The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-02

Tor that matter, owes its existence to
the jewelers. art. In support OF the
statement no retold tho story of old
Powhatan and Captain John Smith:
how tho wiley Englishman prevailed
upon the Indian chief to accept n string
OF blue beads, products of tho jewellers
art, In exchange for several boatloads
OF corn and other groceries when tho
colony was on the verge of starvation
and all other offers had proved of no
avail
Your business" he told them. ITS to
cater to strong natural propensity OF
man. and also OF woman. Spencer
tells us that decoration preceded dress
In the evolution OF mankind, and I am
quite ready to ooncede its truth Tho
Mayor welcomed them to Richmond,
rich in historic interest. progressive
in it's policy. with its face set toward
the rising sun-a city which feels hon
ored in being host to so representative
and Important a body of men.
How We Caught Them.
J. r. Jahnke, OF Richmond. spoke
next welcorsing tho visitors on behalf
OF the Chamber OF Commerce and the
Twenty flour Karat Club. AS he sat
down a Western delegation started
For He's Jolly Good Fellow" SEN
ttment which seemed pretty general
from the applause that followed Mr.
Jahnke's words of welcome. Trouble
was soon encountered in carrying tho
tune. and the popular ditty died down
for the lack OF ali orchestra to guido
it.
On behalf Of the delegates T. L.
Combs. first vice-president of tho Ma
tional Association. responded to the
welcome. His account of the way w.
t. abney. OF the Richmond Chamber
of Commerce. gobbled the 1911 conven-
ton for Richmond. caused an uproar.
THAT man Dabney," he said. "in his
official and personal capacity came to
Detroit last year. hacked by our peer
less friend Jahnke and another NUM-
cipality representative. and at the
very moment that Pittsburg had US all
persuaded that this years convention
belonged to her, he halted the business
and the ballot, and by his picture OF
tho historical attractions and enter
tainments of Richmond the warmth
of her hospitality. and by the clever
ness OF his tonguaJin describing to us
swelterers in tho heat. the taste and
effects of a Southern mint julep. he
gathered us almost unanimously into
his inviting arms and created within
us an immediate and ever increasing
thirst which we have been a year
anticipating. and which we have trav-
eled hundreds. even thousands. of
miles TO quench.'
Proceeding to the serious business
in hand. he made a practical address
on the object of the associat ton and
the significance of the federation idea
in all trades and professions. Yes
terday we conceived and promulgated
theories: to-day we entertain and exc
cute system and service that wins the
public's admiration and confidence.
The business biliousness OF yesterday
seems cured by the craft cathartics OF
to-day. Yesterday the people used
map. but to-day they want guide"
Presidents Address.
Tho address of President Steele F.
Roberts. which concluded the morning
session. was renal knbly able and
thorough review of the peculiar prob
lens which confront the retail jewel
ers at this time. supplemented with
numerous suggestions as to the means
to be used in working them out. He
sounded general call to arms against
INSCRIPTIONS competition. Il do not
believe there was ever time in the
history OF the jewelry trade OF this
country where there was such great
need and urgent demand for organiza-
ton as now. From the small dealer
In the country town to the million
aire jewellers in the great cities there
is call for help to save from un-
scrupulous and fraudulent competi-
ton and score OF evils that are a
menace TO the Legitimate jeweler."
He scored the destructive tendency
on the part of many jewelers. to
branch out into side lines which arc
foreign and obnoxious to the craft
Such practices tend to the demoral!
cation of the art, and must inevita-
bly, result in lowering of standards.
The fulness of time has come In
the jewelry business when the sheep
must be separated from the goats-the
Intelligent from the ignorant. thu
merchant from the makeshift. the me.
chanic from the tinker, the goldsmith
from the junk shop. the jewelers. art
from the crude makeshifts OF the de-
partment store and the diamond busi-
ness from the glass factory"
vitnl Trade Question.
The diversion of a great share of
the jewelers. business TO the depart
ment stores. in the opinion of Presi-
dent Roberts, is only temporary. Per-
sonal0y viii win out in the end, and
the public Will eventually trust no
one but the retail jeweler OF high
personal character with his important
purchases. II have never yet met a
man, woman or child who was proud
OF the fact" he said. that they had
bought their watch from mail order
business or department store. They
are always reluctant in telling you
SO. and act as though they had COM
mitted or were guilty OF some crime
in so doing"
Once the public is taught by per-
sistent and truthful advertising the
advantage of dealing only with repu-
table local dealers. the mail order
houses Will get only the cheap and
worthless business. The manufac-
turer. he said, who sells direct to the
consumer is an enemy OF every re-
taller. and should receive the denun,
citation OF every organized body In
the same category must be placed the
manufacturer. who sells to his en-
ployes. who in many cases resell
again at small profit. to the dam
age OF the legitimate retailer. Some
OF the more insistent reforms and in
situations which are needed are strin-