The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-27
BIRMINGHAM CATULATEs TO ARMY OF 1900 FRIENDLY MERCHANTS


This is the biggest merchants con vertion I have ever seen in all my ex- peiience," said Norman H. Johnson. ed itor of the Merchant Journal and Commerce and secretary of the South ein Dry Goods association. yesterday. MT. Johnson came to Birmingham to make the principal address last night at the Bijou theatre
 Just within the past few months have been to Atlanta, Memphis. Chat tanooga, Bristol. Tenn, Nashville and other merchants conventions and the most they had at any of these places was 750 delegates. I am told that there are nearly 1900 here in Birmingham and l can see for myself by the crowd
 that that figure must be correct. If certainly is proof of the fact that Bir-
 nnr gham has come to the front as d Jonning town. I'm mighty glad of the privilege of coming here and being a
 participant in the big meeting,
 Dick Burnett, Fred Jackson and oth- CT members of the barbecue commit
 lee expressed themselves regarding the
 number of people they served at Ea
 Lake. Who will dare to doubt the
 word of either? They placed the mum
 per at between 1700 and 2o00. many of
 the merchants having their wives anu
 other members of their families with
 them. Several requests were made hv
 local people for coupon books d,,r;n 2
 the Ssoyning, 1t is stated, who had to
 De refused as it was feared there would not be enough for the delegates and the guests had to be taken care of first twelve hundred delegate badges ha,l been ordered for the convention and at noon yesterday a rush order was piaceu Tor 200 more as the entire 1900 were gone.
 According to actual count at the Hates, 300 of the delegates attended the ball game yesterday afternoon and TOT Il heartrending innngs yelled and shouted and rooted and ate peanuts. If was one of the largest crowds at Rick
 wood Field in long time, almost the entire grandstand and bleachers being filed Fully 15o0 people are expected on the special excursion train today. Birmine-
 ham Southern engine No. Ss and F cars Will leave the Louisville and Nashville station at Birmingham at 2:3O o'clock this afternoon, handling the Merchants Spe. ciaf' to Fairfield via the Birminghau Southern railroad
 The engine will be operated by Engi | neer G. w. Payne, who has seen about
 20 years service as engineer, and is ons | Of the oldest and most capable engineers
 in the district, while Fireman J. w. Bur. ton, who takes much pride in the general appearance of his engine, as well as doins his share to encourage it to do its duty on the road. will give his attention 1 to seeing that the necessary steam is 1 supplied. Conductor R. J. Searson. whose reputation. for being responsible for tho proper conduct of many such trains is only exceeded by his ability along thai | line, will officiate and Tranmaster P L.. Plemons, the transportation wizard with his broad experience and ability l In making it comfortable and enjoyabl, | for all. will be present to assist in every | way possible, and to point out and ex. plain briefly to the visitors the points oi | interest along the route.
 | In order to make the trip clean and comfortable coke will be used as engine I fuel, and no anxiety need be felt as tc delays, as none will occur.
 "Thad'' Garretts. an old civil war negro l 69 years old, is the man who barbecued