The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-10
DULUTH is SELECTED
RETAIL HARDWARE MEN WILL
MEET IN THE ZENITH CITY
NEXT YEAR
ENTERTAINED THE J0BBERs

HN I'll HfNAA I'LL JOODInO
Yesterday's Sessions of the Hard
ware Men Were Devoted Almost
Entirely to Listening to Addresses
by Jobbers Who Were Present
Retiring President Remembered.
Interest in the morning session of
the second annual convention of the
Minnesota Retail Hardware associa-
tion. at Market hail. yesterday, CEN
tered in several addresses delivered by
local and outside jobbers. The speak
ers were r. A. Kirk, Of the firm of Far
well, Ozmun & Kirk, of this city; c.. w
Hackett, of the c. w. Hackett Hard
ware company, Of this city; A. Hill,
representing Janney, Semple & Co., of
IAN Mercantile company, of Milwau-
kee. Wis; c. A. Peck, Of the Wiscon-
SIN Hardware company, of Berlin,
Wis. and F. Dunning, of Marshall &
Wells firm, of Duluth
The principal address was delivered
by Mr.. Kirk. He said that the retail
association had had the hearty sup
ana assured the members of the con-
Ventlon that the jobbers had only the
pest wishes for the growth and pros
perlty or the retail association. In al
ludlng TO the manufacturers Mr. Kirk
sald these dealers too often tried to
INK themselves too closely to the re-
tallers, thus ignoring the jobber. The
| johber, according to Mr.. Kirk, was es-
sentlally qualified to deal directly with
| the dealers, because he could furnish
supplies more easily on short notice;
also more diversified line of supplies,
thus preventing the retail dealers from
| becoming overstocked. The antagon-
ism to the so-called middle man." Mr..
XIX characterized as absurd In the
| opinion Of c. w. Hackett the retail
hardware dealers association was an
| organization which could not help but
benefit the trade He complimented
the association upon the progress it
had made. saying that organization was
Always source Of strength and ad-
! According to Mr.. Koch there was
and always should be the best Of feel
ing between the jobbers and the retail
! efs. The1r interests were along the
same lines, and the prosperity of one
meant prosperity for the other. The
margin Of profits was now small. com
pared with that of years ago, Mr.. Koch
!
| sell goods ON long time. The house
| that could sell goods quickest was the
| best place to buy he said.
| Mr. Dunn1ng. briefly assured the con-
vent1on that his firm was always ready
TO meet the dealers in an equitable
manner, while Mr.. Hill announced the
same sentiment for his firm. G. A
Peck said there should be more cor
diality between dealers, while the Job
| berS ought to be cultivated
Z. "A. Barnes, secretary of the North
| Dakota Retail Hardware Dealers as
| sociation. delivered ar address in which
ne cautioned Minnesota dealers to be
| guarded against influence tending to
break down their organization.
| Before the session adjourned Charles
+. Lader, of ST. Cloud, the retiring
president, was pleasantly surprised by
the presentation of a silver service of
| five pieces. The presentation speech
was made. by A. T. Stebbins, of Owa-
tenna, who highly complimented Mr..
l.ader upon his zeal in the interest of
| the association. Mr. =Lader responded
| appropriately.
| The executive session in the after
noon was largely consumed in the
| transaction of routine business The
4 general committee, appointed to inyes-
| tlgate concerning a mutual insurance
| plan, made a preliminary report favor
Ing the plan.- 1t was decided that the
! completion of final ARRANGEMENTS
should be left in the hands of a sub
committee, which will be appointed by
| the general committee, one from each
/ congre resslonal district and four mem
bers at large This committee will re-
/ port at the next annual meeting of the
| association.
A resolution protesting against a
| proposed move on the part of the rail-
roads to raise the minimum car load
weights On agricultural implements,
| vehicles and other classes of goods
handled by members of the association
was unanimously adopted. Copies of
the resolution were ordered sent to the
Western Passenger association. P. G.
hanson, president OF the MINNEAPOLIS
| BUSINESS Mems association, and Secre-
| tary D1ngman addressed the conyen-
| ton upon proposed legislation regard
| ing garnishment laws, which will he
| presented to the legislature during the
present session and requested the CO.
| operation OF the retail hadware deal
| ers In securing the passage of the
measures proposed. Action in this mat
| ter was referred to a committee com
| posed of A. T.. Stebbins, of Rochester.
and Henry Cleveland-of MINNEAPOLIS.
On motion of E. A. Moye, Of Duluth.
the convention voted to hold it's next
annual meeting at Duluth, Feb. Z, s
| and 9, 1900
Editor Clark. of the Iron Age, ad-
| dressed the dealers concerning the
| work necessary for strengthening their
organization and carrying it's princi-
pies into effect.
BY rising vote the convention ex-
pressed it's commendation of the SER
vices of J. w. Clark, Of Minneapolis, as
| secretary Of the association for the last
two years. The secretary is chosen by
the executive committee, which, it is
SAID. will undoubtedly reappoint Mr.
| Clark.
The report of the secretary showed
the association to be in excellent finan-
| cial condition. The association is now
composed of 435 members, 25 new mem
bers having been admitted during the
| present convention. and ZIG cities and
towns are represented on the roll.