The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-20
Norman HI. Johnson Will be
Principal Speaker at
Banquet
HAS REPUTATION AS
FORCEFUL SPEAKER
I. o. Smith Added to List of Speakers.
Second Invitations Will be Mailed
Out Today-To Organize Per-
manent Association

Norman II. Johnson, who will be the
bama Merchants convention in this city
August 27 and 2s, is said to be one of
the best civic and commercial lectur-
ers in the country. Mr. Johnson is
widely known throughout the country
for his ability to present practical
things to the merchant and CONNER
cia1 man in an attractive and common
sense way He is of very pleasing ap-
pearance and of highly developed bra
torical powers. His address will be de-
livered during the barbecue banquet
at East Lake park on the evening of
August 27.
The travelling men of the north end
of the state are proving to be among
the hardest workers for the conyen-
ton, 1t is said. according to reports
reaching the city. Every one of the
travelling men Is preparing to be in
Birmingham during the convention
week and meet their customers here
and entertain them. The committee in
charge of the big convention is urg-
ing the .'drummers on, for they know
that when crowd of real knights of
the grip" get behind a proposition it's
success is assured.
Smith to Speak
The speakers programme for the
night at East Lake was added to yes
terday when it was announced that
Col. T. O. Smith, representing the Bir-
mingham Clearing House association,
would make one of the short speeches,
his subject being, From the Bankers
Viewpoint"
Harry Jones, the dean of Alabama
travelling men, and the originator of
the "glad hand" has been appointed
chairman of the reception committee
which will have charge of the guests.
Over 100 men have been named on this
committee Acceptances are coming in
to the offices of the Chamber of Com
merce regularly every day and many
have already been received. The large
force of girls addressing the second
list of invitations completed their WORK
yesterday, something over 5000 let
ters having been made ready for the
mails.
These letters will be mailed out to-
morrow evening and will contain a pro-
gramme of the two days convention,
another return post card as an accep-
tance card and a neat little four-leaf
phamplet calling the merchants at
tention the second time to the conven-
ton, reminding him of the convention
and telling of some of the important
details of the two days.
To Organize Permanently
An important feature of the conven-
tion that has not been emphasized very
much so far Is that the merchants of
north Alabama are to form permanent
organization for their mutual protec-'
ton and benefit. The association will
be known as the North Alabama Retail
Merchants association and the asso-
citation win hold conventions in Bir-
mingham every summer. at which time
the wholesale houses will be thrown
open to them, special entertainment
features provided and the merchants
will lay in their fall stocks of goods.
The formal organization of this asso-
'ciation and the election of officers Will
take place at East Lake park on the
evening of the open air banquet.
The letters which will be mailed out this
evening also contain more Information
as to the rebate scheme by which every
merchant who buys $3.50 worth of goods