Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-21
COAL DEALERS PEEL COATS
Speakers Also Refer to Weather with
Mirthful Words.
MAYOR AND GOVERNOR TALK
Delays of Shipments Big Theme OF
Addresses, and Causes Vow to
Correct that Trouble in
Future.

Delegates to the coal dealers convention
shed their coats Yesterday afternoon. Most
of them had already done so when the
first session was called to order by Pres-
dent Gregory and a new more timid fol-
low ed when the president urged all to
make themselves comfortable. Mayor
Dalhman kept his on but Governor Shallen-
berGer did not. the executive disclosing a
pair of broad suspenders.
The wea ther' formed topic Of every
address OF the afternoon and each speaker
related some littel story concerning that
cline where the the temperature is even
hotter But the heat did not take the
enthusiasm from the delegates nor the
ginger from the speakers.
Nearly all of these had one theme in
common: delays in shipments of coal by
the railroads last winter and the necessity
OF working that this shall not occur again.
"Old troubles may be ended" said Presi-
dent Gregory in his opening address to the
northwestern coal dealers before him." but
new problems ever arise and we see that
the work of this association must always
go on. II was a surprise last winter and
most unpleasant one when the railroads
caused all those delays in shipments and
on this account we must work for efficient
reciprocal demurrage laws"
President Gregory in closing, thanked the
convention for the honor of serving as
its head and promised his aid TO his sue
cessor He had been preceded by two speak
ers.
Mayor Dahlman. first of all, welcomed
Mayor Causes Laugh.
convention visitors and scored, as always,
with his jest about the police being on a
vacation. Incidentally the mayor delivered
himself of a considerable eulogy of Omaha
and the northwest. In opening his address
he had recognized the presence of the
states chief executive by making has salu-
tation run, Mr.. Chairman, Governor and
Gentlemen of the convention"
Governor Shallenberger took reciprocal
notice of the mayors presence and INDUCED
| in few jokes as to their rivalry for nomi-
nation. The governor referred to the fact
| that although Nebraska has agricultural
wealth each year of $45O,OOO,OOO and manu-
factures of $500 100000, yet it does not mine
any coal. Governor Shallenberger also
spoke of the reciprocal demurrage law, as
| It exists in Nebraska, and declared his
own activity in getting 1t passed.
Another Lincoln resident, H. t. Folsom,
followed Mayor Dahlman by acknowledging
the welcome of the mayor. After the gov
ernor, the annual report was read OF Sec
retary N. L. Laird of Minneapolis. He was
| followed by e. Q. Stone of Minneapolis on
the subject Credits"
Three hundred delegates, who are attend
ing the convention, went in the evening tc
the Den. Today they have a program
which includes many subjects OF interest
to the trade and which will begin with
consideration of code of ethics.
secretary's Report.
Secretary Laird in his report said:
When this association was first founded
1T was organized with the idea of elmi
mating, as far as uossible, the mail orde
system Of doing business, and am of tn
firm belief that the work of the associa
ton along these lines speaks for itself.
can say without fear Of contradiction tha
the conditions in the coal trade in thi
reseect are better than in any other bust
ness in the country today, and can onl,
be accounted for by the active wark Of thi
association.
The wholesaler has learned to regar
the rights of the retailer. and the retaile
in turn has come to respect the rights o
the wholesaler. There are a number o
vital questions covering refusal of ship
ments on the part of the retailer re
spansibnity of the retailer and whole
saler. etc, that have never been threshe
aut TO the satisfaction OF all interests. bu
hope when this convention adjourns, tn
right step in this direction will have bee
taken, after the report of the trade ethlc
committee has been made. This will be
, progressive move 10 the benefit OF both in
terests Of the trade.