The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-20
GROCERS ORGANIZED
THOMAS HOWE PRESIDENT OF
 RETAIL ASSOCIATION.
Meeting Last Night Was Addressed by National Organizer Williams. MT, Van Hoose is to
 Speak Tonight.

About fifteen Montgomery retail grocers organized the Retail Grocers Assoclation of Montgomery in the Commercial and Industrial Association rooms last night with Thomas Howe as President.
 Organizer George J. Williams Of the Ma tional Association, with which the new organiza ton will be affiliated, perfected the preliminary work of organization.
 Every grocer present entered into the association with enthusiasm and It was the sense of the meeting that everything possible should be done by the association to remedy the condition of the retail gro cers.
 The meeting was called to order by or ganizer Williams, who yielded the chalr to Eason Cook, who was chosen tempo rary President G. F. Nettles was elected temporary secretary.
 Mir. Williams spoke on the history, ob- jects and work of the National Associa- tion which he represents. He told the gro- cers of Montgomery of the organization of the association in Chicago in 1892 and It's subsequent growth up to the last na- tional convention in Kansas City in Janu- ary He spoke of how the association had remedied the collection conditions in many cities in which 1t had entered, the en- actment of certain garnishment laws to which 1t had given its influence, the Kill ing of the parcel post bill by the associa- ton and lastly the work that the associa- ton had done in preventing the competi- tion of semi jobbers against legitimate re- tail and wholesale grocers.
 When MT. Williams had concluded his remarks, several of the grocers present told of the condition of trade in Mont gomery. One merchant declared that there of had dehta the books of the grocers of Montgomery and that there was no strictly legitimate job Der in the city, all of them entering more or less the retail field.
 Julius Gabriel said that under the con- ditions he thought that something should be done to remedy the existing evils and he thought organization step in the right direction.
 He moved that the temporary organiza- ton be made permanent. The motion was carried unanimously.
 Officers of the association were then selected as follows: Thomas Howe, Presi- dent; Eason Cook, Vice President; G. F. Kettles. Secretary; J. A. Schneider. Treasurer.
 President Howe said that in canvassing Williams, he had met with but one who | opposed the formation of the association and he would not announce the permanent committees until a meeting in the near future when a more complete attendance could be secured.
 MT. Williams announced that tonight in the Commercial and Industrial Associa- ton rooms a joint meeting of the retail and wholesale grocers of Montgomery would be held. This meeting he said, would be of benefit to the members of both branches of the business and he urged a full attendance. The meeting will be addressed by J. A. Van Hoose of Bir- mingham, President of the National As socia tion of Wholesale Grocers, and A. w. Farlinger of Atlanta, Vice President of the Retail Grocers' Association.
 After the joint meeting it is probable that the retail grocers will hold a meeting and adopt a constitution and by laws and organize the standing committees.