The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-07
FURNITURE DEALERS.
They Hold an Interesting Conven-
ton in Minneapolis

The first annual convention Of the Retail
Furniture Dealers Association Of Minnesota
North and South Dakota was held in X P
hall. First avenue and Fifth street southeast
today The morning session was very in
formal and, after the usual opening routine
the delegates listened to a very able address
by the president. E. F. Gilbert of Casselton
\. D. The report of the secretary followed
after winch W. Clark, secretary of the re-
tail hardware dealers association, talked on
"h hor the H9rdWaTe Dealers Association
ness the meeting adjourned until D. m
The afternoon session was given over almost
entirely to papers and addresses. The first
was paper by .. Simons, of Glencoe, MINI,
on Local Competition" which contained
much valuable advice to the merchants and
was greeted with hearty applause. George
pany, made an address on Better Prices for
Better Goods; the Retailer as Arbiter Of
Prosperity for the Furniture Trade" He
thought II great mistake to advertise prices
OF goods, as patrons then received the idea
that every day should be a special sale day.
A short discussion followed this address in
which several members took part. a p Nell
son, of the Furniture News. read an original
poem entitled The Story of the InstalIment
Dealer" His hits at this plan Of selling
goods were clever and the poem caused much
mirth among the delegates. w. L. Harris OF
the New England Furniture and Carpet COM
pany, read paper on THE Mutual Relations
OF the Country and the City Furniture Deal
er-Have They Anything in Common ?-The
City Dealers Point of View" He thought
way and be willing to turn trade to each
other if they had the opportunity. His paper
was one of the ablest given. w. P. Hohen-
schulz gave the country dealers side Of the
question and agreed with Mr. Harris in his
view OF the case. A discussion Of how the
retail trade could be improved was to have
followed, but as the speakers had all touched
on this point the subject given very lit
tie attention.
The most important question discussed
was. what action to take in the cases Of the
manuTacturers who are selling to what are
known as catalogue firms, or firms that have
an office only and order direct from the man
ufacturers at cost and sell at cost and those
dealers who order their goods to be paid for
at sixty days and have the cash from their
customers to use during the time. It was de-
cIded to notify those manufacturers that the
members OF the association would withdraw
their trade II they continued this practice
and to send a list OF the firms to each member
with their replies.
The nominating committee reported the
present officers renomlnated and the secretary
was instructed to cast ballot. The secretary
and treasurer are elected by the board which
reelected j. Newton Mind secretary and
Ludwig Simonet, Of Saltwater, treasurer
The other officers are: z. F. Gilbert Cas-
SETON. n. D., president; J. R. Moore Aber-
deem, 5. D.. first vice president; Orlando
Simons' Glencoe, second vice president; direc-
tors. A. NJ. Halstead, jamestown, N. D., w
f. Chandler, Grafton, n. D., NJ. F. Cum
Minis Wilmot, S. D., E. R. Foster. Webster
:. p, NJ: P. Philippi, GAINESVILLE, Mimi; NJ
R. O'Neil Graceville, Mimi, and A. Tsyhum-
perlin St. Cloud, MINI.
The Undertakers' association hold their an
nuaI convention today, at which most of the
furniture delegates will be present.