Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-08

roads, refund.
I'm working out the refund plan the
simplest possible method should be used.
The folder should clearly state the plan
and method of the refund and give the
pane. business and address of every mer-
chant taking part in the movement. In
deed. we think 1t would simplify the work
and make shopping by visitors very much
more attra ctive if The MERCHANTS made the
refund direct at the time of purchase
thus saving the cost of an Office and
clerical force.
IL Matter of Advertising.
THE advertising should be made as gen.
eral and attractive our funds will per-
NIT. We believe large posters displayed
throughout the town from which business
! can be- had will prove successful and bring
good results.
Smaller posters should he furnished the
railroads and displayed in the railroad
stations. A folder outlining in brief our
object. giving names and business OF
Washington merchants. should Re sent to
the railroad stations for distribution. and
might be distributed from house to houss
as well as mailed to the section from
which we expect Results.
I'm connection with the committee on
railroads. we think II would be wei, to
time limi: of weekend excursions 10
Washington. and try and bring about an
extension Of time so as to Include Satur-
days. making the time two days instead Of
one as Is now the case. Sunday at pres
ent only being comprehended. We believe
that If his could be accomplished we
could bring about an all-year-round.
weekend trade-bringing with good re-
sul.s.
The committee on ways and means has
great work before It. We have every
confidence In Its chairman and members.
and feel sure that they will meet with
success.
Discussion of Report.
Discussion Of the report was then In
order. Charles Lancaster remarked that
no plan or movement is more interesting
to the Chamber of Commerce than that
Of the increase of retail business. as well
as the welfare of the. wholesale and manu-
featuring pursuits. The one chief OBJ
ject Of the Chamber of Commerce. ac-
cording to Mr.. Lancaster, Is to promote
business. and not to devote any time to
the esthetic features of the city. He
urged that outside capital be offered In
ducements to build on what he termed
the neglected and waste portions of our
| city" and argued for the cooperation OF
every man in Washington. The speaker
asked for statistics showing the exact
status of retail trade here. and suggested
that a committee be appointed for that
purpose.
Arthur c. Moses spoke on the subject
of keeping In Washington the retail bust
ness that legitimately belonged here. and
illustrated his remarks by citing instances
of local residents going to New York and
Philadelphia to buy. simply because they
think better goods can be obtained in
other cities than in Washington. He
to be informed by every method of pub
licity that the standard of Washington's
retail shops Is as high as in any city OF
the world. He added that factories can
be established here and operated at a
profit to the hackers as we'll as to Wash
ington. and gave data regarding a certain
section of North Carolina where furni-
ture factories were recently established
giving employment to thousands of col
ored persons and shipping to all parts OF
the world furniture which heretofore had
been manufactured only In Michigan. He
drew. from that the conclusion that the
colored population Of this city would ben
eft by the building and operation Of fac
tories here.
Interest in the Work.
f. c. Graham said that the interest in
the retail committee Is constantly in
creasing. "One year ago we would not
have had six men to attend meeting"
he declared. but tonight we have q most
| representative gathering. and one year
from tonight we will be able to I'll this
| room. The committee is doing splendid
work. The greatest trouble we Washing
ton merchants have TO contend with Is
not from the people of Washington, but
from the unnecessary howl OF men who
merely think there is something the mat
ter with Washington People can buy as
well in Washington as in any city of the
world. Let US advertise what We have
and depend on the real population OF the
city and not entirely on those who spend
only a part Of the year here Let US for
get about Philadelphia and New York and
other way stations"
Isaac Cans suggested that 1t would be
a good plan for the members Of the cham
Der to give assurance not to buy In other
cities.
E. J. James said the finest retail shops
in the world are to be found right In
Washington. and asserted that local stores
sell goods cheaper than In other cities.
while the standard Of quality Ia just as
high. He claimed that the literature OF
the city should show visitors the great
shopping facilities. a. well as the at
trsctive sights.
]. l.. Ergood enlivened the meeting.
He engaged in a discussion with Worth
ington Bowie of the Pennsylvania rail
road in regard to freight rates. Mr..
Ergood claimed that WashinRton receives
the worst Of the deal as compared with
menda ton by NJ. D. Brown that traffic
manager for the Chamber of Commerce
be appointed to look into every question
of railroad discrimination II such be sus-
pected.
Standard Of Local Stores.
r. n Harper directed the trend Of the
proceedings back to the discussion OF re-
tail trade. He said he had thoroughly In
vestigated the retail trade of Philadelphis
and could state that the standard OF
Washington stores IL equally high and
that he found absolutely no incentive to
buv there instead of in Washington.
Morisz Mayer also exploited the quality
and high standard ~ local stores. saying
that inasmuch as Washington merchants
buy their wares from the same whole
salers as the merchants 81 other places
they consequently have the same goods.
He added that n merchants In this city
have any Ills they can be remedied by
opening avenues for outside manufacture
ers and that the increasing population
could ind employment ~ the new fac
tories. which would also bring into the
city the medium class and workers which
Washington lacks. Mr. Mayer thinks that
New Workers. spend more money In wash:
inEton than wAshinEfoniane spend IN
New York or other cities.