Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-05
DRY GOODS ASSOCIATION
TO MEET NEXT IN ATLANTA
Georgia City Wins In Sharp Contest
With Advocates Of
Asheville.
LEE. OF ROANOKE, PRESIDENT
Norman III. johnson, Of Richmond,
Is Reelected Secretary-Cam-
paign to Improve Standards of
Retail Country Stores Launched.

Yielding to the pressure brought to
bear by n determined delegation OF
Georgians, carrying with them a franz
ed Invitation signed by Governor Har-
ris and a number Of prominent citizens.
the Southern Wholesale Dry Goods AS
ISOLATION. which had been In session at
the Jefferson Hotel for two days. yes
terday. by unanimous vote, selected
Atlanta as the next meeting place or
the association.
Threatened agitation for the selec-
ton OF Asheville. n. c., as the perma-
nent convention city for the Southern
tobhers failed to develop. and all the
delegates joined in the conclusion that
the pressing invitation from the me
tropolis of the Cracker State was not
lightly to be declined. Rioters for the
popular North Carolina summer resort,
In setting up their claims before tho
time for actual selection came. urged
that Ashevllle would he the ideal con-
vention city by reason of its central
location and excellent climatic condl-
lions.
The Virginia contingent scored dis
tnct victory yesterday In the selection
OF James +. Lee, OF Roanoke, az presi-
dent OF the association. succeeding f.
w. King, Of Bristol Tenn. Secretary
Norman II. Johnson, OF Richmond. was
reelected to the position he has held
for many years.
OTHER OFFICERS ELECTED
By SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION
Other officers elected yesterday were
as follows:
First vice-president. Jesse Thomas.
81 Knoxville. Tenn; second vice-presi
dent, Alex Bloch. of Mobile. Ala; teas
directors. j. X. jolly. OF Petersburg;
e. Fred Thomas, of Chattanooga, Tenn:
p. b. Hofmayer, OF Albany, Ga: A. q.
Teho. of New Orleans and F. Fl. Koble-
cord. of ClarksburE, ". Va: chairmen
OF divisions. r. c. Volts, of LynchburG;
a. T. poiser. of Knoxville. Tenn; ].
r. Settle. of Atlanta. Ga: Walter Lob
man and John T. bona. OF Charlest on.
W. Va. The convention adjourned ar
ter the installation of the new officers.
After a hot fight In the committee
having the matter in charge, the move
ment to admit To membership in the
association all those Southern States
west OF the Mississippi River, met with
decisive defeat on the floor OF the CON-
vention. Opponents OF tho enlargement
scheme pointed out that firms repre-
scented in the Southern Wholesale Dry
Goods Association. as II is now consti-
tuted, are situated in sections having
much the same problems to solve. whilo
jobhers ia other parts OF the country
face entii~'y different conditions.
ADVOCATES AN
EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN
A helpful cooperation between tho
johber and the re;al merchant and the
launching of educational campaign de-
signed to teach tbs country customer
tina, II is good business to spend his
money with the local retail dealer
rather than with the distant mail-order
ir,n q ftt ne ~
chant with the Importance Of keeping
en- up-to-date store for the attrac-
ton OF home trade, were urged in an
address before the convention yestcr-
LAY afternoon by o. J.. stanard' OF
Huntington. ". Va.
Mr.. Stanard Ia in favor OF raising q
fund Of from 900 to $4,000 among
the tobbcrs and their customers for
carrying on systematic campaign foi
that purpose
Our country stores" said Mr..
Stanard. ARE not up-to-date. The coun-
try girl may not pay as much for
her shoes and suits as the city girl.
tut they must have high heel and
be FUR trimmed. She reads tho maya
zines. studies the fashion sheets. knows
the lates, style, while the merchant
Is not hecpine pace with the consum-
ing public.
"He has II thrown in his face every
DAY He stands around with a
chip on his shoulder because he is
not doing ~ we'll he used TO. and
he does not know anything TO do but
to act ugly with his tobber. Often
times. when 60 to him he says,
business Is going back. Why? Be
cause he is not keeping pace with the
times II We only improve the stand
e Ing OF our merchants. we Will do a
= great deal toward eliminating the
+ abuse Of letting his account run long
n past due.
: AGRICUL'U MARKETS
d GO WITH RETAIL STORES
u Just in proportion as the mall
u order houses usurp the trade Of the
. retail merchant. the community loses
= material prosperity The retail stores
Il arc tho life of the villages without
q them agricultural markets could not
ne maintained. The value OF farm
u lands would depreciatc. The general
q prosperity Of the community and the
q country villages would cease. The
I Johber by his mode of economic dis
tribution is preventing the breaking
up Of the very system that has built
UP the country.
The small retailer should know that
( the jnbhers are his friends. We ought
to start a campaign, asking the mer-
. chant to improve his store. make 1t
more up-to-datc. and In keeping with
the community. and advising the pub
lie how important ii is to buy goods
c at home"
t During the two sessions held by the
. association on the final day OF the con-
II vention many technical papers related
. TO the trade we're read by the dele
. gates, and there were many discus
sions OF a general nature. Some OF
9 the delegates left last nigh, for their
: homes in various rarts OF the South.
s. Others will leave to-day.
;, PREACHER BROWN FINED