The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-08
Come From Two States for Big
Convention, Which Opens
To-Day.
URGE ORGANIZATION HERE
President Bonnoitt Says Virginia
Hardware Men Should
Get Together.

IT looks good to me-" said President
NJ Bonnoitt of the Hardware Associa
ton of the Carolinas. yesterday. after
he had spent an afternoon seeing Rich
mond. The president. with large
party, reached the city Sunday night
on private car. which had been gath
ering up members OF the association
with their wives and daughters, ever
since it left Darlington. The party
yesterday took in the wholesale and
retail districts and made trip to the
Reservoir.
Nearly 100 members of the associa-
ton In all arrived yesterday. and 1t Is
expected that the opening session of
the convention at 10 o'clock this morn
ing. which is open to the public, will
have large attendance. 1t will be
held In the dining room of the Jcffer-
son Hotel. Governor Mann. Mayor
Ainslie and w. T. Dabney will speak
for Richmond, while Z. r. Preston, of
Charlotte, n. c., will respond for the
association.
Virginians Should Organize.
President Bonnoitt Is a strong advo-
cate or commercial organization. and
stated last night that one of the pur-
poses of the Carolina hardware men in
coming here is to try to persuade their
Virginia brothers to organize.
Many of the Virginia wholesalers
are associate members of our organi-
zation.' he said, but the retailers have
no organization, and we want to show
them what the advantages of one are.
4 commercial association not only
broadens man, but it induces the
spirit of ood-fcllowship as nothing
else will. 1t makes him not only a
better hardware man, but a better
neighbor. 1t is of the highest practi-
fD In
ture OF our association has proved most
successful We rebated IS per cent last
year. and confidently expect to declare
30 or 90 per cent in few years.
The principal reason that we are
leaving our territory to meet here,
though is that we want TO show the
Richmond business men that we appre-
ciate the loyal relations that have so
long existed between us. And | must
say that they are doing the thing right
have received d whole shcaf of letters
from Richmond men urging mo TO be
here, and promising me a good time
haven't had dull moment since |
arrived. either. They certainly are put
ting some snap into it"
Mnny Women Guests.
Secretary T. w. Dixon, of tho asso-
citation, has already opened a head
quarters in the lobby Of the Jefferson
Hotel. and is busily registering tho
i!itI!iDclS anu guests as lntN arrive. All
OF the members are provided with large
green badges. while the guests get
white ones. Those white badges, most
OF which are worn by women. will be
a large and joyous feature of the con-
rention, nearly every party that ar
rivcs having Its contingent of women.
After the big opening meeting or
the convention this morning all OF the
guests and members will go Tor a
sightseeing tour. Of Richmond. The
cars will leave the hotel In four de-
tach:nents. at 12:45. 1905. 1:25 and l:45
o'clock. They will go 20 Lakeside,
where luncheon will be served shortly
after o'clock
The entertainment this evening
Will be n reception at the Jefferson
Hotel with a buffet supper and music.
Tomorrow the whole convention and
all of Its guests will take the boat for
jamestown, and this will be the big
entertainment feature OF the conven
ton. Thomas Palmatary and John b.
Pinder have contrived series of
amusements for the trip, which they
will not divulge, but they promise sew
eral thrills. The eXcursionists Will
Danish hardware from their thoughts
for the day. but there will be plenty or
wetware about besides the river. and
everything else that anybody wants.
The whole OF the auditorium at the
Jefferson Hotel has been converted in
TO manufacturers exhibit, under the
superintendence of Secretary Dixon.
4 number of the exhibitors from all
parts Of the South are here. wearing
large blue badges inscribed with their
identity as such, and specimens OF
everything hard and heavy that can
be made are to be seen in che audi
forum.
business Meeting Thursday.
The first business meeting will DO
held Thursday morning In one of the
rooms of the palm garden floor of the
Jefferson. The president secretary
and a number of chairrhen of commit
tees will make their reports. This
meeting will be called to order at $3.50
o'clock. At 2:30 o'clock in the after
noon, the question box meeting will
be held, at which number of practi-
cal matters will be discussed in an
open meeting.
The women guests will go to tho
Country Club for luncheon Thursday
morning, cars leaving the Jefferson at
1890 o'clock, and returning at about
3 o'clock In the evening everybody
will go to tho roof garden party at
the Richmond Hotel.
Oficers will be elected for the year.
and the next place Of meeting chosen
at the last meeting Friday morning at
IL o'clock At $50 o'clock q business
meeting will be held for the discus
sion of the insurance feature OF the
organization. Tho convention Will
olcea ,,,ttb fri to tho hall game