Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-06
Lengthy Debate at Meeting OF
Retailers Association.
MORE THAN 100 MEMBERS
Plans Are Discussed for Strengthen
ing the New Organization.
PROTECTION FOR ADVERTISERS
Establishment of Credit Bureau,
With Collection Agency Attached,
One of Objects of Body.

The Retail Merchants Association Of
the Chamber of Commerce adopted rules
and regulations at a meeting in the
chamber last night and made plans for
strengthening the new organization. The
association will start its active work
with more than one hundred members
and with a determination to bring into
the body all the retailers in the city.
Many of the largest retail establishments
are already members.
The debate over the rules and regula-
tions lasted for several hours. Those
prepared by the board of governors of
the association were finally adopted, with
few minor changes. 1t was decided to
call on the merchants for contributions,
or dues, such as the members believed
just. in view of the benefit which they
will derive from the organization. Every
effort Will be made during the next three
months to get the association established
on strong working basis The prin-
cipal aims of the body are, to protect
the retailers from advertising from which
they derive no benefit and the eStab-
1iShment of credit bureau, with a COL
lection agency attached.
1t explained by President Joseph
Strasburger that unless the merchants
stood together and gave the officers of the
association their entire support the as
socation could not prove success. He
said, however. that in almost every other
large city in the country a retail mer-
chants association had been tried and
proved of great value to the merchants
He referred particularly to the organiZa-
ton of Richmond, Va
To Protect Advertisers.
Under the regulations drawn up by the
board of governors all advertising prop
ositions. except newspapers, billboards,
street cars. theater programs, city and
telephone directories, which are laid be-
fore individual merchants for their con-
sideration must be submitted to the
executive committee of the association.
III the executive committee puts it's ban
upon the proposition, the merchants are
bound not to take such advertising.
The regulations also provide:
Nc member of this association shall
purchase any tickets for any excursion,
benefit, fair or similar entertainment sent
in by mail or otherwise unsolicited, I'M
less the same has the Endorsement of the
executive committee.
No member shall consider any dona-
tion or subscription scheme CT any kind,
Tor any purpose, unless the same has the
approval of the executive committee"
Violations of these regulations are to
be punished by OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES fine.
Starts Lengthy Debate.
There was considerable debate over
these regulations. many of the merchants
taking the stand thet the association was
not yet strcng enough to ask its MEM
bers TO adhere strictly to them, when
many of their competitors would not be so
bound. since they were not members of
the association. The matter was settled
finally by deferring actual submission
fer three months. In the meantime the
merchants will be at liberty to avail
from these regulations if they see fit.
Another meeting CT the retailers will be
held within week or two.