The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-03-05
MERCHANTS Meet
AND ORGANIZE THE MADISON
MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION.

Madison merchants and business
men 10 the number of forty held a
meeting at Geo. Beek's store last
evening and organized the Madison
Merchants association. The matter
of such organization had been under
consideration for several weeks. and
III. b. Watkins, secretary of the Alb
erdeen association, had been invited
to visit the city and at a meeting ad-
dressed business men on the subject
of merchants organizations under
the plan generally in vogue and the
benefits of such organization TO the
merchants and patrons of business
houses of a town. A committee ap-
pointed at that meeting made a can
vass among business men and readi-
ly secured sufficient names for mem
bership in the organization TO war
rant further action in the matter of
permanent organization. Member
ship requires a nominal entrance fee
and monthly dues which make up a
fund for the maintenance OF the as
ISOLATION. the secretary of the organ
ization to be paid a salary for his
services. The membership listed
comprises men engaged in all lines
of business in the city and the work
of the association is along lines sim
liar to the commercial club plan X
cept that il is more directly in the
interest of local business men and
their patrons and buyers of goods in
the city. the secretary of the organic
alton supervising the interests of
both merchants and patrons. Wher-
ever the associations are in existence
and there are several in South Da-
kota towns, they have proven very
successful for the purposes for which
they are intended. The organization
is purely for the business betterment
Of a town or city, making conditions
better for the local buyer and people
who may come from outside towns 10
the city to do their shopping.
At last evenings meeting tempo
rary organization was effected by the
election OF T.. J. Sutton. chairman.
and VIM. Rae. secretary. Permanent
organization was then completed by
the election of +. J.. sutton presi-
dent. f. W. Ketcham, vice president.
r. G. Smith, treasurer. Directors. j..
A. Johnson. Crist Rensch. II. J..
Munro, W. T Stearns. Geo. Beck, f..
III. ID. Nreyens. IL will be observed
that the directors are chosen from
the different lines of mercantile bust
ness represented in the city. and il
Is designed hat the directors shall
rpresent the heads OF different de-
partments OF the association. The
secretary shall be elected by the Of
fcers and directors of the associa-
ton. salary provided for his services.
and il is presumed that he will de-
vote practically all of his time to the
business interests of the city and the
members of the association which he
serves.
Constitution and bylaws were pre-
sented and read at last evenings
meeting and signed by those who
were present and who had signed the
preliminary list for membership.
Without tr~ansacting further business
the association adjourned.
There is no doubt the organization
will result in great benefit TO the
business interests of the city. and it
is a source of satisfaction to realize
that Madison mercantile interests
are of such magnitude that such an
organization has become necessary
i'm the estimation of business men.
There is nothing in the organization
that smacks of combination TO in
crease prices or anything else. but
rather to so harmonic conditions
that prices may be reduced. The by
laws set ut.very plainly that the as
ISOLATION is for the purpose of better
ing business conditions. both in the
interest of the merchant and the
buyer.