Omaha daily bee., 1916-02-19
RETAIL GROCERS
HAVE Big BANQUET
Meet with the Butchers in Annual
Feed and Promote Welfare Of
Association.
MANY INTEREsTINGs SPEAKERS


Two hundred and fifty members OF
the Retail Groeers' association, to-
gether with members of the Butch
ers' association and other invited
guests, sat down to. the annual ban
quet at the Rome hotel Thursday
night.
II there were any doubts about the
enthusiasm of the grocers for the
association and the work 1t is doing,
that doubt was all dispelled long be-
fore the gathering broke up, which
was not until a late hour.
The banquet, which is intended to
lead others that will follow at the
close of each fiscal year, turned out
to be not merely feast, but jolli-
fication in celebration of the success
attained by that organization since
new life was put into It one year ago.
Deeply in debt twelve months ago,
the report of the secretary, J. j.
Cameron, showed that now all debts
had been paid and goodly sum is
in the treasury to be used in such
manner as occasion demanded.
During the banquet entertainment was
provided by the Rome Hotel orchestra
and singers.
1t was 10 o'clock when President Wise
rose to introduce the FIRST speaker. Penn
Fodrea. advertising manager OF the Iten
Biscuit company who spoke on "Ju-
ldicious Advertising for the Grocer" Mr..
Fodrea was very convincing in urging the
necessity OF advertising and outlining
clearly what he considered feasible in
grocery advertising, laying particular
stress on the fact that the housewife
does 90 per cent OF the grocery buying
and that the merchant must direct his
efforts to place the qualities of his
goods, his service and his prices before
her. He emphasized the necessity for
efficient service, plus square dealing, in
building a business.
Need of Accounting.
Clinton L. Oliver OF the advertising de-
partment of The Bee spoke on Modern
Business Methods" Mr.. Oliver attribu-
ted the large number OF failures in the
grocery business to the fact that the
equipment of the individual was often
Observation-Disclosures too many entered
business without sufficient capital, judg-
ment and knowledge to make a success.
The main part of Mr.. divers address
was given to a discussion of accounting
and its absolute necessity in engineering
a business.
When President Wise introduced J. J.
Cameron as the best secretary the as
sociation ever had" the members backing
him up with a rousing reception to Mr..
Cameron. During the course Of his ad-
dress Mr.. Cameron made a strong plea
for a boost Omaha" spirit among the
members. He urged cooperation with
the Commercial club. manufacturers and
tobbers. "Selfishness is and must be
eliminated in this organization IL II is to
succeed" said Mr.. Cameron. I'VE must
be for Omaha and every enterprise that
will build up Omaha. System is a neces-
sity in our business. and we are grad
ually getting more of II In our retail
grocery stores. This association is teach
ing us what we can do by cooperation.
Many of the good things we are now
enjoying are the fruits OF corporation.
BY another year our association Will
easily be double it's present size.
Robert Huntington, president Of the
Council Bluffs Retail Grocers asROcia-
ton, told of the work of their organiza-
tion and urged the Omaha ASSOCIATION
to agitate for a state organization OF
grocers in Nebraska, also to affiliation
with the National association.
Recalls Early Days.
Julius Keppner, president of the Iowa
Grocers' association, spoke briefly on the
benefits of the organization and recalled
memories OF the early days In the gro
Gerry business when men in the same line
never rubbed shoulders together In any
work. never mingled socially and made
competition almost the same thing as
enmity. He recalled one instance where
two men engaged in business on the
same street for twenty years and had
never met 20 shake hands "organiza-
tion," said Mr.. Keppner, has brought
men together and made them see the
humanity in the other fellow and to
recognize his right to live and be n
businessmen only to do that, but 10 help
him with all his problems so that he
may better enjoy life and prosperity. and
establish a confidence among COM
petltors."
G. w. Preston, advertising manager OF
. The Bee, spdke on Lack of Salesman
ship Behind the Counter" Mr.. Preston, In
his work, has had occasion to study the
value of service and sslesmanship in
linking up with mercantile advertising
and brought out very clearly that while
advertising will produce the customers
before the counter, 1t largely depends on
the service behind the counter for the
success of a business. Mr.. Preston 3
topic was one so easy for the merchants
20 understand, because they are in con-
tact with It every day, that his remarks
- were especially appreciated.
butchers TO Meet Here.
V. T. Kuncle. president of the Omaha
Butchers association. spoke Interestingly
on the work his organization is dolne
and reminded his hearers of the big ma.
tional butchers convention that is TO be
held in Omaha this year. when delegate
from all over the United States will be
n attendance.
G. f. Dolan of Western. Neb., a hard.
ware merchant. closed the program will
an address on The Benefits OF Organi-
zation." Mr.. Dolan has long been 4
worker for a state federation of retailers
and impaired lot Of his enthusiasm "a
his hearers
That the occasion was enjoyed by