The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-05
Annual Meeting Of Richmond As
sociation Held Last Night
and Largely Attended.
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT
MIR. Bowman Contends for the
Dignity Of the Men in
Mercantile Lines.

more members of the twenty-five firms
represented In tho association was pros
cnt. together with a number of invited
| guests s tf2A NS&Gesf
Tho business meeting which took place
at tho opening at $50 O'clock, was in
tercsting from beginning to end. Tho re-
ports of the secretary and treasuror gave
in details the busness conditions of tho
association showing it to DO in splendid
shape financially and otherwise.
Presidents Report.
Tho report of the president, Mr.. Barney
Bowman, was received by the association
with frequent outbursts OF applause In
his report Mr.. Bowman snd, III part:
Tho day is past when men can right
fully disregard the noble side Of CONNER
cial life. Business was once held in SOW
creign contempt. Men in the past pre-
i ferrcd TO attribute the growth of civili-
cation, not to material things. but to the
/ cxhortations OF our sages and saints, to
the lofty sentiments Of poets and authors.
'.As merchants We cannot have too eH-
/ allied a conception of the part we play In
the economy and upllft of the world. l
plead for pride In the dignity and worth
4 OF mercantile pursuits. l plead for our
own conscious recognition Of that dignity
and worth.
Business is more and more absorbing
the brains of the country. Perhaps in no
ticians had such sway as In the United
States. But they are slowly, but surely,
giving way to another class. The bus-
ness men are taking their turn. and are
possessing the earth. And this is for the
good of the earth.
This has been to us, q year Of pros
perity. The large movement of the en-
tire country toward commercial eXpan-
sion and prosperity has not gone on
~. -. ~.
business We merchants Of the city
of Richmond pursue. We enjoy a
share of the good times Increased
sales greater profits make the heart
of the commission merchant feel glad.
We perceive with gratitude the ire
, ncndous growth of Virginia and North
Carolina as producing States. We have
cause to congratulate ourselves on the
, biSncss Of the produce business. "A
, comparison of the quality, as we'll as
, the quantity, Of produce coming from
these commonwealths in years past, to
the kind received now. reveals a truly
marvellous Improvement that cannot
help but cause q feeling Of clation
among us.
Not without adequate preparation,
not without joint action, through the
S agency of the Richmond Fruit and
!, Produce Association, could the pros
= perty that is ours have been possible
IN Inc organization as body is to be
&c congratulated on its success
y Work of Produce Men.
First let us contrast the produce
N business OF the CITY or Richmond 90
IS ,-.,., " ny Ii.s VI i.lcliiiiohu 70
~ ,,l:,,tt.. "as . .'pe scars as y
y !,eSoiieS. Wit. cAaos tncI existed III
y. tic Market the unsettled prices; the
: lack of confidence this caused among
IS the shippers; the jea lousy and un
brotherly feeling that neryaded tho
ranks ~ tho n,nrc,ants -
..Gi,se,a ~, ~ u, s'i. 70
psei w ~ lhe present liine no"
o, our business IS carrieu, on smootnly' nov
IN turns. hoy tho dItcu,+,. nf n,,,. ,,o,.,
~ no l,aa,, oot,,.,I, 1anss "a W. w.
%, last ~ an hn.u nsseus a,iu. ~
IS good fellowship hold sway among us.
r. Take the single item of uniform
ep tha aIVnnt Of Nc .annpi. tian Tho,
rar i,a ~ oainen,i,,r ~ ,ao,, 1.on ~ ;