The Forrest City times., 1902-01-17
Retail Merchants Organized.

General Merchants Association met in Little RockMpnday morning. 18th inst. over seventy five delegates were pres ent, representing every district of the State. Great enthusiasm was displayed throughout the proceedings. The per nlcious legislation introduced in the last session ef the legislature has stirred the commercial interests of the State as 1t has never b,en before. It ms become manifest that unless the merchants of the State come to the relief of the masses, the political dem- aTegue will wreck the ship of state, a Id general bankruptcy will be the result. What is true of the State is also true of the nation. Throughout all of the ramilicatiOns of govern. msnt the distinctive hand of the dem. ag"yue is plainly visible, and politics has been so corrupted and degraded that election to office has ceased to be a badge of honor.
 We r-Joice that the merchants of the St ite have dtereed that their influence snail be exercised for the puriication O. politics, the elevation of morals. a hlPher standard of ability. honor and character in aspirants for office, hold Ing them to strict accountability at the bar of public judgment, and We trust that they may cement their or gauizatitn by an aggressive policy along this line.
 It was plainly observable that the personnel of the merchants conven. ton was far above the average of the general political convention in point of intelligence and wealth. An immense amount of business was transacted within the short period of two days session. and the members did not fail ta set their seal of condemnation upon that pernic,ous bi.l now pending in congress, known as the Parcel Post biil, "iieh provides that the pos cf1l ;e department shall carry as mail all packages not exceeding sixty pounds, thus converting our postal system into an express company. No objection is being raised to the law as it now stands. permitting the carving of packages as mail not exceeding four pounds, but "Eea It is contemplated 10 extend the limit of weight to sixty pounds, It destroys our postal sys' em and makes of the government vehicle Tor the carrying of freight properly be longing to express companies and raj. loads.
 lion. 0. E. Rollwage represented The Forrest City Retail Merchants Association It lhis convention. As is usual, whenever Forrest City is rep fesrhted abroad, she captures at least bg slice of the honOrs. Mir. R-ll- wage was elected chairman of the State Convention, and presided with dignity and imparilality, so much to the satis. iactlon of the convention that he was unanimously elected frstvice president or the permanent State association and a delegate to the national convention which meets at Milwaukee. THE ThEs is proud of the distinction shown Forrest City's representatives, ard in this case We heartily endorse the fol lowing gratulatory letterto MT. Roll. wage from Hon. Thos. c. Trimb!e. ct Lonose
 LonoEe, Ark, Jan. II. 1902
 MT. Otto Rollwage, Forrest City, Ark
 Dear Sir: Mrs. Trimble and myself were in Little Rock last night and >lere Disappointed in not having an opportunity to see you before leaving the city.
 In looking over the Gazette this morning. before leaving for Lonoke we were highly pleased to read the an noucement in that paper of the fact that you had been elected president of "The Arkansas Retail Grocers and General Merchandise Association. '' But while we congratulate yon upon the honor bestoAed upon you by that association. yet we feel that the asso- clation should a,ss be congratulated upon it's wise and fortunate selection in leader in this matter. We do not believe that better selection could have been made, and We predict for the Association a wise, successful and Judiclous management.
 Very truly, your friend, THos. c. TRIMBLE