The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-15
Next Convention to be Held
 in Birmingham.
Retailers of Alabama Had Barbecue
 At Bloemfontaine Park and : Heard speeches--session . d., Was Very Success

Delegates to the Retail Grocers and, General Merchants Association of AlaDa, ma yesterday had 2 barbecue, heard mingham as its next place of meeting and adjourned after most successfui convention.
 Thomas Howe. President of the Mont gomery Association, was elected Presi-t dent of the State body by unanimous vote. Mir. Howe is one of the oldest and best known grocers in Montgomery and in the City Council of Montgomery and is popular in the community.
 On account of the low temnerature Of yesterday the plans of the b snfrr were nav was to have been spent at Bloemfontaine Park and. shortly after 9 clock a mum. Der of the delegates took cars Tor that able crowd of delegates and visitors and the entire morning session was spent at the Three Mile Branch pleasure resort. blowing and the delegaaes found sitting lin the open pavilion was beyond human tendurance. Finally 1t was decided that the delegates should go on the stage or land there seek shelter from the wind. fThis was done and was considerable improvement but no delegate present un-
 Served Delicious Cue.
 At o'clock an excellent barbecue was eerved and the coolness of the atmosphere Twas for the time forgotten. The cue was served under the direction of the local association and epicurean authorities de- clare it to have been delicious. Barbecued pork and beef in profusion. fried perch. pickles, boiled potatoes, cucumbers, to- matoes,, camp stew, potato salad. conee beer and cigars was the menu and every delegate enjoyed himself thoroughly.
 After dinner 1t was decided to brave the cold no longer but to board the cars and return to the City Council chamber. there gfo complete the session.
 The morning session was called to order about 10 o'clock by Temporary President Thomas Howe.
 The first address of the morning was by C. A. Green of Opelika, who spoke brief ay ori the condition of the Opelika Asso- citation and the progress 1t had made since its organization.
 Newspaper Man Speaks
 MT. Green was followed by John Brat- ton editor of The Southern Merchant, published in Atlanta, Ga, the omciai organ of the Georgia and Virginia As sociations. and a number of local as-
 Mir Bratton said that he was called to speak on the Trade Press, but asked the words from him on the general work of the organization. After speaking for sev- eral minutes on these lines, MT. Brat ton urged the delegates to cultivate their home papers, to invite reporters to the meetings, thereby letting the public know what the Associations are doing.
 "The public" said MT. Bratton, some times has an idea that you are organized simply to raise prices and the report of a reputable newspaper Is worth more to- ward correcting. this opinion than any protestationssxeu can utter"
 At the close of MT. Bratton's remarks it was moved and adopted that The Southern Merchant be made the official organ of the Alabama Association.
 A. D.. Kirby, Secretary of the Hunts. vile Association. spoke for few min. x1tes on the condition in North Alabama and related the success of the Hunts vile Association over a prominent manu facturer and wholesaler who would. mol meet the Association half way.
 As to Beneficial Laws.
 Escar Floyd of the Birmingham bar