Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-10-05
MERCHANTS, CONGRESS-.
Two Interesting and Inspiring Ses-
sions at Hancock Hall.

gress, and bringing to 1t such able
| speakers as addressed the congress al
Hancock hall last Monday.
| Two sessions were held, one in the
afternoon, and one in the evening. Al
the afternoon session the speakers were E
NJ. Banding, secretary OF the Maine
Statejboard..of trade, and w. j. Pilkington,
editor OF the Merchants Trade Journal
of Des Moines, Iowa.
The object OF the congress was to inspire
our people to work for bigger and better
Ellsworth, and the addresses at both ses-
sions were such as to goa long way to-
wards accomplishing that purpose.
Mr.. Blandings address was an exhaus-
tive paper on the commercial activities Of
Maine; sketch OF her growth in agricul-
ture, manufact uring and wealth, her ire
mendous possibilities along all lines OF
development, and the probabilitie OF it
all.
He spoke OF the great value OF local or
carnations whose object was to promote
progress; recounted their ever-increasing
number, and complimented Ellsworth's
business men for their efforts to improve
business conditions.
Mr.. Banding expressed the utmost con-
fdence in Names continued growth in
wealth, in agricultural Importance, in
industrial development. His address
throughout was q masterful one, showing
him to be in close touch with conditions
throughout the State, alive to its needs,
. "a. S,.S.
Mr.. Pilkington followed. His topic was
1.-THE Retailing OF Merchandise rs . Sci
ence". The limitations of country paper
prevent hisremarkablea address from being
given in full. He came here heralded as .
man who s'does things, and be fully
maintained his reputation; be did things
and said things which are morally certain
to prove OF great value to our business
men il they adopt one-half Of the excel
lent methods he proposed, and follow any
portion OF the advice be gave.
He laid down q whole lot OF general
business principles, and showed how they
should be applied, insisting that there
was science of business Just % truly As
there was . science OF any other activity
OF life, and it was the business OF even the
the smallest retailer and the humblest
clerk to study that science.
AT the evening session the speakers
were Reg. 4. B. Mathews, pastor OF the
Congregational church OF Ellsworth, and
Mr.. Pilkington. Mr.. Mathews subject
was: "A Talk on Local Problems.
"What would we say to prospective resi-
dent." was the question he asked. He
then went on to answer his own question;
he enumerated its distinctions, its ma
tural advantages, its beauties. Next be
discussed the real resources Of q COM
munity like ours; its agricultural posi-
bilities and the need OF distributing
agencies.
The third theme discussed was the tenn
per Of the people-their attitude toward
each other and the attitude Of the indi-
vidual toward the whole community. He
emphasized the need of what he called
s'team work"-co-o operation, Of . right
relation OF the public toward merchants
now here and toward local manufacS
turers. The attitude of the people to-
ward industries alresdy established
would indicate what the attitude would
be towards newcomer.
The speaker strongly condemned the
very prevalent habit of adverse criticism
| which he regarded Is uttely destructive oil
| the spirit Of responsiveness. He closed
with stirring appeal to each to give oil
himself to the service of the whole, moi
only in public Office but also in all pu bIis
service.
The closing address was given by Mr.
Pilkington who took for his theme
There is no such thing as opportunity.
He argued that what was called opportu-
nifty was simply the finding OF ones self; il
was from within and not from without
The address was brim full OF suggestion.
and inspiration, and his ideas were SC
practical that any OF his hearers can, il
they will, put them into practice in their
business to the advantage OF themselves
| and the community.
1t is greatly to be regretted that the
attendance was not larger. About I0(
were present at the afternoon session,
nearly half being women. There were
several from out of town, Bluehill,
LAmoine, Sorrento, Hancock and Frank
lin being represented.
At the evening session there was better
attendance, quite double that OF the after
noon. But what vas lacking in numbers
was made up in interest and enthusiasm
Roy c. Haines, secretary OF the mer-
chants association of Ellsworth, presided
at both sessions, making brief but sppro-
pirate Introductory speeches.
A pleasing feature OF the congress was
the banquet Monday between sessions ten
dered Messrs. Pilkington, Banding and
Mathews at the American house by mem
bers of the merchants association. Covers
| were laid for fourteen. The tables wert
tastefully decorated and the dinner wal
| one OF Mrs. Cunningham's best.
| The public is debtor to the merchants
association for the unique and inspiring
AFFAIR; the more of them this community
has the better on it cannot fail to be.
L
| WEST BROOKLYN.
NJ ~