The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-12-11
DUCATING the retail merchants in
business principles is one of the

business principles is one of the
tasks which has been undertaken
by the Utah Association of Credit Men.
Organized primarily TO protect whole
Salers from loss IN credits. the assoc
oiation has brOadened its scope until
now. i'm addition to its original pur-
pose. II Is conducting an institution
which j. teaching improved business
me thods in d practical way. working
for the extension OF trade. cuitivating
close relations and confidence between
the wholesalers and retailers. and seek
ing TO maintain "A high standard OF
honesty. The main idea of the assoc
citation is TO help the retailers OF the
intcTmountain region do all the bust
ness they can. do it at a profit and
pay their debts. The honest merchant
IS aided in every possible way. The
dishonest man is punished. as far as
the association can briug it about
IN this way the association is max
ing is influence widely felt i'm the
business affairs Of the state /; is an
organization with headquarters I'm this
city, 1t is composed Of Representatives
of the large wholesale firms of Salt
Lake. Ogden and Provo. It's influence
Is rapidly reaching out not only
throughout all Utah. but far into
the neighhoring states as we'll Work
ing TO project the wholesalers against
fraud, and at the same time to save
the retailer from being pusne.; ." the
wall when there is no Justification for
IT. the association has a wide field
which il is cultivating to good advan-
tage. During the year just drawing 10
close something like 900 has been
collected from retail merchants in
trouble of various kinds. and i'm ad-
dition to this much other work has
been done i'm the way of putting bust
ness in the state on better basis and
bringing wholesalers and retailers in
10 more harmonious relations.
How Association Was Organized.
-Four years ago. when credit was so
easily obtained and the wholesale
houses were called upon to stand many
losses through the failures of patrons,
the credit men of the different whole
sale houses decided to act together and
take some action which would tend to
lessen the losses. kmong those TAX
ing part in the forming OF this asso-
citation We're George +. Odell, ]. G..
Mcdonald, Samuel Weitz. p. L. Doran,
George F. Ford. Emanuel Kahn. j. A.
Graham. Edward Merrill, NJ B.
Proutt and F. 1. Gunnell
y meeting at the Knutsford hotel.
n which all the wholesale houses were
asked to have representatives, was ad-
dressed by ". II. Preston of New York
on the workings on the eastern asso-
citation. At this meeting II was de-
cided to incorporate and organize an
association which would have for its
object the lettering OF business cOndi-
tons especially in the relations OF the
wholesale house 10 the retail house.
Articles of agreement were drawn up
and the company was incorporated un-
der the state laws. The constitution
provides that a board OF directors con-
siSting of nine members be chosen each
year by vote Of all stockholders. These
directors choose from their number a
president, vice president, secretary and
treasurer All officers and directors
serve without pay. Provision is made
in the constitution for an assistant Sec
rotary and manager and other helT
needed These are hired from disin-
terested sources and draw their pay
from the association fund, each mem
Der paying a monthly contribution OF
a stipulated amount.
Work of the Association.
As stated in the constitution. the
work of the association is TO improve
credit conditions by issuing records
the collection of accounts and the tax
ing charge OF assignments and Other
failures. and even acting as trustee
or referee in bankruptcy matters. FOI
some time the association had a pre-
CariOus existence At that time the
Office force consisted of the assistant
secretary and manager, who looked aft
er all the work and even then had
time TO devote TO other interests. The
idea Of business houses competing ii
trade uniting in such a way as to Civ,
information to a competitor did no
strike many as feasible, and il was Z
long. hard struggle for the associa-
ton to gain the position it holds to-
day.
A recent banquet given by the assO-
citation. at which the spacious dining
room of the Commercial club was wei
filled with the leading business men o.