Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-02-12
LIFE
IS REVIEWED BY
HARDWARE MEN
Insurance, Too, Leading Topic
at Convention at the
Washington.

Honor TO the memory OF Abraham
Lincoln was paid today at the final
session of the fourteenth annual con-
vention Of the Pennsylvania and At
lantic Seaboard Hardware Associa-
ton, which is being held In the
Washington, Broad street.
The speaker was Hugh Diamond, a
hardware retailer, of Gallon, o., who
reviewed the life Of the emancipator
from the humble log cabin to his
raise to the office Of President OF
the United States.
Fire insurance occupied consider
able of the attention of the conven-
tion today. That subject was un-
| der discussion during the period Of
time set apart for the daily question
box. 1t was followed UP by Alfred
NJ. Best, Of New York, who is re-
I gnrded as an authority on insurance.
Mr.. Best went into the details Of
, the mana cement of insurance COM
panies and rate-making principals.
Charles z. Foster, of this city, Chair
man of the committee on resolutions,
urged the adoption OF resolution op-
posing any influence that would seek
to separate from the Pennsylvania
anc Atlantic Seaboard Hardware As
whom. the resolution sets forth. has
of his own free will Joined this organ
ization. The measure was adopted by
the convention.
Resolutions were also adopted ap-
proving several bills pending in the
Pennsylvania Legislature, and then.
thanking the officials of the First Reg
iment Armory for their kindness dur
ing the hardware exhibit. which has
been held in connection with the con-
vention; Mayor Raymond and the Of
fieers of the Board of Trade for the
cordial reception given the delegates,
and resolutions thanking the firm Of
L. Bamberger & Co. for the courteous
treatment accorded the women at
tendants at the convention.
The members of the Board of Trade
last night entertained the delegates
to the convention at a smoker. which
was held in the ballroom of the
Washington. 1t is estimated about
500 attended. A program of enter
tainment, consisting OF vocal and in
strumental numbers, was given. The
committee in charge OF the affair was
headed by Curtis r. Burnett. He was
assisted by Judson Clark and George
Hayell.
The exhibit OF hardware. which has
been held in the Armory, win be
brought to a close tonight. Those in
charge of the affair report It has been
very successful. Yesterday crowds
thronged the Armory during the
afternoon and evening and q great
volume of sales was reported.
The principal speaker at the morn
ing session was Representative r. B.
Stevens, OF New Hampshire. He
spoke on the bill he has introduced in
Congress which has come to be
Known as the Stevens 'Re-Sale Price
Bill"
The measure was urged, Congress
man Stevens said, by reason of the
injustice done persons in business by
other merchantmen cutting prices on
standard hardware. Under the pro-
vision OF the present bill, the man
ufacturers will be permitted to enter
into a contract with a retailer to sell
a certain article to the consumer at
fixed price which shall not be
lowered.
Representative Stevens said in
part:
"This question is of particular in
terest at this time by reason Of some
recent decisions made by the Su-
preme Court interpreting the Sher-
man antitrust act There are three
classes of people interested in this
resale price question, namely, the
manufacturer retailer and, most i'm
portant of all-the consumer. The
claim has been put up that sale
price contract works an injustice to
the public. That may have been true
in the case of the Standard Oil and
the Tobacco Trust. But in this case
it is different The bill gives the
manufacturer the right to enter into
such a contract II he sees fit to do
So"
Retailers Favor Measure.
Retailers favor this measure" the
speaker continued. mot because they
fear competition, but because they OBJ
ject to unfair competition, which is
permitted under the present condition
of affairs.
Department stores have been
among the worst offenders in this
matter OF price-cutting on standard
articles. Such methods tnjure the
reputation of the goods.
THE retailer who lives in q com-
munity where this price-cutting Is
going on eventually has to drop that
class of goods. There is where the
manufacturer is hit. and l have
known cases where price-cutting has
worked havoc with the manufactur-
ers."
Mr.. Stevens spent some time ex-
fCoutiuued on PeRe g Column eA