The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-28
MURRAY BROWN DUE: GREAT CREDIT FOR MEETINGS SUCCESS
Has Worked Untiringly In Arranging Programme and Seeing It Carried
 Out-All Delighted
By RALPH R. SILVER

Fly RALPH R. SILVER l While the work which was neces-
 sary for the completion of the elabor-
 ate programme of entertainment of the Alabama Merchants convention, just closed, was done by many persons, all of whom deserve credit, the moving
 spirit of the whole affair and the man ] to whose ability and energy the success of the convention is due more than any other is Murray Brown.
 As chairman of the Chamber of Com rnerce trade extension bureau, MT
 Brown was in active charge of the en- tertainment of the delegates conven- I ton. It was he who staged the orig ina1 merchants convention in Birming- ham last year. and scored an instan- taneous success having a larger at tendance at the first convention and organization of the assoication than any state in the south, many of which have been holding merchant conven- tions for several years.
 The Alabama Merchants association, being organized in this city and en- couraged by Birmingham men. of course considers Birmingham it's meet
 
 did not consist of persuading the con vention to come here. The merchants association of any state is like any oth- CT association-a great deal depends on It's annual conventions-and therefore 1t was MT. Browns work to make the convention success. insurng as a re- suit a successful association
 Arranged Entertainment Programme The way to make the convention a success he decided was by an elab- crate and extensive programme of en- ltertainment This he set about to ar range and for the past two weeks has spent almost his entire ti1e at the Chamber of Commerce Ieadouarters. where, with Secretary v. C. Radcliffe and Assistant Secretary W. B. Everett cooperating with vnd assisting him. the programme fo< the convention as It has been giy-n during the past two days E-5 worked out in it's every de- t>--.
 The enormity of the task can only be appreciated by those who have gone through something similar The mere ar- fangement Of the local programme was far from all that had to be done First of all the programme had to be attrac- tive-it had to have pulling power-and second there had to be thoroughly or ganized campaign of publicity conducted to inform the $500 members of the Ala bama Merchants association that it was attractive. To do this thousands and thousands of pieces of literature were published and mailed during the two weeks prior to the convention. Then after programme with ''pulling power had been conceived, the real test of the man behind the affair came in attemnt n lxp ba reality what it appeared to be on paper There are some 1200 or 400 merchants this morning vending their way home ward from Birmingham or preparing to do so who will testify that that's what Murray Brown did
 Not Hitch to Programme Every single feature of the conven- ton went off with a smoothness and finish such as only well laid plans well executed can product It again was demonstrated that by working together both the merchants of Alabama and Bir mlngham can profit. The merchants were delighted with the convention from their standpoint. They were furnished with amusement and entertainment, with in- struction and information on subjects and problems which are a part of their lives and their business and last but not leas With an opportunity to mingle with each SO- cial life. broaden out their commercial and intellectual horizon and return to their own community imbued with new spirit and with a fresh grasp on life which comes only after the relaxation and change of scene and environment of the convention days.
 The merchants are delighted and the people of Birmingham are delighted They were glad to welcome the visitors to the city Of which all are proud, they were glad to point out the places of interest and the great industries and monuments or civic achievement, they were glad of the opportunity to consult with the mer- chants of the state on mutual problems. They were glad to cooperate in busi- ness, believing that the merchant prof. ited by buying his stock here and the Birmingham wholesalers profited by hay- ing the merchant buy 1t here
 AS one big wholesaler who estimat tes the sales of his house during the two days at anywhere near s200O0, said last night: Birmingham has been placed on the map as a wholesale town and Murray Brown. more than any other man. did it."