The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-04-23
THE WHOLESALE GROCERS.
PRESIDENT VAN HO0SE or THE SOUTH.
ERIN ASSOCIATION HERE.
He Addressed Our Jobbers Last Night
at h Rooms OF the Merchants Assoc
ciation-He was Impressed with Will
mfngton's Business Men and Will
mfngton as a Wholesale Point.

Mr.. ]. A. VanHoose. or Birmingham
Ala, president Of the Southern whole
sale Grocers Association. arrived in the
city yesterday and was met at the de-
pot by Mr.. J. c. Stevenson. president
Of h Wilmington Wholesale Grocers
Association, Mr.. j. s. Hooper. the secre-
tary n Mr.. p. Pearsal. of the jobb-
ing house of McNair & PearsaI. who es-
corted him to the Orion House.
At s o'clock last night President Van
Hose held a conference with the gro
Gerry jobbers of Wilmington at the
rooms of the Merchants Association in
h aboa Air Line building. 1t was
a full and representative meeting of
our wholesale merchants. and after Mr..
Stevenson called the meeting to order
he introduced Mr.. VanHoose.
Mr.. VanHoose addressed the mer-
chants, saying that he was on a tour
Of the southern states in the interest OF
the wholesale grocers' association and
jobbers in general. The association he
represents embraces a membership COW
ering twelve southern states, be-
ginning with Virginia and including
and Indian Territory. The as
ISOLATION, he said. embraced Will
mington houses and he could say that
the wholesale grocery business here was
very important in volume and very
valued, being in the hands of represen-
tative men. He then discussed general
matters concerning the wholesale gro
Gerry interests. the matter of commits
sionS, freight rates. the abuses the jobb-
ers have to contend with. etc. He said
he had invited the travelling statesmen
to be present from the fact that it was
an excellent idea to have more cooper
alton and a better friendly understand
ing betwee the houses and those who
represent the houses. de spoke of the
Importance of cooperation and organ
ization as the best mean of promoting
any important business. The idea of
cooperation n organization has
spread all over this country, and he
dwelt Upon the Importance Of cooper
alton between grocery iobberS so they
can act in accord and be in sympathy
with each other. He pointed to the as
sociations of the lawyers. the phys
icians, the editors, as tending to devel-
opment in a great degree. He urged
the statesmen to organize an associa-
ton of their own so thew can get better
acquainted and secure better fell
loWShip.
He aid he was impressed with the
fact that Wilmington is a most m
portant field for the iobbing business,
and he was specially stuck with our
water and railroad facilities. He re-
marked that he was glad to see that the
Wilmington merchants were IN better
condition than in some cities that he
had visited. He was particularly
stuck with the character of our bust
ness men, and was pleased with the
cordially and interest with which he
had been received on this visit. He pre-
dicted the same energy and industry
that had directed them in the past, If
kept no, would result in making Will
mington a large jobbing point. He said
he had found h advice and counsel
of Wilmington wholesale men always
valuable and he complimented them
upon their character. intelligence and
industry.
Speaking further Of our business
men. Mr.. VanHoose stated last night
that we have some verv strong bust
ness men in Wilmington. He found
them equal in capacity. intelligence
and brains to those of anywhere he had
been. He said he desired to extend his
thanks for the cordial reception ana
courtesies he had received from them
and also to the ewSpaDe men for
their courteSies to him.
Mr.. VanHoose will leave this evening
for Norfolk. He is one of BirmlnS-
hams most prominent citizens and rep
resentatiye men. He was formerly
mayo of the city and has been in busl-
ness there for twenty years. He is at
Dresent a member of the wholesale
grocery house Of McLester & van
Hoose. of that city.