Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-18
Members Of 26 Retail Firms
Discuss Problems at Meet
ing Last Night.
PERFECT DEFENSE
AGAINST "HOLD UP"
One Result OF Organization Will BE
Tha! Retailers Will Not Subscribe
Money for Purpose Not Approved
by "Cens0r' Board,

Represen atives of 26 retail firms Of
Fine Bluff spent more than two hours
last night, in session at the assembly
hall of the chamber of commerce
taking steps necessary for the organ
ization of the Retail Merchants as
ISOLATION, as an auxiliary of the
chamber of commerce.
There was considerable discussion
of many matters of prime importance
to the retail merchants. before a
motion was offered that an organiza-
ton be formed The motion was
cfIFtd without dissenting vote
and Immediately thereafter E. M.
Schober was made chairman and E.
b. Bloom, secretary of the chamber
OF commerce, was made secretary.
These officers will serve until perma-
nent organization is perfected
Full and free discussion was had
until past 10 o'clock, when, because
of the late hour, adjournment was
taken until next Tuesday night, at
O'Clock, at the chamber of commerce
rooms.
TO Curb Solicitations.
One matter that was definitely de-
cided last night, was to have every
member of the association pledge
himself not to subscribe to any fund
for any purpose, until the purpose had
received the approval of censor"
committee, TO be composed OF men,
bers of the association and of the
chamber of commerce. acting as a
joint body.
The membership Of this committee
is to be secret, no one to know who
exercises the power of censorship eX-
cept the. president and secretary OF
The two organization, and the COM
mittee to work thru Secretary Bloom.
1t was made clear that this censor
committee would protect the retail
business men from the unworthy and
undeserving movements, and at the
same time would be welcomed by the
worthy causes for which funds are
necessarily raised by subscription.
A committee of three members was
decided upon, to see other retail mer-
chants of the city, to urge them to
affiliate with the organization and
especially to take and adhere to the
pledge as to solicitation for subscrlp-
tons.
Approve Early Closing.
A committee from the organization
has been given the duty to call on
the three or four retail merchants
who have been keeping their stores
open at nights recently. Efforts will
be made to have these merchants
close their stores at 6 o'clock, for the
day, executing Saturdays, and it ap-
peared to be the sense of the meeting
that if "moral suasion" does not ac-
complish the results, some other
method would be found of bringing
about the desired end.
A resolution was adopted APPROX
ing the course of the city council IN
adopting an ordinance to tax heavily
the person or firm which comes TO the
CITY to do business for very short
time only, during the busiest and best
season and which does nothing to aid
in supporting the city, 1t developed
also that the association intends to
call upon the council for other ordl-
nances along lines of the same gen
eral nature. Among the things thu
association will ask of the city coun-
ell. will be ordinances to properly
regulate travelling shows, tent shows
and affairs of such nature. the prac-
tice of fruit stands selling groceries
also will be taken up, and the assocla-
zion will seek to have the matter CO.
rected.
Urge "Buy at Home"
It was agreed that the ASSOCIATION