Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-01-28
Mayor s'lnyth Extends Hearty !!
Greetings to Hard
ware Dealers
National President StebbIl5
Talks on Gen. Trade /.
Situation .:.... s. I. :.
------- --------- 4 i a;
Members Visit Capitol and
Watch the Wholesale
lawmakers :. Il.

The hardware men met for the sec
ond session in Commercial Club hall
at 10:30 Wednesday morning. The
clergyman who was to make the pray
er was not present and DR.. Smyth,
as mayor of the city, was introduced
to welcome the guests to the city.
The mayor spoke in his best vein
and said all nature was glad to re-
ceive them and was giving them a
genial welcome, which was character
1stic OF the Slope country. He asked
the guests to view the city for them
selves and form their own conclusions
as to it's merit. He congratulated
them on being interested in public
questions and thought it would re-
dound to the general good for which
We all should work. No legislation
OF benefit to hardware men could be
passed that would not benefit all
classes He closed by urging them all
to enjoy themselves while in the city.
A. T. Stebbins, of Rochester, Mimi,
president of the National Retail Deal
ers' association, was introduced, He
began by saying he came from the
best state In the union and from ..,:e
best city in Minnesota, and he woJid
rather live in Rochester than in neav-
en-. There were many who would
rather live in North Dakota than l.,
heaven for many ct them paid the
Mayos Of Rochester hundreds of dol
lars to keep them from going to heav-
en-. He congratulated the North Da-
kota men for having the largest per-
centage of dealers in the organization
of any state in the union. In 1903
there were organizations in seven
states with, only 700 members, now
thirty-three states have organizations
and $4,000 members. The object of
the organization is for protection,
mutual benefit, to correct evils in
business, to better their methods and
organization is needed to do this It
cultivates loyalty and united action
lode stones which drew large audi
tant generals ONCE were the two
and spirit OF friendship and CO.
operation among the members. He
told OF the work done by the national
organization in preventing the pas
sage Of the parcels post bill He
showed up how it would operate to
the advantage of the large towns and
against the interest of the smaller
towns.
He also described what had beeR
done to check the work of catalogue
houses and their improper methodt
of doing business. He urged the con-
tinued. support of the officers in all
they were attempting to do to assist
legitimate trade. He spoke of the re-
cent joint meeting at Memphis, Tenn,
Of manufacturers, jobbers, and retail
ers, and that 1t had been an advan-
age to them all to come together
md make an attempt to straighten
'ut matters of difference between
hem. President Stebbins' talk was
'ery helpful to the members and sug-
'ested so many ways in which the
tate organization could make itself
Iseful to the trade. At the close of
is address telegram was read from
!. B. Williams. editor OF the Iron
Ige, New York City, telling them that
he house committee at Washington
ad turned down al parcels post
ills. Various members spoke of
heir personal experiences in various
matters of trade. G, Nv. Wolbert
hought publicity was the main rem
dy for some OF the evils that retail
% suffer from. He also stated the
hanges to be made in the peddier's 4
Nv BY the bill now before the legis-
lture for action, II.
@. Il Schultz, OF the, Hardware
Trade. addressed the association and
ave an slscount Of the proposed re-
rganization OF the post ofice ana AZ
tcontinued On Pare q, 81