The age-herald., 1902-04-02
Local Representatives Leave |, Join in the Con-
 ference
MEETING ON THURSDAY
Reported That Definite Steps Have Been Taken and Deal Will Be consummated In the Near
 Future.

The hardware jobbers of Birmingham
 have been singularly reticent about the
 hardware combine that is soon to go into
 effect. Representatives of the four large wholesale conceEns-the Moore and Hand
 ley Hardware Company, the Mayberry
 Hardware Company, the May and Thom-
 as Hardware Company and the Milner
 and Kettig Company-have said from
 time to time that they knew nothing
 about the conferences that were being
 held in New York except what they read
 in the papers. These conferences have
 taken place behind closed doors at the
 Waldorf Astoria.
 There was an important meeting last
 week but it adjourned until Thursday of
 this week without making public the
 status of the combine project. It is un-
 derstood by the hardware men here,
 however, that the plans of consolidation
 which have been under discussion for
 months past were practically agreed
 upon at last weeks conference and that
 the whole matter will be definitely dis
 posed of at the conference tomorrow
 Birmingham has not been personally rep
 resented in any of the former conferences
 but each of the four houses named will
 have a representative In attendance at
 the meeting this week.
 Leave for New York.
 Mir. J. D. Moore left for New York last Monday, MT. c. E. Thomas and MT. w. Ii.
 Kettig left yesterday and MT. w. A.
 Chenoweth, vice-president of the May
 berry Hardware Co.,, will leave this morn
 ing.
 A special dispatch from New York to
 The Age Herald last night says:
 Frank J. Oliver of Oliver Bros Hard
 ware buyer, Graham building, Duane ana
 Church streets, this city, is authority for the statement that the hardware combina-
 ton has already taken definite shape and
 will soon be ready for consum nation. He
 said it was true that some options had expired today but said that did not by any means indicate the death of the
 scheme since all these options had been | or could be renewed. Nothing further 1 could be learned from MT. Oliver or any
 of the other hardware buyers and jobbers l in this city.
 conferrng Two Weeks. "One jobber here who refused to be
 quoted said, prospective members of the | combination have been in this city for
 nearly two weeks now and have been l holding meetings every day or nearly | every day They keep their whereabouts,
 meetings and proceedings strictly to l ell of
 who are perfecting the proposed combi-
 nation no one else knows anything about | their movement. Their lawyers are equal
 ly closed mouthed and take great care that no inkling of their plans escapes | to the outer world. As soon as organiza- ton has been effected an official an- | nouncement will be made. Your corre- spondents information was very positive
 about the deal going through. The same | authority said the manufacturing hard ware interests have for months been | quietly organizing and identical combina- l ton and that in pursuance of that policy I establishments are being consolidated pre-
 paratory to the final proceedings. The | hardware trade here is eager for details | as to the jobbers' move as the informa- | ton of the combination will bring about I many changes and the abolition of many | positions"
 | The representative of a large Western
 hardware concern, in speaking of the combine last night, said that the Southern | jobbers did not seem to be enthusiastic
 over the scheme.
 Going In BIIndly.
 My house is going into the combine"
 he said land suppose that all, or near | ly all, the firms that have been asked | will do likewise, whether they believe in
 the wisdom of the project or not. under stand that the Birmingham houses are to be paid good prices for their business. | There are several large jobbers here and | Birmingham occupies a strong position as a Southern hardware center. But in dealing with Birmingham concerns the combine promoters took into consideration | the prospective value of this city's hard ware business. Birmingham is destined | to be a great city, and much of the hard | ware stock handled here will be manufac- | tured at home. Taking this view of the matter the new corporation could not l well afford to leave Birmingham out. As rule, cities of this size will not cut
 much figure in the scheme. The promot- CTS are perfectly indifferent as to wheth- CT the jobbers of certain Southern cities
 come to their terms are not The com
 bine movement originated with Pittsburg houses.">
 The question isjfrequently asked, who will be the local manager of the combine It is believed in some quarters that the position will be offered, to Mr. J. D. Moore. but other names are mentioned in this connection. When the combine goes into effect all the local houses that sign the agreement will be closed, except one.