The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-06
HARD KNOCKS FOR
NEW PARCEL POST
Implement Dealers OF Virginia
and North Carolina Oppose
It's Extension.
HURTS THEIR BUSINESS
Convention Declares New Mai
Service Measure Put Across
by Mail Order Interests.

With hardly a dissenting voice. the
Virginia and North Carolina Retail
Implement. Machinery and Vehicle
Dealers Association, in fourth annual
session at Murphys Hotel yesterday
afternoon, denounced the new parcel
post as an agency hostile to the bust
ness of its members and calculated to
develop still further the big city mail
order houses at their expense.
This view was shared by speaker af-
ter speaker in a round-table discussion
of = new mail service which follow
ed 4 formal address on the parcel post
by Norman II. Johnson. of this city,
editor of the Merchants Journal.
At the close of an afternoon OF dis
cussion. in the course OF which the
parcel post was held up to scorn as
measure put across by the mail or
der interests. a resolution was offered
from the floor declaring il TO be the
sense Of the convention that the new
service was inimical to its interests.
President Bumpass deferred putting
the question until tne report of the
resolutions committee. which will be
made before adjournment to-day.
Zone SysteS Helps.
Mr.. Johnson. in ms analysis of the
parcel post. found merit in the zone
system. upon which it operates at
- esent. declaring the device TO BE-
the only feature which redeems the
new service from being an out and OUT
mail order measure
AS long as the zone system is main
tanned, he said. the retailer. and par
ticularly the retail implement and ma
chinery dealer, need have nothing to
fear. II makes prohibitive the ship
ment of supplies from a distance and
places the home dealer on the same
competitive footing with the mail order
house.
The home dealer. he said. has the
advantage of being on the ground.
With proper emphasis on the personal
note and opportunity for Individual
service he thought, the local dealer
can in every case beat the distant mail
order house at its own game He
admitted, however. that further ex-
tension of the parcels post. particu-
iarly along the line of eliminating
the zones. foreboded danger.
IL is extremely probable that the
convention will go on record to-day
as opposed to the further extension
of the parcels post. II VIII unquali-
fiedly oppose any plan looking to the
elimination of the zone system.
Tells Of National Chamber.
Between ninety and 100 delegates to
the convention gathered at the annual
banquet at o'clock last night. The
managers had provided an Astounding
menu and an interesting program OF
toasts In addition to these there were
short addresses by Henry c. Stuart
a. F Thomas. of Lynchburg. and @.
Grosvenor Dave. Of Washington.
Mr. Dave. who is editor Of the Va
tion'S Business the official organ of
the recently organized National Cham
her Of Commerce. devoted a half-hour
10 the aims and purposes Of the gov
e-umentS newest commercial agency
lie defined IL a. an instrument Tor
crvstaIlizing the business sentiment OF
IN. United States as represented Dy
its major business organizations. TO
the end that the nations business IN
terests may assume their appropriate
share OF the burden OF legislation
The idea has too long prevailed IN
IN. United states, he said. that bust
ness and politics were things apart.
Much % the mai administration OF
public affairs. he thought, Is trsceablc
:, This aloofness Of business from the
AFFAIRS Of government The old spirit,
~. said. has given way TO the new and
IN. Chamber Of Commerce Of the
r-nited states Is the tangible express
sion Of H.
ulddIcmen Necessary.
Mr. Dave. IN opening MS rcmarks-
took opportunity 20 reprove the pres
cnt-day fashion Of attacking The mid
dieran. This agent. he said. has been
rnaiiened and abused without good
reason. The American scheme Of doing
business. he said. BY reason Of it's vast
scope. viii always have need for the
man Who performs the service 81 dis
irritation. and he viii always be a
valuable part q economic machinery.
Henry G. stuart referred humorously
10 a slight injury 10 his head which he
had received In an accident earlier. In
ll.nn.fnned on second PaEcD