The Washington times., 1906-11-20
Retail Merchants ConSid-
er Formation of Own
League.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Another Blow in DiSinClina-
ton of Business Men to
Buy Exposition Space.

These are gloomy days for the Jobbers
and shippers Association. The predic-
ton was voiced today that il may soon
be dissolved 1t will, at least. according
10 present indications. have its field OF
work greatly limited.
At a meeting Of the Retail Merchants
Board last night. at the New Willard.
the board disOrgan!zed and Dissolved
itself. The jamestown committee Will
meet this afternoon to decide whether
it shall abandon the proposed Washing
ton exhibit in the general manufactur-
ers' building at the exposition. Present
indications are that the exhibit will fall
through
Retailers May Organize.
For those, however, who are interest
ed in looming Washington commercial
y. the-e is still hope in the talk that
is heard today. IL was suggested that
within the near future, the retail mer-
chants of the city may get together and
have an organization OF their own. q
be known as the Retail Merchants
League"
Those who talked of this matter. fur
ther suggested that the retail merchants
are disposed 10 take the view that they
can boom themselves better than the
Jobbers, and Shippers Association could
possibly do it, 1t was said that. when
the retail merchants get together. they
will do so by subscribing a substantial
sum of money for their undertaking.
They viii start out with the idea that
they must boom the city in broad and
costly way
other branches of business men. il
was said, also Will look into this mat
ter of booming the city and their bust
ness Whether the various moves de
sCribed In the gossip on the street Will
materialiZe in one or TWO new asSocla-
lions independent Of themselves and OF
ali other associations. or whether the
new organizations will act within them
selves and use the Jobbers and Ship
pers' Association as an ally, cannot yet
be determined.
Serious Blow Struck.
Ii assured. however. that the disband-
ing Of the Retail Merchants Board, APP
pointed by President Tiell. OF the Jobbers
and shippers and the contemplated
abandonment Of the jamestown exhibit.
WiH strike a serious blow AT the ef-
fcCtiyrnesS of any movement the JOB
hers and Shippers may make In the
future. This Is true, IL Is argued, he
cause these two things have been talked
OF recently as the BItALtSl ltNelS tlit
association had for boosting the Greater
Washington
\ formation of new association by
retail merchants. or wholesale mer-
chants, OF any other group OF business
men. VIII indicate that those in the new
organization trust 10 themselves rather
than to the Jobbers and Shippers.
Other members Of the Jobbers and
Shippers. however. claim that these late
developments will not affect their aSso-
citation 10 any great extent. and main
tain that il will go on boosting Wash
lngJOn.
Association Not a Year Old.
The .Jobbers and Shippers Association
is not "A year Old When il started great
enthusiasm was shown by business men
and II was predicted that the greater
commercial! Washington was a near
certainty. The first lapse came when
il was found impossible 10 induce bUsI-
ness men here TO buy space for the eN-
position space 10 be used as a Wash
inEton exhibit.
The second telling blow came last
night when the Retail Merchants Board
dlsbanuCd