Evening journal., 1915-01-15

mington next June. This means an
attendance of some $50 or 300 per-
sons for four days and is likewise Of
moment from publicity standpoint
At the present moment there are
other conventions in sight with whom
am in correspondence, but any re-
ference to them would necessarily
be premature. The Chamber of Com
merce has also during 1914 been
particularly interested in giving aid.
advice and assistance to the Order
Of Knight Hospitallers. the rural
letter carriers. Christian Endeavor
Societies, churches. etc, who held
small meetings in this city.
During the year 1915 it is my earn
est hope and desire TO obtain other
conventions of such a character as
to prove of permanent worth to the
city.
Mercantile.
The Mercantile Department was
strengthened early in the year by
the absorption of the former Mercan-
tile Association This merger estab-
lished the Chamber of Commerce as
the sole trade organization In the
state.
Briefly, I desire to call your at.
/ tontion to the following important
activities of this Section.
(a) Two highly successful Dollar
Day sales in February and August
respectively.
(b) A most successful Automobile
Trade Excursion to nearby Maryland
I anC Pennsylvania towns, the fruits
Of which have already made them.
selves apparent; witness the alacrity
| with which residents of Chester
I County. Pa, availed themselves d
/ the opportunity of doing holiday
shopping in Wilmington at reduce;
trolley rates secured by the Trad,
Extension Survey Committee of the
Mercantile Section.
(c) An excursion and outing e
+ North East. Maryland. at the express
I invitation of the Board of Trade o.
that town
(d) A Spring Style Week Sale ad
vortised extensively throughout Tn,
DClmarvia Peninsula and nearbl
towns in Pennsylvania and New
Jersey.
(e) The entertainment of $50 De
/ laware business men at noonda!
dinner and rally; many concrete in
stances of new purchasers from 10
cal wholesalers having been reporte,
as a direct result Of this convention
f) Persuading local merchants t.
act uniformly in the matter of clos
ing stores on holidays and keeping
their stores open evenings prior Il
Christmas. Under the increasei
advantages of a larger sectiona
membership, I sincerely hope that !
will be possible to conduct man.
other trade excursions, sales feature
and events of the general characte
indicated above, some of which ar
1 already under consideration It !.
also very much to be desired. how
ever. that the membership of tn
Mercantile Division be increased I
it's very largest capacity in the i'm
mediate future.
I would remind you also that tn
following recently appointed com
mittees from the Mercantile SectiO
are now at work: Committee D
, Wholesale Trade Conditions; Reta
Advertisers. COMMITTEES; Commltte
: on Reciprocal Relations.
) Furthermore. I would especial
recommend to the Mercantile Sectlo
that IL emphasize the work of th
Buy in Wilmington" Committee. !
, this connection. l think II desirabl
that such a committee should cor
, duct a survey with view to ascei
tanning just what grounds there ma
be in reality for the criticisms ofte
heard of local retail stores and the
methods.
/ Civic.
Il must be pointed out that in ii
; field of civic endeavor. the Chambl