Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-26

made big hit here. The small-boy ele-
ment was not in evidence, for which every
body was thankful but the merchants and
substantial business men came down to
the Southern station to extend the slao
hand to all of us from Greater Washing
ton and to commend The Stars special
train idea and encourage lie belief that
the national capital can be made a COM
mercial center. After the usual prelim-
inaries were over the travelling men got
out their note books and found plenty of
chance to use them.
The special leaves here by noon, and by
that time, despite unfavorable conditions,
1t looks as If one Of the biggest morning
businesses of the entire trip would be
booked. And considering that the circus
is in town-it is a real. sure-enough. three
ringed afrair-that seems pretty good.
CHARLOTTE, N. c., September 26.-It
looks very much If, after passing
through the commercially self-centered
and entirely wide-awake and canny city
of Lynchburg We of the Greater Washing
ton Special had come into our own again.
Certainly this get acquainted journey
of The Stars exposition train is swinging
along in splendid shape-better even than
before the Virginia state line was crossed.
timentally at least should have been our
very best stamping ground.
Back in Lynchburg l was told over and
over again by merchants that south of
that city we would be beyond the outposts
of the commercial strength of the national
capital. These gentlemen did not by any
means throw cold water on the Greater
Washington Idea. If anything, 1t was the
other way about.
But they talked in a straightforward
business way of business possibilities, and
they couldn't see-being tri1e blinded
mayhap, by their interest in their own city
how Greater Washington tobbng houses
could compete to any extent III territory
south of Lynchburg and covered thorough
ly by the wholesale houses of that city
But, however that may be- most of the
travelling men with the train-as l men
toned In previous dispatch - actually
sold goods right there In Lynchburg in COM
petition with Lynchburg itself and with
Baltimore.
But it was in Winston-Salem that the
real genuine, southern glad hand was ex-
pended to us from all sides. Everybody
wished well and lots of 1t, patted
backs and boosted the Greater Washington
idea. Twas a handshake from every one
of them to every one Of us, with kind
words about the national capital. The Star
and the exposition train. The merchants,
almost to man. promised to come to
Washington as soon as a special excursion,
which is tc be considered by the JObbers
and Shippers Association had been ar
ranged, and then, the preliminaries having
been rushed through, some real missionary
work was done and lots of orders taken.
Like to Buy Here.
In Wins Salem all the merchants
with whom 1 talked, and we were there
long enough for me to get around good
deal-told me they would prefer to buy in
Washington, in so far as they buy from
jobbers, provided we could offer the same
goods with a little saving in freight and
n little quicker time shipments. Those
are the advantages the southern merchants
| of this section are looking for, and If
| Greater Washington can guarantee them
| their trade is ours from today.
I learned too, that travelling statesmen
from Washington are as scarce in this
| vicinity as hens teeth on the 14th of Au-
gust. OF course, We haven't got the bust
ness of this section. And it's plain as a
| broken nose that we won't ever have it
| if we wait for il to steal up behind us on
4 dark night and belt us over the head.
| IT'S the same In this section as elsewhere.
| The man who goes after the business ana
! delivers the goods Is Mr.. Johnny on the
spot thereafter. so long as he keeps up tho
| good work But the merchants of this
| section are not staying awake nights figur-
| ing out how they can buy goods in a
| place that has never asked for their trade
| has taken no steps to secure facilities for
| business, and has seemed to hold aloof
! from the communicating touch of CONNER
| cialisIn.
| That's where this trip is a big thing as
| n missionary effort. The southern trade is
waking up now to the fact that Washing
ton is on the map for something besides
| civic beauty. BY the time the tour of the
| special is over there will be-Or l miss my
| guess by mile and a half-no false i'm
pressions lying around this section to hurt
| our chances in the rosy-tinted future.
| The irrepressible Cross, Golden & Co.'S
| man, walked into a wholesale house in
! Winston, and in five minutes came out
| again with an order for a car load-30, 600
| pcunds-of lard. Golden & Co. have never
| attempted, heretofore, to do business In
this territory. while Swift. Armour and all
| the big Chicago houses have agencies In