Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-11
STOCKDAtE SPEAKS TO
VISITING MERCHANTS
Advises Closer Attention to Cost and
to Amount Of Goods in
Store.
TRADE WEEK DRAWS CROWD
Public Ball i'll Open Air at Broad
and Tenth Streets Tonight Is
Planned ms Unique Feature of This
Years Better Acquaintance Week.

After another good day of Better
Acquaintance week last nights pro-
gram in the ballroom OF the Richmond
Hotel furnished visiting merchants
with great deal OF helpful instruc-
ton iii business methods and contained
III addition Il large share OF genuine
relaxation and enjoyment. Frank
Stockdalc, secretary OF the national
education committee of the Associated
Advertising clubs OF the World, and
lecturer on business problems. al
thouh arriving late on account
Of Hood delayed trains. was atten-
lively heard III his plea for more
efficient management.
In spite of threatening weather 500
people gathered i'll the ballroom last
night Before Mr.. Stockdale arrived
talks were made by w. \. Clarke .Jr.,
secretary Of the Retail Merchants AS
sociatiou, on organization in Mer-
Chandizinc." by Horace T. Smith and
by Norman II. Johnson. The entire
crowd joined in the singing OF Amer
lea and "Tipperary."
w. /. Dahney. business manager Of
the Richmond Chamber OF Commences
presided over the meeting and made
remarks from time 10 time. Some of
the speakers We're in serious vein
while others devoted themselves al
most entirely 10 keeping the crowd in
high spirits. Refreshments were
served after the conclusio. of tho
speeches. and after the refreshments
there was dancing.
ENrt1I SIASTIC OVER
SUCCESS OF WEEK
Win the Better Acquaintance Week
nearing its close, the promoters of the
enterprise are enthusiastic over it's sue
cess. Never before in the history of
'hc occasion have as many out-of-town
merchants attended, and never before
Of
rangemcntS. hiss every part OF the pro-
gram worked 50 smoothly and easily
VIC are surprised and delighted at
the way people have attended and at
the absence of friction which has
marked the carrying out of our plans"
declared Horace r.. Smith last nigh,
Mr. Smith then explained that i'm view
OF many obstacles in the way at this
time, II smaller crowd than in the past
might reasonably have been expected
uhoaunted' however, the visitors have
come III larger numbers than ever
NO less than forty PARTIES have ar
rived i'll automobiles from Virginia and
North Carolina. it is stated: Florida
sent delegates who arrived yesterday.
maxim six states represented
The program for the remainder of
me week includes the public ball i'm
nohot Oh me visitors Tonight on Tenth
street and trips to moving pictures
ana baseball games tomorrow. I'm
hs'ed personal entertainments will be
given by number of Richmond busi
ness men.
ST0GKDALE APPROVES
or TRADE WEEK IDEA
Mr.. Stockdale expressed his approval
OF TN" Better Acquaintance Week idea
last night after the spccch-makinr- w,.
over. 1T is based on absolutely sound
principles he said. The more pcople
who come TO Richmond whether ihcv
buy or not, the better off the town viii
ne AS time goes on. the week will no
ieSS extensively an entertainment fes-
tINal. and more AN occas sion for Tho
education OF the people. The more eff
hclrnt the merchants arc in tho sur-
rounding territory. the better Will bo
tie business Of the men who deal with
them III Richmond"
In his remarks from the platform,
air. Stnckdale advised the merchants N
seek greater profits, not NOR. sales
Guess work is sending thirty merchants
10 the wall every day. lie declared Tho
merchant must know as much about
MS store as the dairyman docs about
his cows.
Tine fy-paper stage Of business &c
Past, said the speaker. Customers
u"nt iiShi and stick any moro Tho
merchant must go after the business
ne city merchant. who has become
IN" active competitor OF the countrv
Storekeeper. spends many times as
much on advertising as does the conn
'rEman. And much OF the lattcr's ad-
VertisinE Is inefficient"
IN vigorous speech on present busj.
ness conditions filed with eNpert ad
wee as 10 the future. Norman a Iohn-
son. editor Of the Merchants .Iournal
Impressed long enough TO pa tribu,n
l" President Wilson The present
need of tho country" said AIr Jobn-
SON calls for the unanimous support
OF me greatest statesman who has ever
been III the presidential chair-wood
ROY wilson, Loud applause showed
now the audience felt on the matter