The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-13
BUSINESS MEN
HEAR GOOD TALK
CLEVELAND BUSINESS MEMS AS
ISOLATION SECRETARY
DISCUSSES
Advantages in Having Good Rating
Systems i. Conducting their Busi-
ness.-Many Attended


Credit is a trust imposed in you.
safeguard it carefully" This. the
slogan OF the Cleveland Business
Mems association OF Cleveland. was
nightly commended and nightly i'm
pressed upon the minds OF the mem
bers OF the local association at their
meeting last night I'm the board OF
trade rooms. by J. Arthur Richie, sec
rotary OF the Cleveland body.
Strongly advocating the installa-
tion OF a credit system In the city 10
be composed OF the business men.
who would carry on their account sys-
tens as an ultimate whole. Mr..
Richie pointed out the benefits or
such a system as IL is working in
Cleveland. He showed the value OF
the clearing house over the publish
ing of a rating book from each idividn-
ual firm, by citing cases where these
same books were declared inefficient
before they came from the press as
he said that many things contained
therein we're continually changing.
He stated that by joining I'm one
compact BODY and divulging the Sc
crets OF the ledgers TO the system as
a whole. that within three or four
minutes after the customer stepped
to the window or counter the mer-
chant could find out how this same
man stood in the eyes OF the business
world. For fear that his business
fellows might find out even the most
personal part OF his affairs. MIR. Rit-
chic pointed out that n system OF
index cards would be arranged with
different numbers one to be black
and the other red No one was TO
know whose cards these were but the
clerk or operator at the desk.
Mr.. Richie made IL very plain be
fore he began on his subject proper
that he was an organizer for credit
systems and that he augmented the
formation OF a consolidated body for
the protection OF all and the exclu-
sion OF none. lie said that the sys-
TEN had been working I'm Cleveland
for the past seven or eight years and
that u vas first started with n capital
81 5000. hut since that time. he con
tinued. 81 had enlarged until they
could well afford 90 hire expert de
tectives 20 trace the ahsconder.
Must Work Together.
The speaker continued BY saving:
This system is based upon three VI
tai and comprehensive points. which
must 20 hand In hand or the whole
system will be a complete failure.
They are: First. The credit deuart-
ment which has 10 he carefully
watched. second. The Joining Of cred
n and collection which has proven
the hardest proposition to handle.
and thirdly. The service After em-
phasizing these fact Mr. Ritchea i'm
parted the value Of the system 10
the retail merchant whose business
is greatly enhanced by the creation
or the credit system He cited in
stances where the credit department
81 the individual store operator
proved 20 be "a menace 10 the trade
by the lack ~ diplomacy I'm handling
the collections and the service rem
dered
He said that the sales department
must cooperate with the credit de-
rartment N they hunod 20 reach any
ultimate end Furthermore he said.
Every successful stores credit de
narfm"nt backs up rhe sales DEPART
mcnt' by tho stores Of the CITY ioin.
ing the clearance house ia formed
and each individuals hnsincse is ON.
proved and their trade is placed unon
sOurdnr basis Continuing the
speaker said that frmnoss was the
secret or "a great deal NJ the success
or fho organization "FIr4t." be- said
eve send three letters. each Of Them
courteous. Tho first n statement of tho
account tho second q registered iet.
Ter. mentioning The fact that q first
notification bad bcp5 mailed. and the
third swing him Eve days IN which
10 settle his account. or eur viii DO
entered. I'm case ho docs not settle
within The time. suit o. begun imme.
diatelv"
tf- continued H.. aIfrr-e bv eav.-~
nIHHf .n.Hrerrfr tnrrf.r.. ff.f frrInr
eve .i'nle n1. fnrf h1d refused