The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-22
Business Session Will Be Held This Morning and Many Important Mat
 ters Will Come Up
PRESIDENT DAVIS TO SPEAK ON FARM LOANS AT THE JEFFERSON
Election of Officers to Be Held and Candidates Being Groomed for
 Presidency

Every one of the practically 5000 mer- chants visiting Birmingham were fur nished with coupon books as soon as they landed in the city, and in these books were coupons good for almost anything from a knitting needle to a steam en- zine
 At East Lake, to which place they went for the afternoon, after taking in every thing that was takable to the eye, the inner man was crowded with watermelon ice cold, all anybody could eat This was followed by the journey back to the city, where the merchants were entertained at the Bijou theatre, with vaudeville and pictures, the programme being an excep- tionally good one for the occasion.
 The session this morning will be a busi- ness session, following which the after noon will be given over to the pleasure of seeing a baseball game at Redwood park between Pratt City and Ensley of the T. c. I. league for the championship. This will be one of the greatest semi professional ball games of the season.
 ADDRESS BY DAVIS
 Tonight at the Jefferson theatre T. F.. Davis, president of the Federal Farm Loan bank of New Orleans, will address the merchants on farm loans, which, 1t is said, will not only be educational and instructive to the merchants, but will be very beneficial to their communities.
 Tomorrow morning there will be ses- sion at the Tutwler hotel devoted en- tirely to business, when officers will be elected President Waters has declined to serve another term. So his successor will have to be named. The afternoon will be taken up with friendly calls by the merchants on their local friends Thursday night the greatest event of the year will be staged when the fiddlers' contest is waged at the Jefferson The fiddlers for the concert who will compete for the prizes, ranging from $50 to $5, are: pr. D, D. Hollis of Sulligent,
 H. J. McCary, Talladega; James Jack son. Piedmont; J, A. Tunderburg, Crop well; J. $. Coupland, Anniston; J. H.. Kincaid Calcis; B. w. Mckinnon, Talla : dega Springs; John B. Shields, Jasper; J.. C. King, Johns. Judges in the contest will be Col T. o. Smith. George Ward and Judge c. w. Ferguson
 MANY DELEGATE 
 Alabama merchants began to swarm into Birmingham at an early hour this morning, and no more had they hit town than they began to talk about who would be president for the next year. North Alabama landed so strong until it would seem that they will elect Sam H. Leath of Boaz to succeed w. l.. Waters of All exander City South Alabama merchants are going to be outnumbered and MT. Leath will be handed the Savel, 1t would seem, unless last night brought into the city more delegates from the southern end of the state than the register showed yesterday.
 However, election of officers will be deferred until Thursday morning, and delegates were soon told of this by Chair man Chap Hodges of the executive com mittee who is bent on making the vlsl- tors have the time of their lives. They were hied away to East Lake, where swimming took first recognition. Among those contesting for the various swim ming prizes are Miss Emma Duff Of Bes- semer. the only woman contestant; C.. Chisolm, Charles Long, Dug McRobert' R M Goodman, Robert Long, k. l.. Curn.nings l.. Loving, Francis Loving, John Loving, w. w. Kennedy. w. ". Wood, John Huiger, E. M. Mosley, A. M. Osso. Massey Clalon, Anden Mike, Joe Iusley, Jack Kirkland, Cart Kennedy Jack Gruff, R. T. Dunlap, Henry Beatty.