The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-31

gle, they have acquired an education
and q breadth Of vision which gives
them their standing in the communi-
ties in which they reside. II straight
forward and conscientious in their
dealings, public spirited in their rela-
lions to the town and the state, ex-
emplary in their daily lives, they are
entitled to place in the forefront
of the present progress towards still
higher civilization.
Trade and commerce can boast of
no artistic blue blood of idleness, but
of an ancient and honorable record
for usefulness. There are no shadows
upon their fair fame except those cast
by the misdirection, treachery, greed,
or dishonesty of their representa-
tives. The principles upon which
they were founded are universally
pronounced correct, and there is no
indication of inherent weakness in the
past which marks them as unworthy
of adoption by the intelligence of the
present day. The Intercourse of ma
tions through the medium of COM
merce; the requirement of knowl-
edge; the growth of civilization; the
interchange Of ideas; the develop
ment of natural resources, are as GER
tatnly promoted by traffic today as
they were q thousand years ago.
Greater facilities have produced great
er results; new inventions and dis
coveries have broadened the fields.
and a better civilization has opened
new channels of usefulness.
Trade is the great peace maker.
The business transactions resulting
from the manufacturing of New Eng
land, the producing of cotton in the
Atlantic and gulf states, the mining
of iron ore in Tennessee, the ship
ments of corn, pork, and merchandise
from the northwest, and the raising of
sugar cane in Louisiana have done
more toward adjusting the sectional
differences which have existed be-
tween the north and the south of our
country since the civil war than the
presence of government officials,
edicts from Washington, political
combinations, and, may l add, the in
fiuence Of the church. combined. The
alliances formed by trade become al
most fraternal. State and national
associations of merchants stand for
something more than mere money
making. Common cause and common
interests are binding articles in the
unwritten pledges of friendship and
good will. Trade prospers with gen.
eral prosperity, and hence rejoices
in the thrift and good fortune of all
classes of society. 1t languishes with
depression and adversely in other
branches Of industry, and therefore,
sympathizes in the losses and failures
which are not directly it's own. Its
interests are interviewer with the in
terests of the farm, the factory, the
workshop and the office. 1t belongs
to the great brotherhood of honest in
dustries, in which there is no grad
alton of rank except that created by
the diversity of mental gifts and
training of its individual members.
Trade is a school of benevolence
in which it's pupils should be fitted
for that practice of philanthropy in
which their business prosperity will
enable them to engage. Each golden
harvest of success may be utilized in
giving growth and adding to the vigor
of useful enterprises, to insuring
prosperity and happiness to the other.
wise poor and unhappy of Gods
children.
These claims for the betterment of
mankind and the world at large are
not the exclusive property of the
great merchants or the great manu-
facturers. The men who are in the
eye Of the public on recount of their
colossal fortunes, their munificient
gifts, or their breadth of vision, are
no stronger or better men, nor are
they doing more good in their respec-
tive spheres, than are the thousands
whose environments and advantages
have been less favorable for reaching
larger results. We are all, to an ex-
tent, creatures of circumstance. The
merchant in the small hamlet who has
improved to the fullest extent the ma
terial which his location afforded,
has achieved relatively as great d sue
cess as has his fellow merchant in
the large city, who is made more con-
spicuous, only, because OF his superior
advantages. Success, like wealth, is
a matter of comparison. AS the I'M
thinking world counts --success and
failure, large opportunity means
smaller success or smaller failure.
The true estimate is reached by a
computation which includes all ele-
ments entering into the career whose
results are being computed.
There are bankers in Dakota who
are as successful as the bankers of
London. There are merchants in Da-
kota who are as successful as mer-
chants in New York or Chicago Can
we not reach conclusion of the
whole matter by saying that bust
ness success-wherever that bust
ness is conducted, is achieved when
a merchant has demonstrated a thor
ough and exact knowledge of his par
ticular branch; an ability to expand
L. lir,,Sf Of
sibility, and to secure all the profits
to which that trade is justly entitled
and to make his business a worthy eX-
ample to his fellow citizens, and it's
results a blessing to the community
in which he lives.
The reading of this paper was lis
tened to with marked attention and
was easily one of the most interesting
OF the many excellent discussions pre-
scented at the convention. Mr.. Bart
lett is an excellent story teller and
enlivened his paper by telling several
pat ones which provoked loud and re-
peated bursts of laughter from an in
terested audience.
Mr.. Gregg of Minneapolis responded
to an invitation from President En-
cry and made a short but witty talk,
relating some good stories and clos
ing with compliments galore for North
Dakota, her business prospects and
past success.
I, Following Mr.. Greggs, Secretary
Corey of the National Association of
Hardware Dealers made some inter-
esting remarks upon the growth of
the association and bright future
prospects. t..,s4
The Afternoon seHsion.