The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-06-12
OF
STATE IN Big
NINOT MEETING
Minot Citizens and Visi-
tors to Hold Commun-
ity Fete
TRACY BANGS I'M
PLEA FOR UNITY
President Mann of State
Association Gives
Address

Minot, June 12-Citizens Of MInot
will join with the North Dakota Re-
tailers tonight at a community pro-
gram, one OF the big features Of the
Retailers convention which opened
in Minot yesterday. A song program
| will be given in the Grand theater.
| Alexander Kari Of Jamestown will
address the audience on "Commun-
ity Building. At the conclusion Of
the program at the theater a pave
ment dance will be held on Main
street.
Meeting on Today.
The question dealt with in the ad-
dresses, today were in the main Of
interest to retailers only. A. B. Dill,
secretary of the Minot Credit asso-
citation, spoke on Credits and Credit
Association; w. D. Austin. secre-
tary OF the North Dakota Retail Mer-
| chants Mutual Fire Insurance Co.,
spoke on Mutual Fire Insurance;
D. w. Clark, Valley City. secretary
ance Co, spoke on the same sub
Ject. The closing address of the
| morning session was given by ]. j.
| Ryan, secretary Of the National Re-
tailers' association and his subject
was Good Of the Association.
The afternoon session was featured
by addresses by Frank ]. Erling,
| Planning an Advertising Cam
paign; H. s. Mcintyre, editor Twin
City Commercial Bulletin, How to
Advertise a General Merchandise
Results; T. A. Moon, Chicago,
Twelve Essentials Of Successful Re-
failing" "A representative of the
| Federal Reserve bank Of Minneapolis
| is expected to address the conven-
| ton late this afternoon on TRADE
Acceptance"
Last evening the visitors were mi
tiated into the Sublime Order of I'm
organized Prunes, which affair
brought the Red Cross a substantial
Bangs Makes impression.
Tracy r. Bangs. noted Grand Forks
orator, delivered the principal address
yesterday afternoon and made a de-
cided impression. His discourse
was largely patriotic and a plea for
unity during these war times. Mr.
Bangs paid tribute to Minot for re-
electing w. S. Shaw despite "oppo-
sition fom certain self-appointed
leaders Of our state.
The other address Of the afternoon
was delivered by Sen. George Peter
son in Minnesota who spoke on sub
stitutes and regulations.
DR.. Ladd, federal food administra-
tor, did not arrive for yesterday aft
ernoon's session at which he was
to speak. but he will address the
convention Thursday.
s@ President Talks.
1.-THE merchants Of North Dakota
are on trial before the bar of public
opinion. declared Pres. Fred P.
Mann when submitting his annual
report at the afternoon session yes
terday. I'VE have been indicted by
the mail order houses, we have been
indicted by Townley and the farm
ers of the state. we have been in
dicted by the food administration,
and it Is up to us to stand up and
defend ourselves against the
charges" he declared.
Mr.. Mann emphatically declared
that the mail order houses have been
responsible for socialism and Town
leytsm, having educated the people
against the merchants until the
ground WAS thoroughly inoculated
for the propagation of misrepresen-
tation which has brought charges
against the merchants. He refuted
the charges of prodteering and ex-
cessive prices which are the founda-
ton Of the entire opposition to the
merchants. He showed conclusively
that at no time have the merchants
had anything to do with increased
prices Of foodstuffs. In regard to the
prices of substitutes Mr.. Mann said
the high prices of substitutes is the
fault OF someone back farther in the
handling of these commodities If
of anyone. He citel several in
stances showing the prices Of sub
stttutes, to be higher than the prices
of the articles for which they sub
stitute.
The president drove home the ne
cessity Of advertising by declaring
that the secret of success Of the mail
order houses was in advertising. He
urged the retailers to use their local
papers as an advertising medium
and assured them they' would find
fewer inroads into their business by
mail order concerns.
SEQ. w. A. Donnelly Of Fargo sub
mitted a statement OF receipts and
disbursements for the year showing
balance on hand over $1,984.57.
Owing to the many late arrivals
yesterday only a brief session was
held yesterday morning. The wish
tors were welcomed to Minot by
George State, president Of the local
association. and d. A. Long. presi-
dent Of the Minot Association of
Commerce. The response was made
by President Mann. George M. Pet
srson, secretary OF the Minnesota
Retail Grocers and General Mer-
chants association, brought greeting