Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-07-17
STATE C0NVENT ton
OF RETAIL DEALERS
Large Gathering of Representative
Business Men of Virginia
in Alexandria
PULSE OFF THE OLD. D0MISION,
Retail Merchants Heartily Received
and Pleasantly Entertained by the
Local Association.

The meeting of the state conven'
tion of Retail Merchants in Alexandria
will prove one of the most interest
ing events in the history Of the mel.
camille life of the city. Stores on King
street and other thoroughfares have
been decorated with flage and the
members of the Alexandria branch OF
the organization have We'd in receiv.
ing and welcoming visitors.
Mr.. L. Ruben, president, and Mr.. j
#. Preston, the secretary, have been
untiring in their work while all mem
bers of the organization have labored
with will in order to see that every
representative of the convention is
royalty entertained.
Some of the visitors arrived last
night, but the majority reached the
city today. The train which
brought delegates from Peters
burg, Richmond, Fredericksburg and
other points was two hours late in
reaching Alexandria, and did not ar
rive until nearly one o'clock this aft
ernoon. Hence the convention could
not meet at eleven o'clock this morn
ing as had been contemplated.
The delegates upon reaching Alex
andria were received by committees
of the Alexandria Retail Merchants
Association aud escorted to the rooms
of the Chamber of Commerce where
they were cordially received by rep
resentatives of the local organization.
The rooms of the chamber were a
veritable beehive about noon, where
greetings followed greetings, new ac-
quaintances were made and others re-
newed.
Many Alexandrians, not members
of the association, were equally as
earnest in vieing in the welcoming,
and good cheer pervaded the assem-
blage.
Shortly after eleven o'clock the del
egates who had arrived repaired to
the Young Peoples Building where
about an hour later it was decided to
call the convention to order. The
Richmond delegation with President
Cohen and State Secretary Clark, as
well as those of other contiguous ci-
ties were not able to reach the city be-
fore two o'clock.
The organization was called to or
der by Third Vice-President Ramsay
of Roanoke, when an address of well
come on behalf Of the city was deliv-
cred by Mayor F.. j. Paff. A similar
address was delivered by L. Ruben
president of the local organization.
fMr. Angel, of Roanoke, made the
response on behalf Of the State org,
ination.
IA speech was also made by N. H
Johnson, editor of the Merchants
Journal :of Lynchburg.a
A committee was subsequently ap.
pointed to arrange the order of bus.
mess of the association. during its tWc
days session, after which recess was
taken until two o'clock.
At 4 o'clock the convention will adj
journ for the purpose Of visiting Ger
tain points of interest in the city
Among the places to be visited IS TIT
plant of the Portner Brewing Com
pany, where the members of the or
ganization will inspect the artesial
wells. The Brewery Company vii
tender collation. to the guests.
AT T o'cock this evening the dele
gates and members of the Retail Mer
chants Association of this city viii
take the steamer Charles Macaleste
for Marshall Hall where a supper vii
be given.
The convention will meet at min
o'clock tomorrow morning.
a