The semi-weekly messenger., 1906-11-13


felt of $25 to Live up to Agreement.
Mr.. w. A. French. Jr.. Elected
President.
A majority of the retail shoe dealers
to an association to further the inter-
ests Of the business and one of the
principal agreements is, that after the
first of January no shoes will be sent
out On approval. The association is
to be known as the ''Shoe Dealers AS
sociation of Wilmington, North Car
olina."
The general public can not appreciate
the trouble that results from sending
shoes out on approval and when they
stop and give the matter consideration
they will readily see why it is that the
retail shoe merchants have entered into
such an agreement. And again, Will
mington has passed the stage Of
a small town and where prac-
tice might seem reasonable in small
town it is impracticable in a large
place. Naturally as a town increases
in size the merchant who sends arti-
cles out On approval runs greater
risk and has more to contend with
The membership of the association is
composed of the following firms:
George R. French & Sons. Chestnut
& Barentine. Peterson & Rulfs, Hew-
lett &, Price, Goodman Bros, Mercer
G Evans Shoe Company, J. w. H.
Fuchs, Solomon's Shoe Store, John H.
Render & Company and George o.
Gaylord
The officers are:
President-W. A. French. Jr.
Vice President-J. G. Barentine.
Secretary and Treasurer-I w. Sol
ONION.
Executive committee: Messrs Geo.
W. Chestnut, George r.. French and
; w G.. Peterson.
Among the duties of the executive
committee is a provision that they are
to serve as an arbitration committee
to settle all differences that may arise
among the members of the association.
The membership is pledged to abide
by the decision of the arbitration COM
mittee.
Monthly meetings are to be held on
the first Tuesday night of each month
and the annual meeting on the first
Friday night in November of each
year. Representatives from seven
! firms, the articles Of agreement pro-
t vides, shall constitute a quorum for
| the transaction of business and spe-
cfal meetings may be held upon the re-
quest of three members.
| Articles and Of the bylaws set
forth the rules which are to govern the
association, and they are as follows:
! Article 2. That the present method
of our sending our goods out on ap-
proval is injurious to our business ad-
vancement and it being self-evident to
us that the same is abused and be-
lieving as we do that this can be ad-
justed in manner satisfactory to our
selves and our customers, and know
ing as we do that the only satisfactory
way for a customer to fit himself or
herself is to try his or her shoes on
in the store, where the different widths
and sizes and styles may be tried and
a fit assured; and being desirous as we
are that our customers be given the
benefit of our study and knowledge OF
the shoe business, we do hereby agree,
that on and after the first day of De-
cember, 1906, we will not send out any
shoes on approval in the city, that is,
deliver to any person or persons for
trial at their home or residence, or for
their inspection or for an anticipated
sale.''
Article g. And that as a guarantee
of our good faith and intentions we do
hereby bind ourselves under a cash
forfeit of twenty-five (s2500) dollars,
said forfeit to be paid to the substan-
tiating informer and that we do fur
thermore bind ourselves under an ad-
ditional amount to be paid to the as
sociation upon our conviction of hav-
ing violated or broken our agreement.
And we do further agree that upon
our signing this agreement that the
same may be held and we do acknowI-
edge the same as lien against us In
the sum of $500.
That the cash forfeit so collected
shall be placed in the Peoples Savings
Bank to the credit Of the arbitration
committee of the Shoe Dealers AsSo-
! citation.
In the adoption OF the foregoing
provisions. the association does not
wish it to be understood that they
have formed a monopoly to work
against the interests Of their custo-
mers. for they are actuated in this
matter only by the desire to obtain the
most satisfactory results from the sale
of shoes. They believe that the dis
torted feet of many people are caused