The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1907-03-21
FORM MERCHANTS
ASSOCIATION
HELD AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING
Members Of State Association Visit
Hood River and Aid Local Busi.
nessmen to Organize.

nessmen TO organize.
The meetinng held Wednesday even
ing by the Retail Grocers' and Mer-
chants association, members of which
were here from. Portland and several
other towns in the state, was most
successful one aud local organiza
tion formed that Is expected to result
in much good to businessmen. 1t was
stated by Q. b. Merrick, secretary of
the state association, taat the mem.
bership of the organization was not
limited to grocers, but was open to
merchants in all lines OF business and
professional men also. The gathering
was marked by good feeling and en-
apparent desire on the part of Hood
River merchants to get together and
discuss the most intelligent methods
tor carrying on their business In
way that will be best for all interest
ed.
When the time arrived to call the
meeting to order the visitors we're all
present and the city was represented
by .15 or 20 businessmen. Had 1t not
been for the fact that the local min
strel company was giving perform
ance In the opera house, the attend
ance would have undoubtedly been
larger. The meeting was oIganinzed
by selecting ID. Mcdonald chairman
and Ii. Q. Smith secretary. Mayor
Blowers was called upon to welcome
the members Of th visiting organiza-
tion and made "a short speech, telling
them that the merchants and citizens
OF Hood River felt honored by having
them as guests of the city and briefly
calling attention to the rapid develop
ment OF the town and valley during
the past few years and concluded by
remarking that he was not speech
maker.
President Carney responded on be-
half Of the state association and OPEN
ed his remarks by saying that unlike
the mayor he was quite speechmak-
er. Mr.. Merrick, he said, usually
wrote his speeches but had neglected
to prepare one for him on this occa-
sion. He was sorry, but ON this ac.
count his talk must be limited. He
would like to have 1t understood that
unlike most candidates for office he
wanted the position he held In the
organization and had done everything
that was reasonable to get 1t. He be-
lieved in the organization and knew
1t had done and could do an immense
amount of good for the retail mer-
chants of the state of Oregon. For
long time he had wanted to visit
Hood River. He had heard SO much
about 1t aud its apples that he made
| up his mind to come to Hood River
on this occasion X he had to lose his
job. His ride among the orchards In
the valley had been revelation and
pleasure and he was convinced that
Hood River apples like the Royal
Chinook salmon of Astoria were with
out peer. With such great coun-
try behind it he knew that the mer-
chants here, with a good oIganiza-
tion, would be prosperous and happy,
and he thanked Hood River mer-
chants In behalf OF the state organiza-
tion for tn courteous treatment ac-
corded them by all. 1.
]. 9. Mann was the next speaker
and showed his faith in organization
by bubbling optimism that overflow.
ed and communicated itself to every
body present. He said he had come
up the night before the meeting SO as
to be sure and be on the spot. He
had not been content with driving
over one side of the valley but had
seen both sides of 1t and what he lsaw
convinced him that the Hood River
merchants were away behind the fruit
growers in progressiveness The thing
which had done more to make Hood
River than anything else was an or
ganization that guanrteed the quality
and pack of its apples. When q mer-
chant in Portland or any other place
received box Of Hood River apples
they knew that the fruit would be the
same on the bottom as 1t was on the
top and in the middle also and for
that reason they could get more for II
and weie willing to pay more for it.
He urgeu the merchants to get togeth-
or and stand ,at. Mr.. Mann conc lud-
cd by remaiking that Mr.. keliher,
one Of Portand's city councilmen was
silver tongued orator and Mr.. keli-
her was forced to respond.
Mr.: Keliher, Is rotund, smiling and
pleasing talker. He told the meet
ing what the Portland organization
had done and said that while at one
time hard fight had to be made to
keep IL ahoat, 1t now numbered lac
members and repre- sented two-thirdi
! of the capital In the retail grocery
. business in Portland
The retail men there had found II
to their mutual interests to have ar
:. organization to represent them ant
for the purpose of discussing trad'
: conditcns. By combining they wer'
able to bring matters that needed ad
Justing to the attention Of jobber
that otherwise would have received
but slight recognition. This was alst
. so with any other matter affecting
! the interests OF the retailer and pu
! them in q position to demand rathe
' than request the correction of any un
: lust or unfair trade relations. One O
the features which had made the Port
!, land association most successful was
collection agency that had been NOR
!, effective in securing the payment o
= long standing accounts than anythinI
= that bad been tried. BY keeping
recgrd of .heir customers they wer
. enabled to notify members whether a
y account was good OF bad and in tha
. way avoid the contraction OF ba,
L debts. MIR. Keliher concluded with o.
= earnest plea for organization AM
70 called upon Mr.. Meirick to tell some
:, thing of the workings of the state oI
y ganization.
- Mr.. Merrick, after addressing th
= chair said that Mr.. Carney was sligtl
y facetious when he said that be wrot
- = his speeches. That the truth was tbs
10 he was stenogIapher for the latte
gentleman and that that wac the o.
,r pacity in which he wrote them. ID
ri stated that Hood River was the bAi
Is known town in Oregon In the Easi
. better known than Portland, and tbs
~ OF tho racant maatinu of tha Altman