The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-05-14
HARDWARE DEALERS
SEE THE DISTRICT
Put In the Afternoon In Sight
Seeing
EXECUTIVE SESSION HELD
President BeasIey Says Any Kind of
Business Can Do Something in
Good Times, But Panics
Prove Real Merit.
EXECUTIVE SESSION HELD

The Retail Hardware Dealers associa-
tion spent yesterday afternoon in sight
seeing and fun. They were given car
rides to Bessemer and Ensley, where they
visited the steel plant, and were shown
over the residence district of the city.
Last night they enjoyed an informal
smoker at the Hotel Hillman. This gave
them the opportunity of heart to heart
talks with each other over their business
aud other relations, which will be per-
hsps the most fruitful part of the conven-
tior.
Yesterday morning the secret session
was held and nothing given out other
thsn the substance of the presidents adj
dress Among other things President J.
w Feasley said:
"If every hardware dealer in the coun-
try was to unite with the existing asso-
cia ton In his state, attend the meetings
thereof, and use every means in his power
to advance the interests of his association,
some of the results would be- Deep water
ways. II feet to the gulf, good roads in
every state with consequently increased
trade, no more demoralizing price-cuttng,
equitable express and freight rates to all
points, better kept stores, improved
methods of advertising, advanced systems
of conducting business, more dealers do
ing business on a cash basis, better
feeling existing between dealers, fewer
jealousies and more general business re-
lations all around.
II very strongly recommend and would
Il
associations There are always local con-
ditions obtaining and local problems aris-
Ing over which dealers beyond the dis
trict have positively no control and must
be met by the dealers directly affected.
Get together, brethren. discuss the local
problems, you will arrive at satisfactory
solution of Them which will not only re-
suit In a pleasant, friendly relation be-
tween competitors, but will show profit
able results in such tangible form as
that it can be counted in the cash drawer
81 further recommend and insist that
when your own secretary or the national
secretary sounds note of warning and
asks you to perform some service, or
write letters to your United States sem
ators and representatives in Congress pre-
senting the cause of the hardware men,
that you do not pass it by lightly think
ing your letter would have no weight
IT further recommend that you all not
only subscribe to but carefully read and
digest a good selection of trade jour
nails.
'I fear that many of us have learned
to offer the so-called panic as an excuse
for not doing more business than we
have and for not showing satisfactory
balance on the right side of the ledger
Let us no longer plead panic, but rise
in our might and allow our problems to
develop us. let US take advantage of the
existence of panic to learn economy and
to make a success of our business despite
panic. A poor business can make money
In good times but 1t takes a good man to
make money during panicky and uncer-
tain times.
I'm the words of Browning, Today as
yesterday is history and tomorrow may
never come have decided that today 1
will do all the business can honestly.
have all the fun I can reasonably, and
save my digestion by thinking pleas
antly.'"
Here is the programme for the final
day;
$50 o'clock. Entire session will be de-
voted to discussion of subjects of interest
some of them are: 'How Can the Asso-
iation Be Made More Beneficial to Its
Members2'' Which Is the More Import
ant Part of Your Misunderstanding or
Selling? do Attractive Window Dis
plaus pa in, Small Toxupao,,
National Secretary M. L. Corey will
have some news. Secretary @. A. Peck of
the Wisconsin association will tell about
mutual insurance.
O'Clock. Talks by Secretary Corey and
c. A. Peck. Reports of committees. Reso-
utions. Nominations. Memoriam. Legis-
lation. Constitution and bylaws.