The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-07-25
PRESIDENT AElR0S's ADDRESS
TELLS HOW SUMTER'S TRADE
TERRITORY CAN BE I'm.
LARGED.
Believes In Cooperation of Farmers
ANA business Men OF Sumter for
Their Mutual Advanccmcnt-ScOpC
OF Work OF Retail Dealers AssO-
citation.

Sumter Retail Dealers Association is
published below In synopsis form. 1t
Is we'll worth perusing, particularly
by the business men of Sumter.
DIR. j. z. Hcaron. ordinarily. is a
man Of few words. but one who does
things. 1t Is apparent, however. that
whenever 1t becomes necessary to say
something he can deliver the goods"
At the special Tobacco Warehouse
Rooster Meeting" Of the association,
held Wednesday morning President
IIearon got out of his system the
following pent up sentiments which
have been smolder.ng =, his breast for
years, but which ne never had q fair
opportunity to tell his brother busi-
ness men Of the Greater Gamecock
City. He believes the Retail Dealers
Association can and will build up a
flnrger trade territory by the Cooper
lSetpn OF tho wide-awake farmers of
IeuN1ter and the business, professions
toA4 rorking men and women of
Ss6ater
In assuming tho Office Of president
OF the Sumter Retail Dealers Associa-
tion I'r. j. z. Hearon said he desired
~ emphasize one thing for the infor-
nation OF those associated with him
In the association. Said he, 1T is this,
the Retail Dealers Association is not
and has not been dead. It's scope OF
usefulness has been as broad for the
past twelve months as 1t was when
first organized. but there has been
great lack of interest among the men,
bers Of the association, which hamp-
cred its usefulness.
The credit bureau feature of the
association has continually furnbhed
valuable information to hundreds Of
inquirers which saved thousands of
dollars to merchants using this bureau.
But III tho retail dealers had done
their duty, to themselves. and to their
members by filling out the credit rat
Ing lists, and by sending into the man
aging secrctarys Office certain In
, formation which merchants get from
dav 10 day. tho index file system Of
this bureau would contain hundreds
OF additional names and would be of
immense value to retail dealers.
The newly elected president stressed
the Importance of organized effort and
continual interest among Sumters
business men toward safeguarding
the credit business which is appar-
emily unavoidable and which credit
system can be made a source of con-
venienco to honest consumers and of
profit to the mere hants, IL the mer-
chants will only cooperate with the
association and the Chamber Of Com
merce as requested.
II believe that thousands of dollars
can be saved to Sumter's business
men. II they will only take advantage
OF the system of espionage over ad-
vertising schemes and various promo
ton features which the secretary's
office Is prepared to furnish. No bus
iness man can afford to purchase any
and Ill kinds Of advertising space, or
to take stock in any transient prOpo-
sition which the promoters are un-
willing to submit to the unprejudiced
investigation of officers Of legitimate
organized business interests.
II an advertising scheme is legiti-
mate and worth what is charged and
claimed for 1t. IL any kind Of business
proposition presented by stranger is
legitimate and worth what Is claimed
for 1t. then the promoter should be
only too glad to have the written en-
dorsement Of commercial organization
committees or officers.
Only fake or wild cat" promoters
have any real cause to object to
Chamber Of Commerce or Retail Deal
ers' Association Investigations.
| The Retail Dealers Association Is rs
much for the consumer as for the
dealer. 1t seeks to safeguard the hon
est customer as we'll as the dealer. 1t
seeks to give the customer honest
weights. honest measure. the best
goods for the least possible cost. 1t
seeks to reduce cxorbitant and un-
equitable freight and express rates
which add unjustly to the cost Of tn,
consumers supplies. 1t puts the ban OF
disapproval upon dishonest dealers 1,
the best Of it's ability. and by eleminat
Ing as far as possible the risk of dis
honest debtors ID reduces the inter.
est or time charges on credit sales fol
honest debtors.
iio said the burden of looking after
the commercial interests Of the re
tail dealers should not. as IL now tn,
case, ic placed upon II small minorit,