The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-25

Probably the recent meeting of the
grocers at Winona had no~busier attend
ant nor no closer observer than III. 2.
Hall, of the st. Paul Trade Journal, who,
asked to review the meeting for the
G o b e yesterday, said:
The notable things concerning the
fourth annual meeting of the Minnesota
Retail Grocers and General Merchants
| association. at Winona last week, were
the unusually large attendance, the large
amount of practical business transacted
and the royal entertainment of the Wis
itors by the retail grocers of Winona.
The attendance was the largest in the
history of the organization and demon
strated the growing interest and strength
of the association.
Zone of the most notable matters OF
business transacted was concerning the
new baking powder law. >ster discus
sion it was unanimously and enthusiast
tically voted not to handle baking powders
which do not comply with the state law
by bearing a label showing the ingredi-
ents of which they are composed. This
course was resolved upon unless the law
is declared unconstitutional, and as the
trust is seemingly afraid to carry a case
to the supreme court there seems no pros
pect for any change in the near future.
The Lochren decision only covers the one
point, that the trust can ship into the
state in the original package from some
other state direct to the consumer, with
out complying with the state law. In
view of a conviction of retail grocer in
a lower court for selling unlabeled bak-
ing powder and the refusal of the trust
to carry 1t up, this action Of the retail
grocers at Winona is the biggest blow
given the baking powder trust in Min
nesota.
The convention also Endorsed the Bro
sfus pure food law, now pending in con-
gress, and appointed Mr. Brouwer-
Anchor, of Minneapolis, a delegate to go
to Washington to urge the passage of the
bill.
A war between milling company at
La crosse and milling company at WI
mona has for some time prevented the re-
tail grocers of Winona having any profit
on flour. A committee was appointed to
confer with the contendfng parties, and
because the committee was backed by
strong organization, 1t was enabled to
settle the difficulty in few hours
There were no contentious, heart burn
ings or chickering's in the convention, but
all united in the most friendly way to
work together for the common good Of
the trade. The papers read were unus-
ually interesting, and gave many new
ideas Of advantage in their business.
The fact that all of the old officers
We're unanimously and Enthusiastically re-
elected, and that several hundred dollars
were subscribed to carry on the work,
shows that the movement has a hearty
and united support.
''W. E. Godfrey, of Cleveland, O., secre-
tary of the National Grocers' association.
was, present one day, and Col Robert
Mitchell Floyd, treasurer of the national,
remained to the conclusion, proving both
entertaining and instructive.
1.-THE Winona retail grocers were lavish
in their hospitality, on Thursday evening
giving a splendid concert with local tall
ent of a superior order, followed by a
ball. The concluding evening a royal BAN
quiet was given in the splendid Pythian
hail. where the sessions had been held.
The fact that the wives and daughters OF
the Winona grocers served the banquet
was delicate compliment, greatly ap-
preciated Mr.. ]. f. Robb, president of
the Winona Retail Grocers association,
gracefully presided, and in fact, was ON
nipresent during the entire three days
session"