The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-15
RETAIL MERCHANTS.
Association Rapidly Becoming
a Power in the Old
North State.

State has grown very rapidly. Started
but a few months back it is sweeping
over the State.
Yesterday Mr.. Norman Il. Johnson, OF
Burlington, the attorney general of the
association, was in the city. Ne has
pushed the organization forward most
ably, and he was asked to say something
OF the association.
During the past week. said he, Il
have visited the associations of High
Point, Salisbury and Statesyille. All of
these progressive cities have associations
that are a great credit to the State As
ISOLATION.
ON sll these places 1 was greeted with
large crowds. A significant fact of my
visit to Salisbury was that the labor
union had resolutions adopted recon-
mending that their union endorse the
Merchants Association. The reason given
was that the merchant could by this sys-
tenn of organization protect himself from
the dishonest debtor, thereby the honest
laborer would not have to bear the bur-
den of paying the debts OF the fraudulent
debtor. This was very logical resolu-
ton and was characteristic of this power
full and respected union.
There is much enthusiasm shown
throughout the State in the associations.
These already formed are working with
unqualified success and are not only pro
tccting themselves, but rendering the
public a great benefit
''The platform of this association is q
broad ana liberal one and very naturally
appeals to all business men. In every
town that L have visited / hdve secured
Che nxsiiufed support Of the merchants
esld kh3tak hl>s Recommendation sufi-
rlapt. Ny work has sSeH very pleasant.
l fad the nroIcAants well pleased with
the objects Of tao association, therefore
the attendance has been full and com
plete.
There are now about forty-three as
sociations in the State, and they are
welding great influence in their vicini-
ties. Editors, mayors and business men
have not been slow to recognize the great
good that can be accomplished by these
associations in their communities and
have sent requests for me to perfect for
them organizations. Sometimes | can
visit two towns in a single day but 1t is
rarely that / do this, thus the work Is
being vigorously and steadily pushed and
want you 70 say to those towns who
have sent in their requests that | will
visit them as quickly as possible and
aEpplcatioEs for my service need not be
signed by all the merchants but only a
few repgoeep tative once.
The work has been confined more
largely to the east and ! shall continue
working my way Yves" ward. We have
been fortunate from financial stand
point and all the expense has been borne
by the North Carolina Association with
out asking MD from the National Asso-
citation or other sources.
CAS- soon as / can visit the more i'm
portant towns the board Of directors will
appoint district organizers and the mer-
chants in the State will have an oppor-
tunity to learn of this association and TO
affiliate with it. The works. now being
carried on in some instances by coun-
ties.
Il am just in receipt of an invitation
from the merchants of Forsyth county,
stating that they are going TO have u
big dinner in the park at Winston on
Thursday. August Goth and would like
to have the object of the association OK
planned. I shall be with them on this
date l have made no other appoint
ments for the week as much routine bust
ness must be done in my office for the
association.
''In regard to the boycott of the Amer
lean Tobacco Company by several of the
local associations, l can not predict the
outcome.
THE tobacco proposition is a very Sc
rious one to the merchants of Eastern
Carolina and they have been very strong
in their denunciations of the present
prices of tobacco, but in certain sections
of the west the resolutions were tabled
after brief discussion and in the mid
die section tho resolutions were modified.
at is a difficult matter for the State
Association TO handle this question either
one way or tho other, as they are banded
together for certain common purposes and
beyond these each local association gov
erns itself by it's own constitution and
bylaws, therefore a concert Of action
could hardly be brought about unless a
State Convention was held and this is
not likely to be done, until 1904, unless
the associations themselves Move for u
meeting, earlier, and it is hoped that
prior to this time the farmer viii have
sold his crop for at least q living price"
''The Kinston association and the
Farmers of Lenoir country are going to
hold a large mass-meeting at Kinston on
Saturday and | am now on my way
there to I'LL part on the programme 1t
promises to be a meeting full of force
and determination ana there is ait to be
sounded there the keynote on which the
campaign against monopoly and low
prices will be fought out