The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-20
ANNUAL MEETING
 OF bOARDOF TRADE J. D. Rosenberger Succeeds
 R. w. Ewing as President PLANS FOR FUTURE
Will Work for More Adequate Protec- ton for Merchants From Fake Sales-Much JubilatiOn Over
 Solvent Credits Victory

Amid great enthusiasm J. D. Rosen- stalled. with his new officers. as presi- dent of the Board of Trade.
 The new president made a feeling address in which he stated that he fels to the fullest extent the responsibility of his position and promised to do everything in his power during his ad- ministration for the board. :
 He outlined some of his more im- portant plans for the year, among them protection of the merchants of the city against fake sales. itnerant merchants misleading and untruthful advertising
 The committee reports of the retiring administration showed the progress made during the year in various matters of interest to the city and the retail merchants. Charles E. Rice explained the fight made for solvent credits how 1t had been made and the present status of the issue since the law passed by the legislature repeating the solvent cred It's act Mir Rice was enthusiastically received. He was called upon by George Blinn, chairman of the legislative com mittee, who was in direct charge of the solvent credits fight for the board On 8 motion made by J. b. Shelby. a unanimous vote of thanks was rendered to MT. Rice. II. U. sims and B. A. Thomp- .son for their work on the solvent cred- it's matter. Attorney R. V. Evans was reelected attorney for the board and was also thanked for his assistance in the solvent credits and other campaigns during the year.
 Retiring President Ewing briefly sketched his administration, saying that he felt more than amply repaid for the time and energy he had given the of- flee during the year, and named George Blinn and K. V. Evans to escort the new president to the chair. MT. Rosenberger then spoke as follows:
 Feels the Responsibility
 "The honor that you have conferred upon me in placing me at the head of this organization is an honor that, how ever much I do not desire l highly ap- preciate and value l trust that by an enthusiastic devotion to the welfare of the Board of Trade that I may in q measure, show evidence of the appre- ciation that I feel.
 lne IeellnBB that come over me at this mement are more of responsibility. than of honor. Honor carries with 1t re- sponsibility, and it is of that responsi- bility that am thinking. and the bright hope through 1t all Is the spirit of CO., operation that you have given my pre- decessor, Mir Ewing. and which I trust will be given as freely and Loyalty to me. A chain is no stronger than It's weakest link, and all of us are links in the Board of Trade.
 May we all. each of us, strive to strengthen one another by an unswerv- ing interest in the affairs of our organ izatfon, and by the performances of such duties as may from time to time be as - signed to us. I most earnestly beg of every man his hearty support in our work during the new year
 Il will not at this time present to you complete programme of work that hope to see accomplished during my administration. However tNere are two or three undertakings that l wish to mention briefly
 one Of these is for us to devise ways and means for securing more adequate protection for the merchants of Birming- i ham. Protection from fake sales, from itinerant merchants. from misleading and untruthful advertising We have on the statute books of our city, laws against
 
 will be not so much to secure new legis- lation, as it will be to see that the laws are enforced that We already have. "A matter that has occurred to me in this connection and one I recommend to you, Is that we shall compensate our attorney. During the past year his serv- ices have been in constant demand and while he has never complained, I feel that 1t is but fair that he be compensated and by reason that during the coming year to accomplish our objects, we shall have to make frequent and heavy de. mands upon his time. . And this brings up the maA oi nnances Gentleman, you cannot sA 'ess- fully conduct the affairs of any orgA 'za- , ton without funds. There is due the K I'd of Trade a fund of several hundred K ,l- lars by the Chamber of Commerce Id I believe that we should ask that tAIs | money be turned over to us.
 "The past year has been. as we all know, unsatisfactory from a business | standpoint. The European war has fallen 1 like a big rock in the pond of business. and we have all felt the ripples of that disturbance. And that is the reason why l we should stand together and work to- gether in harmony.
 Every business peeds all of the good l will and business 1t can get. We need 1 that in normal times, and we need it even l more fin times like these. And so I plead that controversies and disputes between the city and corporations be brought to an erd. There Is no pleasure or profit in con. 1 tinual wrangling Let us each do what WI can to change these things. "The Trade in Birmingham campaisf l that MT. Ewing has 50 vigorously pro noted during the past year. is work VI should immediately assume. I assure you | that 1t shall bo ono of the principal ob.
 lCsntinusA sn Pass uaGAt.A