, President; VIM. F. Derr,
Vice President; Elmer C. Orndorff, Secre-
tary and A. C. Strasburger, Treasurer.
Geo. W. Albaugh and Joseph w. Smith
were selected, the former for the East End
and the latter for the West End, to wait upon
the business men of the city and get all to
sign the roll of membership. They performed
their duties on Thursday, and met with a
unanimous response.
The President by unanimous vote, was
instructed to communicate with the business
men of every city and town along the line OF
the Western Maryland railroad and It's
branches, and urge the formation of similar
associations to this one and secure their CO.
operation so that united and formidable ac-
ton can be taken for the protection Of the
retail trade of all the towns and cities.
The Retailers Association will meet at the
Babylon Building at 730 next Monday night,
and the Association invites also the members
of the Merchants and Manufacturers Associa-
ton to be present also Let the attendance
l.. i Il, l,,,, ,ah
What action the combined organizations
will take will be a matter for the determine
ton of the representatives of the various asso-
Citations when they meet. The feeling among
the merchants here is that a protest should be
made to the officers of the Western Maryland
Railroad Company against the running OF
frequent excursion trains to Baltimore over
their lines at low fares for the round trip. 1t
can be easily demonstrated 10 the railroad
company that il doing this they are Ieopar-
dizing their own interests for the low fares
will not result in much gain, aud they may
lose freight at points where competition IS
possible, as at Hanover, Littlestown. Gettys-
burg. York. Hagerstown and Chambersburg.
The feeling here, too, is that the wholesale
merchant of Baltimore have an interest IN
this movement, for if Baltimore is to persist
III an endeavOr to mOnopoiZe the retail trade
Of large part of the state the retailers OF the
section affected by the cheap and frequent
excursions may rctalate on the city by deal
ing elsewhere. Three fourths of the goods
sold in Westminster are now bought OF the
wholesale merchants of Baltimore, and the
loss of million dollars of trade from one
point alone is matter to enlist the interest OF
the Baltimore wholesalers and manufacturers
The people in general along the line of the
Western Maryland railroad should decline to
purchase their supplies in Baltimore, except
such as cannot be bought at home. Every
dollar spent away from home is that much
drain upon the resources of the community.
Speaking of Westminster only, goods can be
bought as cheaply here as in Baltimore, AMI
the stocks are large and varied. Competition
is always in order and desirable, but the al
tempt of the Baltimore retailers at monopoly,
seconded by the efforts of the railroad lines,
should be cut off by refusal of the people to
aid in the monopoly. Three excursions are
to be run over the Western Maryland railroad
and its branches next week and excursions
have also been arranged over the Baltimore
and Eastern Shore road, from Ocean City, the
farthermost part of the Eastern Shore. Live
and let live should be the motto of all people,
but the retailers of Baltimore are now acting
upon the principle of let us live ii all the bal
ance of the business men go to the wall.