The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1909-02-25
SECOND ANNUAL
BANQUET
GIVEN BY BUSINESS MEMS ASSOCIATION
Affair Was Well Attended, Well
Planned, and Thoroughly
Enjoyed.

affair rather eclipsed the one Of
year ago held at the same place.
Covers we're laid for eighty guests,
and when the hour arrived for the
feast not sest-ws vacant.
Frank A. Cram, president OF the as
sociation, was toastmaster of the even
ing, and alter coffee and cigars called
the meeting to order and in a few
we'll chosen words made the address
OF welcome aud introduced the first
speaker Of the evening, Chas. b. Mer.
rick, of Portland, secretary of the
state association
Mr.. Merrick's remarks we're largely
of the work of the association
throughout the state, stating its OBJ
jects, benefits and the good which 1t
had accomplished not only for the
merchants but the communities as
we'll. He said that he was not sur
prised at anything in Hood River.
Hood River had done more to make
Oregon famous than any other com.
munity in the state, and it had been
done largely through organization.
Boosting prices as he object OF the
association was a mistaken idea. The
greatest benefit came by personal &C
quaintsnce and contact with each
other. The business "an upon &C.
quaintsnce with his competitor finds
that he is not such bad fellow after
all. Price cutting and credits are not
the only problems OF Organization.
Getting acquainted Is the greatest ben.
eft. Endesyor to build the business
up by square deal. The local paper
is the best aid to success. Advertise
in it, and tell your customers what
you have to sell. The merchant com.
plains Of the mail order house, but be
should not send away for goods him.
self which he can buy at home. The
association should take up this mat
ter with their own members. Another
proposition is credit. 1t is the bane
of the modern business man. FULLY 70
per cent OF business is done on credit.
Fortunes are lost because collections
cannot be made promptly. Peddlers
who come into the country and pick
up business are an injury. They pay
no taxes, contribute nothing to the
churches or other enterprises Of the
towns, and should not be allowed.
We have this year succeeded in get
ting through some legislation on thii
subject. We have now the best Law
| in the United States. Half OF man
wages can be now taken for family Ok
penses. Salaries of public officials cal
also be garnished. 1t is now misde
meanor to misrepresent goods in ad
vertisements. these are good law
and will be a great beneht to the com
munity. Hood River business mel
are well organized, but they had to d.
1t to keep pace with the farmers.
A solo from Paul Hubbard was th,
next on the program, and was we'll re
ceiyed, MIR. Hubbard responding t.
the encore.
Rev. j. G. Tate was introduced b!
President Cram as Farmer Tate, witt
the warning that the merchants nigh
expect roast from the farmers view
point. Mr.. Tate said he was expected
to roast, and there we're few thing
he would talk pain about. However
when the faI mer had anything to bu
he was anti.monoply, and when b
bad something to sell he was mo
nopolist. Yet the merchant had ther
coming and going. They sold a doze
eggs and took it out in trade, Will
the merchant made profit on th
eggs when sold and also a profit o
the goods. Yet, neither party coul
be Independent of the other. Th
mel chant could not exist without th
farmer, and 1t was very oonvenien
for the farmer to have place to bu
supplies at home, and alo to gt
credit when he needed It, ConfidenC
ID the hasis of good business rslationi
Estrangement leads to the mail orde
house, and 1t is mighty poor place
In the end 1t does not pay The farm
er sometimes sells produce which
not as represented, and he 1s goo
customer of yours, and you let 1t 81
but you cannot afford to keep Gu
toner at that price who Is not homes
any more than you can afford to Sc
: goods not as represented. The reta
merchant carries us when we need !
but not the mail order houle. Frient
ship is the basis of close business r.
lations. Right here | want to 80,
clean up your streets. You sbou
have roade that can be Travelled, SO '
can get in to trade.
| f. Ii. Hartwig seol etary OF the ass
citation, made an earnest talk ON b
- half of organization and spoke Of son
of the benefits that had been derive
For one thing 1t had brought abo
early closing, so that the mel icha
could have some time to devote to b
family, entertainment and mental re
). reation. The merchant should ha
some time outside of his business.
Truman Butler was called upon, al
after a few remarks told one Of b
stories that always seem to tit t
- right place, and made pleasant q
version from the more serious turn.
/ j. Adrian Epping rendered SO
which was loudly applauded, and
an encore told a couple humoro
yarns that pleased.
: Il. Brayford, the Rockford merc
= ant, after reminding Farmer Tate tt
the roads al Rockford we're good a
- built on a solid foundation, settl
down to the subject OF character a
honesty In business, and close atte
tion was paid to his address.
Fred Wilson, OF The Dalles pro-
outing attorney for this district, v
the last speaker on the program, a
with his usual eloquence made br
- tslg, which was greatly enjoyed, \
Wilson said that Hood River must
looked upon with envy. lie
proud of the fact that be bad an
terest in Hood River orchard.
Dalles looked upon Hood River W
pride and all fairminded men iejoit
in its prosperity. We do not real
q tie future that Is before US. de kn
Of no place where the advantage
nature we're 80 great. ln regard
rad roads. The Dalles we're as bad
and vs,e now wrestling with the p