The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-01-29
MERCHANTS ASK
ABOUT CADDO FIRE
STATEMENTS MADE AT MEETING
QUESTION THE EFFICIENCY OF
THE DEPARTMENT ON
THIS OCCASION.

Was there bad management or ineh.
cency in fighting the fire that destroyed
the Fraley building at the corner or
Caddo street and Broadway Sunday
night? This is the question the Ard.
more Business Mems Credit association
win seek to have explained through a
committee appointed is composed of
he Wilmington yesterday evening. The
committee appointed its composed OF
J r. Spragins j. II. AgCe II. G.. Spaul-
ding, o. l.. DENIES and G. NJ. Henley,
and will appear before the city commits.
sion at its meeting this evening and lay
before that body all the information
ihat has come to the members Of the
association and the nature Of the re.
ports made to them. 1t was explained
At the meeting that there was delay in
The departments locating the fire: that
only three tremen came at the first call;
that the water plugs were frozen; that
Mt one plug the water was turned on
before connection was made: that ef,
forts made to call business men having
interests in the vicinity of the fire met
with the reply that they had no tele-
thoues, when il was claimed they did
All these and others were stated to be
among reports coming to the members
Of the association and it was declared
At the meeting last night that if all
these are true and if there was bad man
agement or inefiiciency, they want to
not true, that those upon whom they
might reflect may be cXonerated. The
committee viii ask for full and thor
Ough investigation.
The meeting last night, beginning
with the dinner at 6:30. was very
lively and interesting one. Many sub
iccts were discussed and action taken on
most of them. Among the first things
taken up was that of advertising
schemes and the members agreed 10
patrOnze none such until they have
notified the secretary when presented
TO them, and not until they have been
instigatcd and recommended by the
vigilance committee.
A p2yupweei campaign was dis,
cussed and may be given further atten-
ton. Such plans have been successfully
carried out in other cities, the idea EeinE
10 have full settlements and alw&ys
start new with a clean slate.
The committee appointed at former
meeting to confer with the city com
mission relative to the enforcement Of
the draymen, beggars and peddlers' or
iinances reported that the commission
had assured them the ordinances will be
enforced. New blanks were ordered
Irinted for draymen and they will re-
port every person moved, even includ'
ing those possessing no other property
than trunks and handbags. Some nee
cssary amendments to the present ordi'
nance will be asked for.
Secretary Paul +. Smith read num-
her Of letters received from the food ad'
ininistration and the state council or
defense relative to the curtailment OF
deliveries and other matters connected
with the conservation of food and man
lower. 4 committee was appointed 10
frame recommendations for the grocers
looking to arrangements for decreasing
ne number of deliveries made each day.
another committee will be appointed by
.he president of the association to de-
wise plans for the other merchants and
,nnort their recommendations at the
leXt meeting.
A committee will be appointed on a
publicity campaign to have charge OF
all movements instigated by the asso-
cation. the success Of which may de-
,end largely upon publicity. The pay
i,p.veek proposition will be included in
this.
The question Of bad checks was dis
clsscd. This is an evil that appears to
i've growing and has become a master
.i much loss to nearly all business men.
There was shown an inclinauo- on the
art Of the members to tighten the
,.eins on the matter Of cashinG checks
tNered by persons not absolutely known
and responsible.
A committee composed of c. n. Hen
-av w W. Lewis and r. 3. Reid was
oppointed to make definite recommends
tons as to the local associations becom
,ro a member of the state Retail Mer'
,bants' association and sending dele
gates to its next meeting to be held al
Tulsa Feb 2l.22.
The ineficiency Of the postal service
IN Ardmore was discussed and the as
sociation will lend its best efforts TO-
ward securing the necessary relief ana
the betterment of the service to the
,atrons Of the Office here.