The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-24
PRESIDENTS ANNUAL ADDRESS
DELIVERED BEFORE AMERICAN FRUIT
AND PRODUCE TRAVELLERS AS
S0GiATl0N LAST NIGHT.
Was Well Delivered and Heartily Re
ceived-The Election OF Officers
Place For Next Meeting to Be Select
ed by Executive Committee-Resolu-
lions Of Thanks Adopted.

ers' Association, in session in this city
the past two days. adjourned at 1880
last night. Two sessions were
held yesterday, one being called TO or
der at 10 a. m. and the other at $50 p.
m. No business OF public interest was
transacted at the morning session, and
the principal business OF the evening
session was the election of officers for
the ensuing year, which resulted as
follows:
President-J. G.. Thompson, repre-
.senting Brown * Mcmahon. Phila-
Idelphia.
Vice Presidential. j. Carey, repre-
I~senting ]. J.. Pitts & Co, Cleveland. Z
Secretary. X. Franklin, tre-elect-
ed, representing Sterling & Franklin,
Baltimore.
The Carolina Truck and Fruit Grow
Iers' Journal was adopted as the Off
lcial organ of the association. Resolu-
itions Of thanks to the Merchants IS
ISOLATION for the use Of their rooms as
IA meeting place, and to the press of the
city for their reports of the proceed
ings, were unanimously adopted.
The selection Of a place of meeting
for the next annual convention was
left to the executive committee, which
is to be appointed at once by the new
ly elected president.
During the session last night the re-
firing president, Mr.. ]. H. Johnson, of
Providence, r. l., delivered his annual
address, which was very enthusiastic
lcally received. The address was as
follows:
Gentlemen:-It is highly pleasing TO
me to see so many of our members
present here tonight and to note the
deep interest manifested in the affairs
Iof our Association.
This to me is evidence that We are to
take no back steps but have come to
stay and not only to stay but are to
advance with ever increasing power.
lOf course we are not a shell road the
entire course of our line of march, for
be it remembered that no big enterprise
yet been eventually successful
without first meeting with some oppo-
Isition, and so we must expect to be no
exception to the rule, and with this
Thought let it Undue us with fresh cour-
age to press onward in what we have
50 enthusiastically begun until our
standard is placed at h fore front of
Jail like commercial bodies.
Occasionally we hear some one speak
~disparagingly of our association u
they happily are of the sour grapes
order and hence do not disturb us in
III ISdSl. W. yColS oSO VIC wiz
THAT the members would not stand to-
Igether and n year was given as the
life of our institution. Those who
lprophesied thus have lived to. see the
lshallownesS of their claim and already
have turned to us and are knocking at
our door for admittance. To those
lwho are worthy men, and are willing
to conform to u rules, the latch string
will be found hanging outside and they
shall not be turned away but welcomed
to our household az one of US, but to
THOSE who are seeking us only for the
protection we offer let me say there is
no o among us for them, and if
they should obtain a temporary stay
with us it will avail them nothing for
we have our search light out and will
be sure to detect them in anything
which SavorS of crooked dealing, and
their humiliation will be punishment
sufficient when they are shown the
door, ordered to depart hence and sin
mo more.
If there are any among US who are
not in accord with the principles upon
which our association is founded, /
warn them to have a care for there are
a hundred pair of eyes upon you, there
fore take heed and so conduct your
SELVES as to stand the most rigid scru-
Tiny in all you business dealings. /
feel that our association rests upon
solid rock, and although we may be
beset by flood and tide, and though
our ship may creek and groan from the
effects of the hurricane. Yet if every
man stands firm at his post we need
not fear but that we will outride the
storm and appear all the stronger for
Having been subjected TO the test and
found not wanting.
The future of our association gentle
ook bright and the fact that our
secretary (who, by the way, is a host
in himSelf,) is in daily receipt of nu-
lmerouS letters from all over the Unit
ed States making inquiries as to the
association, attests in what light we are
held by not only men who represent
jhouses, but from their employers as
we'll. Let me remind you gentlemen
that there is nothing keener than the
eye of a farmer and a grower to his
Interests. He is anxious to know what
we are about and this association
means to him, and gentlemen, 1 hope
the time will come in the near future
when he will ask n one who ap-
proaches him for c-onsignments if he
is q member of the A. F. and p. T. A.
before doing business with him. If his
ANSWER is no then the next question is
why not? When this day shall have
come, which is among the possibilities
of our calling, there will be a call for
IllGl II llG GlAlplpS VI 1OllL4lllSSlDll
houses as are eligible 10 belong TO our
association and no others need apply.
Then gentlemen Will we reap the har-
vest from the seed We are now sowing
and the interests of the farmers the
commission houses and our association
be cemen.ed in one common brother
hood. With these thoughts, gentlemen,
in view let us ever remember that if
fair and square business methods do
not succeed then no others can. We
have a number of communications
from absent members who have found
it impossible to be with US tonight, ex-
pressing sincere regrets and wishing US
"a successful meeting which should en-
courage US in lifting still higher our
standard. 1 wish to congratulate this
association upon the name in which
its affairs the past yea have been
managed. To me the officers have been
courteous and obliging for which ]
feel truely thankful. Though to some
my methods have seemed too drastic
to please all, yet 1 ave tried TO fulfill
my promise of a yea ago when I ac-
lcepted the presidency and have done
what I have considered for the best
interests Of this association