The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-02-17
Fine Address
70 Strong !: Body &:
Of Business Mer,

Hon! J. M. Jacobs Of this city waa
enc of the principal speakers at the
meeting Of Retail Hardware Assocla'
t'on at Wheeling. His address on
"Manufacturers, Johbers and Retail
Hardware Merchants" was well re-
ce:sed. Mr.. Jacobs spoke az follows:2 Z
! M. Chairman, Gentlemen Of the Re.
I. tail Hardware Association OF West
Virginia, and Friends Of the Assccia.
i tion:
| want tc thank you for tine courtesy
at your hands by which am permitted
to speak here to-day. When 1 think,
gentlemen. of che tremendous import.
lnnce Of this association and the many
vexing problems that you are facing
to-day, and when consider the many
splendid wholesale establishments SO
well represented here, am sure am
thot worthy q the honor that you have
bestowed upon me by allowing me a
place on your programme and to take
up any Of your valuable time at this
gathering. Without attempting to
throw any Bouquets, genttemen,1 want
Ito repeat publicly what | have often
said in private, that consider MIR.
Vance, our worthy, President, one Of
the very best and most successful re.
iaiI hardware merchants In any city
In the great State Of West Virginia.
and also. that your worthy Secretary,
Mr.. HaWker, Is also one of the very
best and most successful hardware
merchants Of any Of the larger towns
In West Virginia. But, gentlemen,
since shinnstcn has struck oil liz sues.
wonderful quantities and with her n ,.v
banks, opera house, brick buildings,
[nayed streets and putting on many
other city airs. we will 'scof, no longer
think: Mr.. Hawker as living in one Of
the good towns Of West Virginia, but
In a small city like Charles b,n, Hunt.
ington, ciarksburg. Parkersburs, Nor
gantoWn, Fairmont and about fourteen
others, all claiming to be the. second
city In West Virginia. But, gentlemen,
to my subject The Manufactured, the
ohbJer and the Retail Hardware Mer.
cI,ant.
In this dlseussion.ll do not want to
BE- personal, and the illustrations | may
usa will be to demonstrate principles
that l believe to-day exist and will er
ist as long as hardware is made.
bought, sold and used. We believe
the interests of-the manufacturer, Job
ber and retailer are identical and one
equally as :mpertant and necessary as
the other. The permanent success Of
the one is surely to be shewn by the
Growth and strength OF the other. The
sooner We can recognize the imfort-
anee of each OF these three great, sep
arate and distinct agencies In the corn
! nereial world; that have each mil.
lions Of capital invested and furnish
employment for thousands Of the brain.
lest and most energetic men the world
can produce, the sooner we will hav-
solved many OF the problems that now
confront the makers, and distributors
of hardware in profitable way to all
iconccrned. Tinted we stand, divided
we fall The man that occupies a
high position in any Of these three
great but separate and distinct agen-
cics that we are to discuss to-day and
ir not loyal to all these interests, will
In the end recognize the fact that he
iG wrong and his business will ulti-
nlateIy fail. Dent forget, Mr.. Retail.
cr II this day Of sharp competition
and demand for quick deliveries, that
you will not be able to do enough bust
/, ness and turn your capital each year
often enough to shew satisfactory
profit without calling often and con.
|tinuously 1pcn your jobbing friends.
{lt Is one separate and distinct husi-
j ness to manufacture hardware; It ii
Just az separate and distinct bus.
ness to gather the articles you find In
a hardware store from all parts of the
werld to 4 ioabing center in such guam.
titles and at such prices that they can
he delivered quickly and economically
to the retailer. The retail man is the
one who must always stand close to
the consumer knowing the needs Of
'''E particular community. and always
be In Position to treat his customers
peter than any other interest could
ever hope to. n
The day Will never come when We
lcan get aieng without the travelling
salesman. None Of us ever want to
lcae the influence Of his genial face
and his warm and hearty llandshake,.