The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-24
BIG H|GHY FOR RETAILERS.
MERCHANTS OF THE CITY HOLD
ENTHUSIASTIC CONCLAVE.
show their As s-ociation To be On
Sound Footing-Win Put Ban Oh
injudicious Advertising Schemes.
Eicct Attorney To Prosecute Claims
MIR. Lanneau, OF Charleston Gives
Interesting Taik.

nag hoiu iast hlBn- Dy the sumter RS-
tall Merchants Association. Some
nifty OF the citys well-known mer-
chants were present at the meeting:
everyone was I'm a good humor, spoke
freely of what they wanted their as
sociation to accomplish and as a Mt
ting clsiax 10 a most successful meet
Ing. Mr.. Lanneau of the Charleston
Retail Merchants Association made
a snaopy and extremely interesting
talk. In which he gave the Sumter Re-
uilers an idea OF just what could be
accomplished by the systematic team
work of the merchants.
Until MIR. Lanneau took the floor
there was no special speaker. free
discussion being made OF various
subjects Secretary Smell. OF the as
sociation spent some time. however.
at thu opening OF the meeting IN ex-
planning. especially for the benefit of
The merchants present who were not
members of the association. the work
ings OF the credit system and the
good results obtained by becoming a
member OF the association. 1t was
learned from the remarks OF the sec
retary that the association Is on a
good financial footing. that the yell
low letter system has been OF much
benefit In collecting just debts. and af-
ter various discussion OF the matter
II was decided to elect Mr.. Horace
Hardy official attorney OF the asso-
citation to obtain judgments against
some OF those who have absolutely
refused to adjust accounts which they
have left unpaid.
Some discussion was entered into
I'm regard to the many fake advertis-
ing schemes which have taken good
money out of the pockets of Sumter
merchants and IL was unanimously
agreed to turn down all doubtful ad-
vertlslng solicitors III. :. they had Sc
cured the endorsement Of the Cham
Der OF Commerce.
The Northwestern schedule was
next on the program for discussion.
It was decided that some arrange
menl certainly ought to be made
whereby. parties from Camden could
come % Sumter and return home the
same lay. and the association agreed
that each Individual would write 10
the Railroad Commissioners asking
for a hearing on the matter
Z w. Dabbs was endorsed for
election as a warehouse commission
er undcr a recent enactment Of the
legislature. and upon the suggestion
OF See e'ary Smell. a resolution to this
effect will be drawn up and handed
To the legislative delegation from
Sumter.
After what might be termed the
bus,n-as part OF the meeting had been
dispersed with. most delightful
supper was served to those present
by some OF Sumters most charming
young ladies.
Then came the event OF the evening.
as the social reporter might have put
it. when Mr.. Lanneau. president Of
the Charleston Retail Merchants AS
500 iatlon was introduced by secre-
tary SMELL.
Mr.. Lanncau IL successful mer-
chant himself. and he told the sum-
ter merchants what his association
was accomplishing. and I'm what way
II was benefit not only TO the mer-
chants themselves but To the entire
community and even to the state. He
said that the credit system benefited
the customer as we'll as the merchant.
for u gave good man better rat
ing and helped 10 give any honest
man n better standing. Mr.. I.anneau
said that State Retailers Associa-
tion shoulc be established. and that
the retail associations OF the various
stiles should cooperate I'm obtaining
this result.
Speaking Of the work laid out for
the merchant Of Keeping money at
home which was being sent out to
various catalog houses, MIR. Lannneau
said that upon strict investigation the
merchants Of Charleston had found
that the people were enthusiastic
about buying at home. but that often
times the kick was made that the
home merchants did not have some
certain article that some housewife
wanted. II case OF this kind ar
rivcs said Mr. L1nneau. the mer-
chant should order the article him
self oven N ne lost money on this
particular article The "Buy al