Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-10
MAY RETAIN QUARTERS
Will Cooperate With the Chamber
of Commerce.
WORK OF THE COMMITTEES
One Will Be Appointed for Each
Particular Line of
Business


tngton and for its merchants. now that
1t Is an independent organization, and
not affiliated with the Chamber of Com
merce, was outlined at an informal meet
ing yesterday afternoon of several of
the officers of the association. Present
were President Joseph Strasburger, Vice
President r. p. Andrews, Treasurer NJ. A.
Leese and Secretary w. r. Eller.
AT the conclusion of the meeting Mr.
Strasburger stated that every effort
would be made to retain the associa-
tons present quarters in the Chamber
OF Commerce rooms. Committees rem
resenting the merchants association and
the chamber have been appointed to con-
slider the rental Of space in the rooms
The representatives Of the retail mer-
chants are T. c. Dulin, chairman; M. A.
Leese. r. p. Andrews. A. D. Prince and
George Deneale. The Chamber of Com
merce committee consists of Albert
Schulteis. chairman; George T. Shut p
T., Moran. E. H. Daniel and ]. M. Stod-
dard
The best of feeling exists between the
GetAi merchants Association and the
CnamDer or Commerce." said Mr.. Stras-
burger. and We want to cooperate in
working for the betterment of Washing
ton. commercially and otherwise: All
matters of civic nature that are brought
De1ore the Retail Merchants Association
Will DE referred to the chamber. Tho
chamDer will take the same action with
regard to matters of interest to the re-
tail merchants.
Meetings of Board.
1T is proposed to increase the men,
bership of the board of governors to
twenty or twenty-five. Meetings of the
board will be held at least twice each
month. Meetings Of the entire member
ship of the association will be held only
three or four times each year. instead Of
once each month. We will arrange things
so that the board of governors can handle
all the aqairs Of the association. There
will be a representative of each line of
business on the board, who will serve
as chairman Of a committee which will
have charge Of all matters pertaining to
his particular line. The members of
these committees also will be appointed
with respect to their particular line of
business. Shoe merchants will be on the
shoe trade committee, dry goods mer-
chants on the dry goods trade commit
tee, etc.
by having these various committees
the work of the association can be ham
died without calling together the entire
membership. We will probably have an
annual 'get-together' banquet and two Or
three luncheon meetings. This expert
ment was tried last winter and proved
unusually successful.
"Steps already have been taken to
bring about the Inauguration Of a credit
system by the association. When a SUI,
fcient number of members have Joined
the association it will possess the best
credit system in Washington.
"A collection bureau also has been sug-
gested. Members of the association will
be requested to refer all bad bills to the
ing them to outside agencies. 1t Is be-
lieved that in this way many bills which
would otherwise be total loss to mer-
chants can be collected.
Want All Merchants.
I'm order to make our association
truly useful organization We must get
every retail merchant in Washington to
join. No matter if he is the proprietor
or manager of a small store his as
sistance is just as valuable as that of
the proprietor of the large store. The
dues viii be so arranged that they will
not be too heavy for any merchant.
There is one thing the association will
demand of its members, and this Is that
every one must be a retail merchant.
1.-The supervision of program advertis-
ing inaugurated by the association a year
or more ago will be continued, as it
has proven to be very valuable. WASH
ington merchants should discourage the
printing of lengthy programs for every
little event happening in the city. The
soliciting Of advertisements for such pro-
grams is generally done by professional
solicitors. who get from 90 to 90 per cent
of the amount paid for the advertise
ments. The clubs, associations and other
organizations for which the advertise
~Nlso Tod h,,t ,ol1
percentage of the total amount collected.
THE association has q rule that a men,
Der is liable to a fine of SIS for ad-
vertising in a program or similar circular
mittee appointed for that purpose. This
committee looks into the merits of the
various cases. and il it believes the &C.
casion warrants the preparation of a
program it gives that particular under
taking it's mark of approval. The same
rule, alsa annlieS donations for fairs