The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-13
Five Solid Projects For
Its Advancement.
BUSINESS men MEET
Addresses by Messrs Norman H. John
son, w. ]. PeeIe and James H. Pou.
Present Practical Plans Which
if Followed Up Will Give A
Splendid New Life to
the Capital.

That Raleigh. with it's people stand
ing together. has within it's hands the
opportunity to advance and grow was
clearly shown at a meeting OF its
business men last night.
The occasion was not one of simply
fine speaking" but there was the ring
of a business purpose in the words and
voices of the speakers and in the
hearty endorsement of the business
men present.
Five particular projects for the in
eerests of Raleigh We're presented in
the course of the addresses. and the
appointment of a City Steering Com
mittee' was authorized. this to con-
tinue the good work put in motion
last night and to consider all aues-
lions pertaining to the welfare and
upbuilding of Raleigh.
The five direct propositions made
last night, the first in the address OF
Mr.. Norman H Johnson. empha-
Sled by Mr.. w. j. Peele. the others
III the address of Mr.. James Fl. Pou
are:
1. To secure the "shoo-fy' train
over the S. a. l.. reaching Raleigh
from Weldon each morning. return
ing in the afternoon.
2. To build with city funds an au-
ditorium to besused for great meet
ings. this to have conveniences for ex
cursion parties to the city.
3. To demand a better street car
system or give the city lighting and
car service franchise to other par
ties.
A. To drain and make healthy the
Walnut creek section.
5. To arrange for the building of a
belt line for all the railroads. this
IN 40 co. or IF R11pitrh a which
factory sites dan be secured with all
modern advantages.
These were the kernels of the
meeting. but the whole event. in the
attendance. in the interest and in the
matter of uplift were such as to bid
men who desired Raleigh's prosperity
to take courage and go forward.
The appointment of the proper COM
mittee to consider the matters dis
cussed was left with the president of
the Chamber of Commerce and the
president of the Retail Merchants
Association, Mr.. James H. POu being
elected as a member of the commit
tee, which with him will consist of
eleven members.
The Meeting Begins.
There was quite large
attendance in the mayors Of
flee when President d. It. Johnson.
of the Merchants Association, called
the meeting to order this consisting
of members of the Merchants Asso-
citation and the Chamber of Commerce.
besides other business men.
The first matter discussed was pre-
sented by Mr.. N. B. Broughton. who
said that the matter of exchange
charges to customers by the banks on
outside checks was burdensome. and
that in order to learn if this was
necessary the secretaries of the two
bodies assembled be directed to cor
respond with other towns and investi-
gate to learn if such was the general
rule, the report to be submitted at
future meeting. The motion was
adopted.
President Johnson then stated that
the purpose of the meeting was to
consider matters of interest to Raleigh
and it's business. so that the people
might get together and work In union
for the best things for the city. He
introduced as the first speaker Mr..
Norman H. Johnson. the Attorney
q ,neral of the Merchants Association
o. North Carolina.
A Vigorous Address.
Mr.. Johnson is a fluent and forcl-
bic speaker. Expressing his pleasure
at addressing the meeting he followed
up a pat humorous illustration by
saying that his remarks came as
case of spontaneous combustion" but
lars and cents, and that this appealed
TO all.
Tracing out the development and
growth Of the Merchants Association
he showed that beginning in 1898 at
the Worlds Fair with seven States
represented it now embraced every
State but seven. He referred to many
measures it advocated. among these
the Pure Food act for the earnest
aid to make this law giving much
praise to Hon. e. w. Pou. Its pas
sage he held would get after criminal
manufacturers.
He opposed the parcels POST bill
as working hardship upon the class
of merchants in North Carolina hold
ing this would be only of benefit to
great Department Stores. catalogue
houses" which backed it. Such he
contended would hurt retail mer-
chants and hence hurt the city. It's
defeat to date he said was due the
Retail Merchants Association.
He urged home aid to home enter
prises, the retailer to deal with his
home wholesaler to build up the city.
and both to stand against the semi
iobber. Next he went after the trad
ing stamp people. calling it the Trad
ing Stamp Graft and held it to be u
useless expense to the merchants.
with the trading stamp people getting
the great benefit. He was heartily y
plauded as he spoke against these. ana
applauded again as he urged mer-
chants as the better thing to spend
their money in local newspaper adj
vertising, thus aid--- in giving a city
the best papers, doing it more good
than all organizations.
He urged honesty in business. enoke
for the repeal of the homestead law.
the enacting of garnishrnent and coll
lection laws to get rid of dead beats.
tho investioa tion and obtaining of lust
freight rates to put Raleigh and
North Carolina on an EQUALITY with
Virginia cities. as iobbing centre.
He declared the Interstate Commerce
Commission had no power and should