The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-18
FURNITURE DEALERS
HEAR STRONG SPEECHES
Southern Retail Association Begins
Sessions Mt Jefferson Hotel,
With 200 Present.
ADDRESSES BIZ PROMINENT MEN
Asheville, N. c., and Columbia, 8. c.,
in Race for Next Meeting, With
Indications Favoring South Caro-
lima City.

in Race for Next Meeting, With
Indications Fayoring South Caro-
lima City.
Many Of the zoo or more delegates
attending the sessions OF the annual
convention OF the Southern Retail Fur
nituro Dealers Association listened
last night to strong addresses on time
~ subjects delivered at the Jefferson
Hotel by w II. Manss. vice-presdcnt
and general manager OF the Southern
Settlement and Development Organi-
Zation, Of Baltimore. and John w.
Wood. secretary OF the Chamber of
Commerce, of Roanoke. In addition to
these addresses several short spcechc s
were made. banquet tonight by the
city and tho local a. ISOLATION In honor
OF tn" visiting delegates viii conclude
,hc convention.
Mr. Manss in the course OF his adj
dress on The South and Its Ncspon-
sibilitics." declared that congestcd
cities and abandoned farms. an in
crease In population and n decrease in
productivity OF food products. are the
main causes OF the present high cost
of living. The South" he said. els tho
coming section OF the United States"
but III tho same sentence he declared
that grave economic and industrial
problems are constantly facing the
southern people and that these quca-
uonB must be Immediately and correct
~ anHwered If the country Is TO enjoy
continuance OF prosperity
MILLIONS OF ACRES
Waiting TO DE UTILIZED
After dwelling at length upon tho
favorable climate OF the South and the
productivity of it's soil when rightly
treated, the speaker said that there are
10 Gay millions and millions Of acres
o: land In the South waiting 10 DO
utilized. Declaring that tho problem
must he faced fairly and squarely he
mhte a strong plea TO the business men
present to consider the proposition and
TO use their influence In helping to
orinE back the hundreds Of acres OF
WORKOUT farming lands In the South
into state of productivity.
Isolation and dcsolation OF rural
homes are In It large measure respor-
hible for deserted and neglected farms
according To Mr. aianss. Interesting
statistics on rural crcuits and the pres
emit methods Of marketing farm pro-
ducts were presented by the speaker
Loud applause greeted Mr.. Alanss when
he concluded his address with a pre-
dicton Of widespread prosperity in
agricultural and commercial circles
throughout the Southern States
Mr. Manss was Introduced By Prcsi-
dent a. w. Litschigi. Jr., who called
INC convention 10 order and presided
throughout last nights session Mr.
Woou. whose address followed that OF
Mr. Mnnss. needed no Introduction. ac-
cording TO President Litschlgi who
presented him TO the gathering or
narration and What II Has Accom-
piishcd In the South" was Mr. Woods
iopic
TELLS OF DEVELOPMENT
OF FURNITURE INDUSTRY
organization II efficiency" declared
ar Wood In the outse; OF his speech
lie followed with some Interesting data
on me origin and development OF the
furniture manufactui industry. Not
"hiS - The manufacture OF furniture
:; new industry in the SOUTH" said Mr..
o"d' but IL Is a comparatively new
Industry 10 the world"
Declaring that furniture was nrs,
made In the eighteenth century. the
speaker traced tho marveolus devotion
inent In It's manufacture and sale dur
ing recent years, placing special en-
phaSia upon the fact that growth I'm
mis- important field OF activity has
hccn made possible by organization
ana cooperation on the part Of those
engaged In tho business.
MIR. Wood said he had carefully read
and studied the constitution and ~
laws of the Southern Retail Furniture
Dealers Association. and that he de-
slrcd To congratulate each and every
member OF the organization for their
ioty Ideals and purposes. Strong or
Eanization. based on sound principles.
tends TO foster substantial and per
feet citizenship. and has, in a large
measure, made possible what the South
has already accomplished In the way
OF industrial prosperity and growth
according 10 Mr. Wood.
ENJOYABLE ADDRESS
Di OLIVER !. SANDS
IN enjoyable feature OF the morn
ing session Of the convention was an
address, "Ba mixing as II Relates 10 the
Retail Trade by oliver j. Sands. pros
ident OF tho American National Bank
The address Ivy Mr.. Sands WAS sched-
nied Tor last night, but WAS made dur
ing the morning, because pressing
business engagement made IL impos-
siblc for the speaker to attend tho
night session. The speaker displayed
Il wide knowledge OF industrial con-
marks he explained In a lucid man
ncr various phases OF the ever perplex-
ing monetary problem.
The morning session wae called to
order at 10 o'clock by President Lifts
chgi. and the Invocation was made b.
Rev. j.. Y. McFaden. In behalf OF
Richmond people, Mayor George Ain
and, for the local merchants and manu-
lecturers. Horace T.. Smith, secretary
of the Manufacturers Exhibit, assured
them OF Il hearty welcome. Response
10 the speeches of welcome was made
by President LitschEi The reading OF
reports by Secretary A. j. Gilmore and
OF Treasurer Il. y. Sncad followed.
The reports submitted showed graft
flying increase In membership and
finances of the organization.
ASIIEVIt,IE Is AFTER
NEXT CONVENTION
The contest over the place for hold
ing the next convention of the assoc
citation started. when Colonel Sanford
II. Cohen of Ashevillc. y. c.. manager
of the Greater Western North Carolina
Association, addressed the gathering
urging the association to name Ashe-
Vile as the place for holding tho con
vcntion in 1916. The convention next
year, il is thought. will be held at Col
umbia. S. c., as the Palmetto State Is
entitled to the gathering in 1915, in
accordance with thy established Gus
tom of the association OF holding the
convention in different State rep
resented in the orga niZation. Colonel
Cohen spoke at length and drew pro-
longed applause. Definite announce