The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-28

minpbam have waited until 1918 to or
! ganize this association, and meet mere
to discuss corporation. II Murray Brown
and the committee in charge OF TINS event
and the officials of the Chamber or Com
merce accomplish what they have set
out to do they will do more for Bipnins-
ham and the state than any set of men
has done in years. The merchant unor-
ganized is his own enemy, and he Is the
worst enemy imaginable, for he does not
recognize himself as such.
Organization Means Much
Organization means more to you Ala
bama merchants than any other one
thing that can be brought before you
at this time. You have to have orsaniza-
tion before you get cooperation and you
have to have cooperation before you
can have enthusiasm. Oh, for the man
who is enthusiastic. The meanest man
in the world Is the man who hasn't a
good word to say about his own town.
ANY mans competition is just as good as
he is and as he ever dared to be. Be-
ware of the man who is either knocking
his own town or his competitor. Stick
to the fellow who has a good word FOR
both.
1--WE need more merchants in Birming-
ham and fewer storekeepers. And by
merchants l mean a business man. 1t Is
that are sometimes found about store
keeper. | can go to a banker in many
| a town and ask him for a loan and he
| will refuse because he does not know me
and vet | can go to his neighboring store
keeper, put up a good front and get
large bill of goods on credit, / can get
| $40 worth of goods from a man on credit
who would not loan me sc cents In cash.
s'The secret of success is a quick turn
over of your stock. But you will have
to either do 1t by selling for cash or to
men whohse credit you know absolutely
| is good. We must stop the failures,
business failures of this southern coun-
try before we can promote its prosperity
Mr. johnson said the Alabama mer-
chant was the highest taxed mercantile
man in the union. He showed what other
merchants associations had done to rem
edy such conditions He pleaded for
straight from the shoulder business meth
ods and systems and closed by paying a
stirring tribute to Oscar Underwood, who
he said represented the south in the Can
gress of the nation "as the greatest man
of all politics"
The nominating committee then report
ed, the constitution and bylaws were
read and adopted. b. j. Cowart led three
cheers for the jobbers of Birmingham"
and the session was over.
Three official stcnographers were pres
ent at the banquet last night ana took
down every word that was spoken. Later,
the speeches will be published in book
let form and Will be mailed to every
merchant who attended the convention.
To Visit Jobbing Houses
This morning the delegates will have
Another opportunity to visit the job
bing houses and 1t is expected that
today will be the real big selling day
of the convention. All Of the delegates
are now here and they will have the
entire morning to attend to their busi-
ness affairs. 1t is believed that rec
ord in wholesale business will be made
In Birmingham this norning that has
never been equalled by any other
southern city.
This afternoon at 2:30 o'clock the spe-
cial train will leave the Louisville and
Nashville station for the excursion
through the Birmingham district. vis-
iting the steel mills, Edgewater, Bay
view, Fairfield and other points of in
terest. The train will return to the
city between and o'clock and the
first North Alabama Merchants con-
vention will be over. although 1t is
expected that many of the delegates
will remain in the city for the mex.
day or two and attend to further busi-
ness affairs here.