The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-08
RETAIL GROCERS
 HEAR FINE TALK Fred Mason Urges Them to Dr. ganize and Stand Together NEED CREDIT SYSTEM
Should Have Garnlshment Law Passed. Newspaper Advertis- ing Pays Well, Said Speak
 CT. Risks Are Great.

grocers of Birmingham and the whole state of Alabama, the establishment Of a good credit system and the enactment ot garnishment laws that will enable groeers to reach bad creditors were some of the things urged by Fred Mason, former sec retary of the National Association of Re tail Grocers at a meeting of the Birming- ham Retail Groeers' association, held III the rooms of the Commercial club last night MT. Mason is making a tour or the south under the auspices of the south ern Retail Groeers' association, and is ac- commanded by John Bratton, secretary of the southern association. The purpose of the tour is to infuse new life into asso- citations that are already formed and to bring about organization in cities where erocers are not organized. Each associa- ton is expected to offiliate with the south ern association and in this way make it power.
 l Mir Mason spoke about 40 minutes, and was given close attention throughout his address.
 Mason's Speech.
 q am enthusiastic over the benefts or thorough organization" said MT Mason in opening, and if my enthusiasm Will only spread over Birmingham l shall feel amply compensated for my visit here so much good is to be accomplished by an l association that believe were 1t posslole to get all the grocers in the United States together under one big tent, they would all rise up and vote for 1t except some one
 xxrba tha question was put.
 Let us see what good can be had by or ganization. There are three things which, if accomplished, reward any assoeiation of grocers I will give you some ldea or what they are In the first place every retail grocer should be and is in business for a profit; secondly. does the retail gro cer get the consuming trade of his com munity? last of all, does he get the money for goods which he sellsT
 '.,rhere is not a business on earth With the amount of money invested, the rlsKs assumed, the long hours required ana oth- CT things I might mention, with as httle remuneration as the retail grocery ousl- ness Why is this? l believe the ehlel raason is a lack of education, which IS resnonsible for the 92 per cent or failures that are recorded each year. -ililh oi ie' under present conditions, retail grocer ooes into business and runs the risk or pe- ing one among 8 per cent or tue suo cessful men in the grocery trace iheie ,s m card ar race horse gambler In the country who would take such chance
 .The little things go to make up husiness education, and the grocer must learn all these and instill them iito ei' minds of his customers. woulo io' think of comparing a bootblack Wltu n merchant; yet the bootback has tausi, It us the lesson that shine IS Worln ~ cents We pay 1t and thlnK no iiioi about it. -,..,s +ha, bos as little protection as the -retaii grocery trade A horseshoer IS pet.er plo- tected He has taught you that zu ceh,e is the legitimate price for setting par of shoes, and that a new pair IS worth 4o cents. Another blacksmith may come along and offer to do the work TOT htil tbe amount but you don't care about inc nrice of shoes when you want your horse shod and you give your trade to the man who had learned his lesson we'll
 Basis of Equality.
 ''Ihere Is not man hIlohS yo' e'o who would think of sending Tor cu.- rate doctor If member or your iaiiiis needed medical attention. There must pa .ome basis of equality before there IS 1epitimate competition in anything.
 "Iawvers are the princes Of educalorh and thev never address each other as com petitors; it is colleague. If one ni two onnosine lawyers in a case should ask inc other to loan him law book out of which 10 get a certain statute hltl which he expected to fight him Tn court the first lawyer would grant the request only too gladly. They are fair ana equls- able in their dealings with each other.
 ."rhey say competition Is the lie or trade' but I believe cut-throat compe- tition ia the death of trade. Competition in service and quality is all right, ana I know of no better example Of this than the railroads. If you wanted to go i to Atlanta and went to to certain foad and asked the fare. you certainly wouli not 20 to another and try to get a cheaper rate. You have been taught thhl you could not get it. If the Blrm'ng- ham grocers wanted to go to some place to attend a convention, one of you might go to an agent and explain the elrcuih- stances with a view of getting a reduction. The agent would gladly receive you, out when you mentioned a reduction o' rates he would probably say: Well, MT. Blank, we have the finest roadbed in the south, the finest cars the best schedule and the shortest routes. but cannot give l you a reduced rate. The passenger as- sociation regulates that.
 "It is service and quality. Why dDn l you have the cleanest store? Get the most affable clerks. give honest weights