The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-05-22

turned = the scene and lnbnred Incesssn,
Tor the interest Of members
- the outset desire to say that n
nns peen my good fortune to I've present y,
several occasions during the deliberat ,o,,
81 the arbitration committee. and nv sn
Miratlon foe Its buslncssltke methods IL
,h u s great. regular docket of ali eases
- kept. ana from the time the com,nsfte,
assemblies until Its labors are completea
ysersthing Is strictly business. Indivniu,,,.
" ana collectively, the abilities and chaf
utter OF these men are above reproaen
This matter Of arbitration. as Won win
doubtless recall. has been a fayorife thc,nh
OF my former addresses feel thar AZ
,ba can not be said in Its praise. Only
TO law, aud It would doubtless be hnnn.
some sum II we could know how much baa
nsen saved our grain dealers IN the cnst
81 liquidation since organizing IN say ,oth
ing OF the clearer justice.
" gives me great pleasure to state ,bat
SO far as ! am In position to Judge the
reistns between this association and the
u.al, though at one time thought nv some
70 nave been strained As nm official or
ms association and In the private capocity
81 business man have lost no occasion
70 assure railroad people the simple truth
mat In my Judgment their interest as car.
rlers and ours as shippers of grain were
700 nearly identical TO admit OF friction
between us.
Our rela lions with the railroad commits
sion are likewise very satisfactory We
nave never requested hearing before that
nouN mat the situation did not seem ia
warrant The commission appears to have
appreciated that fact and has vet to refuse
our request for n hearing
Our members are evidently believers In
the trulsm of Competition is the life OF
trade The question is to find the diyid.
ing line between competition and foolhardi.
ness. doubt II this association couId
solve the problem, II It tried. But | would
suggest that each dealer school himself
to calm which will admit of asking him
self this question before he decides to ad.
vance the local market What assurance
have that II | boost this market It viii
not get away from me? Or. If | am able
to stay with 1t. what assurance have
that | Will not regret my staying powers
before | am through?
There have been a number of local price
wars during the past season. Each dealer
who 20 INDUCED himself Is hest in position
TO Know whether the scrap paid him or
not. If II did. does he think his returns
commensurate with the risk he ran?
Just now we are confronted with n most
discournging outlook for business during
rhe next season. What effect these gloomy
prospects for the seasons grain crOn are
snip yet remains to he seen To the deal.
crs ! would say that the darkest hour is
always before the dawn. ana we may vet
discover riffs In our clouds. To the Nom.
her who does not see how the association
is to benefit him in a year when we have
produced no grain. would say that If he
has ever had need for the association he
VIII need II no less during the coming year.
We shall have tn go TO the Northwest for
grain. and to many of You this will he
new experience. You will he dealing with
strangers II he is member Of an asso.
clation YOU. as member of the Texas
body Will receive more consideration than
will the man who is not disposed 10 DO his
share in lettering the trade in his state.
II your friend outside the State Is not n
member of an association. then will you
need your association all the more.
In this connection | would suggest that
this association take immediate steps TO
affiliate with the National association. r.
is most worthy body, doing valiant work
for the grain trade of The whole coun
try.
The report of the secretary-trcasurcr VIII
disclose the receipts and disbursements
for the past wear. as well AS the present
state of the treasury. Expenditures hove
been on the most economical basis possible
consistent with good service to the mem
bership.
! do not like TO indulge in reproachcs,
and vet | can not refrain from expressing
proper interest and in addition. to signing
! the petition circulated at our last annual
meeting had personally urged their repre-
sentatives and farmer friends to support OF
the measure we would today have state
/ crop statistics Until the dealers of this
state shall have devised plans foY ascer
tanning with some degree IF accuracy the
acreage and Yields Of different crops Wv, we
shall continue In darkness unworthy of men
/ who lay claims to intelligence.
/ hope the rebuff Of the last Legislature
! will hnve the effect of strengthening Your
| determination 10 secure the Massage OF
/ neA spres permitting official State crop sta.
/ tistics II is inconceivahle why the State
! should hesitate 10 enact such law.
Every merchant and every farmer IN the
K state Is always dirertlv interested In me
( Stnte's resources, and these are too great
| for information concerning them to he &C
I curntely procured by private enterprise.