Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-05
FURNITURE MEN MEET
WASHINGTON RETAIL DEALERS
PERFECT AN ORGANIZATION.
War to Be Declared Against Whole
salers Bidding for Local Contracts
Officers Elected.

Following up the crusade innugurated re-
Gently by the Retail Grocers Association of
Washington against wholesale dealers or
that trade who persist in selling direct 10
the consumers, the local retail furniture
dealers have perfected an organization
among themselves for a similar purpose
The new association, known as THE Wash
ington Retail Furniture Dealers Associa-
ton" was formed several days ago, when
officers were chosen and constitution and
set of bylaws for the government of the
body were adopted. The plan of action. as
laid down by the association, which prac-
tically includes every retail dealer in the
city. embraces many features, which. II
carried out will place the trade upon
higher plane in the business world.
The principal aim of the body at present
is to protect its membership against the
practice of wholesale dealers in bidding
directly for contracts in the local field of
the trade 1t is learned that during recent
years the wholesale dealers have been
competing with the retail dealers in selling
the government hotels and various institu-
lions furniture and carpet in large quanti-
ties at price lower than the retailers can
quote
The retail men declare that the manu-
facturers. as whole, depend to
large measure upon the retail dealers
to dispose of their products. If the
manufacturer sells to the government
hotels, etc, at lower rate than
to his steady retail customers he will In
the end be great loser they say, in ad-
dition to damaging the trade of the retail
dealers. The retailers further claim that
ii the government, hotels and other estab-
liShments which buy in the bulk go over
the heads of the local retailers and pur-
chase direct from the out-of- town manu-
facturerS II Will take money out of WASH
ington. 1t is claimed by the new associ-
alton that a large amount of money Is sent
from this city annually in this way
Manufacturers Warned Away.
In accordance with the plans of the as
ISOLATION circulars are being prepared to
send to the wholesale men in which they
will be urged to keep hands off, of Wash
ington. Any and all manufacturers who
disregard the request of the association
WILL 1t Is said be Disseminated against, as
all local firms connected with the associ-
alton have pledged themselves to discon-
tinue business relations with any manufac-
turer so offending. This agitation cannot
be considered original with the Washing
ton Dealers similar associations are in
existence in New York, Chicago Baltimore
and Boston. and other cities. A national
organization has also been perfected and
is composed of the representatives of the
associations of the various cities. It Is
the idea of local associations to become
allied with the national body, thereby SOL
idifying its position in it's struggling against
the offending wholesalers.
The item of church donations Is becom-
ing an important factor, it is said, in the
furniture trade not only In this city, but
throughout the entire United States. 1t
was stated that church people seem to
have the idea that the retail dealers can
easily afford to donate valuable pieces of
furniture to church fairs. bazaars, etc.
One dealer stated that not day passes
that he is not importuned to donate such
articles and place large advertisements in
church and bazaar programs which prac-
tically do them no good, so far as increas-
ing their trade IS concerned. The local
association together with all the other
like organizations of the country, Is seri-
ously considering. the discontinuance of
this practice, as 1t is explained that to
encourage 1t means the loss of thousands
of dollars.
To Establish a Black List.
The Washington association will soon, it
is said. establish what is commonly known
the black list" and a collection sys-
tenn. Under this system any person who
fails to settle an account with one dealer
will find it impossible to secure credit
elsewhere.