The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-12
RICHMOND GROCtRS JOIN
AGAINST CHAM STORES
About Thirty Members OF Local As
sociation Affiliate With American
Grocers' Society.

Letters and kilograms from members
OF the American Grocers' Society In
virginia, North Carolina and Mary
land. were read. endorsing the society,
and short talks were made by Rich
mond druggists who have profited
through the operation of a similar or
ganization at a meeting of the Retail
6rocers Association of Richmond in
Murphy's Hotel last night. The meet
ing was called by President J. B. Yea
mans for the purpose OF having laid
before Richmond grocers the matured
plans of the American Grocers' So
ciety for the fight against the chain
stores which threaten the existence
of the independent grocer.
The session was an interesting one
and much enthusiasm was evident. Sew
eral members of the Richmond asso-
citation Joined the society. bringing the
national organizations membership in
this city to about thirty. The mem
bcrship of the society is about $500
throughout the country. that total hav
ing been reached within less than three
years after the society's beginning.
Member. Give Testimony.
Among the speakers were President
Teamans. who read to the Richmond
Erocers number of letters and tele-
grams from society members in other
cities. heartily endorsing the organiza-
ton and expressing complete sympa
thy with its plans of campaign against
the chain stores. Among those heard
from were grocers in Maxton. \. C.;
Norfolk. Va: Westminster and Cordo-
va, Md, A telegram from David Eze-
kiel editor of the Modern Merchant
and Grocery World OF Philadelphia.
endorsing the American Grocers' So
ciety also was read
Secretary w A. ellis. Of the Rich
mond Grocers' Association spoke brief
ly and enthusiastically of the plans of
the American Grocers Society. He told
of having discussed the organization
with w. \. Clarke. secretary of the
Richmond Retail Merchants Associa-
ton and said MIR, Clarke himself was
unavoidably unable to be present to
speak for the society. Mr.. Clarke. he
said. heartily endorses it and its
movement against chain stores
Richmond Druggtsts speak.
Robert Wood and Andrew Briggs.
Richmond druggists gave testimony of
the benefits to be derived from mem
bership in tho national organization,
basing their opinions on benefits they
had gained through experience with
the American Druggists Syndicate. an
organization of $4,000 druggists for
cooperative merchandising. The
American Grocers' Society is founded
on the same principles as the A ID. S,
they said. and called attention to the
fact that General Manager J. J. Ho-
ran and Secretary Lloyd Curtiss. who
are now here In the interests of the
American Grocers' Society. were for
merly associated with the development
of the y u. s.
Both Mr.. Koran and Mr.. Gurtiss ad
dressed the Richmond grocers and an
swered all questions asked by them
concerning the a. q. s.. its plan of
organization and the scope Of its work
in combating the chain store systems
that today are threatening the exis-
tence of the grocers as the chain cigar
stores did independent dealers in re-
cent years.
The A. G. s. has been organized
little more than two years. Its head
quarters are in Newark. \. J.. where
Il has warehouses. Warehouses are
maintained also in New York. The
American Grocers' Society cuts the cost
of goods to the grocers who are mem
bers by means Of cooperative manu-
featuring, cooperative selling and CO.
operative distributing.