The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-06-28
RETAIL FURNITURE
DEALERS HolO ANNUAL
meeting IN OAhv|llt
Virginia, North Carolina and South
Carolina Represented at
Convention.
PRESIDENT, IN REPORT.
APPROVES EXCESS PROFIT TAX
Urges Convention to Take Action
Against Mcasure-G. b. Sydnor. OF
Richmond, Makes Address.

Especial to The Richmond Virginian.)
Danville. Va. June 27.-With about
one hundred and fifty delegates at
tending from the states Of Virginia,
North and South Carolina, the South
ern Retail Furniture Dealers associa-
ton opened its two days convention
this afternoon at the Y. NJ C. A. au-
ditorium; listened to welcoming ad-
dresses and responses: the reading of
trade papers by delegates, and the
announcement OF committees. After
wards an. automobile tour of the city
and suburbs, the serving of refresh
ments and a public meeting at night
completed the days program
President w. NJ. Waters. of Flor
ence, s. C.. presided and submitted
his annual report, At the opening
session. after prayer by Rev. ]. Cleve-
land Hall. Mayor Harry Wooding on
behalf Of the city. made welcoming
address. in the course of which ne
extended the freedom and the friend
ship of the city. He extolIed Dam
vilie's attractions. its initiative and
public spirit. its great industries. its
progressive government and flourish
ing public utilities.
Henry B. Watkins. on behalf of the
chamber Of commerce, supplemented
the oficiaI welcome with another from
Chism, local furniture dealer. on
behalf Of the trade babe the visitors
welcome. He spoke with enthusiasm
on the benefits accruine TO the trade
as result Of the work of the tri-
state organization and its removal Of
obstacles that beset the path of the
retail men prior to their organization
Eve years ago.
President Waters. in response to
. M
at the systematic and cordial reception
accorded them when they alighted
from the trains and warmly acknowl-
edged the Inequalities extended Fol-
lowing the response. President Waters
made his annual report, which he
said had been curtailed in prepara-
t!on by reason Of Entertainments on
his employees force by enlistment He
recommended that the convention
should take pronp. action in oppo-
sition to the proposed excess profits
tax pending In congress. He also
urged that the convention consider the
matter of remedying indifferent and
defective packing as result of
which losses and delays in shipping
and receiving goods were frequent
Another recommendation was that
some central meeting place. say in
North Carolina, be selected In order
TO enable the greatest possible num-
Der OF member firms to attend.
Secretary Makes Report.
Secretary j. A. Gilmore. OF Char
lsttesville. Va, presented long re-
port. He rec!ted the circumstances
OF the amalgamation OF three state
associations into one and expressed
qualification at the larger influence
suggested that q new schedule OF COL
suggested that a new schedule of COL
lection charges be prepared and pre-
sented for action by the convention.
The present ten per cent charges, he
contended. does not cover the cost
No legislation adverse to the trade
had been enacted by state legislatures
since the last convention. Manufac-
turers throughout the country. II was
reported. are now selling only to, IL
censed dealers and not pensioners
direct.
There were on the roll ISL mem
bers TO which thirty additional had
recently been secured. Fourteen of
tn new members are from North Car
DINA. Referring to the habit of GER
tain magazines shopping for their
readers. he reported abandonment of