Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-14
State Hardware Men Hear
Talks on Cooperative
Stores in North Dakota.
HEARD
THIS
Mail Order Business occa.
sions Exchange of Views
at Convention Here.

\ AT this afternoons session of the
twenty-second annual convention OF
the North Dakota Retail Hardware
Dealers association Il large number
of delegates II guests from all parts
OF the state were present to hear and
t. take part in discussions of vital
Interest to retail merchants i'll all
branches of business Quite Il few
merchants from Grand Forks and
fast Grand t'orks a responded TO
The invitation of the convention to
attend the afternoon session.
= The subject of whether or not
patronage of mail order houses had
been detrimental t the pest inter
ests Of North Dakota, was to be IN
Produced by r. 7. Close of Duluth.
l'ollowing the discussion on mail or
der houses, another exchange or
Aiews regarding the cooperative
stores system, was scheduled to take
place late this afternoon.
Il Reports We're Heard.
; At the morning session a number
of annual reports of officers were
read and approved by the convention
which holds its business sessions i'll
the auditorium of the city hall. NJ.
u, Hussie of. Omaha, Neb., vice
president of tho National Retail
Hardware Dealers association, deliv-
cred an inspiring and enlightening
ADDRESS on Hardware Trade Sur
vey," in which he called special at
fention to the effects of the war on
the hardware trade. MIR. Hussle
pointed u that there had been
many serious difficulties to overcome.
but that the present situation was
quite encouraging in view OF the tact
that all branches of American trade
were more. or less handicapped in
of the abnormal cOndl-
lions prevailing.
( The convention will end it's deliber-
atoms late tomorrow afternoon after
the election of officers.
. Sessions Opened Yesterday.
: Nearly zoo dealers, statesmen and
representatives of wholesale houses
and factories were present when the
convention opened yesterday after
noon, and several more arrived today
The convention was opened at
o'ciock, when President Otto SouS-
Stad of Northwood called it to order
and gave the floor to Rev. Jonathan
Watson, who delivered the invoca-
tion. All the delegates sang Amer
fca,'' and then City Attorney George
A. Bangs extended, in behalf Of the
mayor. the welcome of the city to the
delegates, and President Sougstad re-
sponded for the delegates.
Business Discussed.
The opening feature of the conven-
ton was an address by j. S. Bailey
an editor OF the System" magazine
who asked the delegates: do you
boss your business, or does your bust
ness boss you? The address took
Up a number of subjects connected
with stock, supply. demand. account
ing, etc. and Mr.. Bailey emphasized
especially the fac that hardware
dealers should make an effort to keeI
constantly in touch with every detail
Of the business as we'll as of the mar
ket in general. The cost problem
should be studied thoroughly from
various angles, and care should b.
taken that no n keep too heav.
stock on hand, particularly not il
these times.
Members Of Committees.
The lecture, which was highly in
structive. occasioned a lively discus
sion. and a number of questions wer'
asked Mr.. Bailey, who readily re
Sponded to the call for additional in
formation.
8 Following the discussion. thre
committees were appointed. The com
n1ittee on resolutions was composed