The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-21
TAKE LOAEERS OFF
SHELVES; SEND EN-
WORKING FOR YOU'
Message for Business Read
iustment Delivered to Cot
ton States Merchants by
Norman Johnson.

The period Of readjustment in COM
mercial life in this country, which be-
gan with tremendous slump in prices
OF many articles, and now has reached
PERIOD OF greater advances, Is about
ready for stabilizing influences" said
Norman H. johnson Thursday In open
ing the general conference on business
conditions at the Cotton States Mef-
chants convention.
Il have made a close study Of busi-
ness conditions for years, and believe
the extravagant buying Of luxuries and
high-priced wearing apparel is about
at an end" he said. Retail dealers
may expect general slackening Of
trade for the next five months, large
ly because the rising cost of food and
other absolute necessities will tax the
resources Of most Of the people. The
commercial pendulum is swinging back
ward again, and 1t will be time for
close buying and careful estimating by
you merchants.
"a recent survey Of 5000 stores
proved that more than 30 per cent OF
the owners did not know why they
were not making money, and did not
know much about their own business.
You ought to know how much each
department Of our business is paying
you. and why Keep account with every
department and you'll find, II you have
not done so, that some of the goods
you thought were profitable are losing
you money In tied-up capital More
loafers are on your shelves than ever
come in by the front door. Goods must
be kept moving If you are to make
profit on them. That is one secret Of
success"
Live Store at Black Oak.
Other addresses Thursday morning
were one on present business condi-
tions, by Fred Collins, of the Bank Of
ftOmmNrnp and Trnsf nd
by Luther Ellison, of the Merritt store,
Black Oak, Ark. Black Oak has less
than 400 people, but Mr.. Ellison said
his store is known throughout the con-
fines Of !Craighead county because IT
believes in publicity. The store pub
fishes a weekly letter that is sent to
thousands of farmers, holds monthly
trade day, for the exchange and sale Of
* farm products, keeps in touch with
\ every customer and prospective cis-
prices and aids them with their home
During the afternoon most cf the time
= NRss dawoted To q conference on organ-.
fzed efforts as a factor In community
Ssysl9pmeTt Il. lsd py a W II EtaIdaEh 1ih
Among the other speakers were. q. E
Smell. Lake Village, Ark; IS. J. High.
Tupelo, Miss; MAI. M. A. Walker, Cow
ington, Tenn; Luther. Ellison, Black
Oak, Ark, VIM. Z, Archer and 2. Fon-
Blythevile, Ark; Mayor ]: d. johnson,
Jackson, Tenn. ]. w. Hedgepeth, Rip
ley, Tenn; W. ., Brown. luka,. Miss. :
F. W. Fuerstenbergr Glliett, Ark, and
H. 7. Francis, Halls, Tenn.
Cooperation and Service.
T. B. King during the aftbrnoon talk
ed OF good roads and their relation
to commercial life OF a community and
Graham Hall, Of Nashville, spoke brief
" on fire prevention.
The convention is keeping closely In
line with the association motto. "co-
operation and service" at every ses-
sion and each address has been along
the lines laid down for the present con-
vention, which closes late Thursday
afternoon.
The association will elect new Off
GERS late Thursday There has been
such succession Of business-like ses-
sions that no attention has, been paid
to anything that remotely resembled
politics. It seems to be conceded that
Tennessean will head the association
this year and many wish to vote for w.
H. Maxwell. Of Stanton, a member OF
the association since It was organized
and member Of the board OF COVER
nors. Nx a5 =. ,.l.st ssa, ~ es
Members Of the ominating commit
tee. announced by the president, Mr.
Lamb; Thursday morning, are w. J.
Moody. d. T, Braddock. T. c. Ross, f.
l.. Horton, e. s. Morrison, w. 8. Cope
land, w. II. Morton and J. d. Mar
bury. They are to report at the close
of the days program,
Johnson May Win Again.
The gentlemen named on the resolu-
tions committee are w, B, Cleveland
J.W. Crawford. A. L. Hill, J. W.. Cole
man. w. H. Petty, w. b. Campbell, A.
B, Carter, W. T. Mcknight and ]. w
Brown.
Two contests are to be decided be-
fore final adjournment. A prize will
be awarded the Memphis salesman who
secures the largest number of new
members. The judges in this contest
will be T. B. Hooker, J. r. Privett and
l.. r. Davidson.
A prize will also be awarded the best
speaker of the convention. That prize
was won last year by the Hon. ]. d
Johnson, mayor of Jackson, Tenn.
who won it on the score Of brevity
Judges in the contest are T. B. King
T. A. Osoinach, Luther Ellison, Norman
II Johnson and H, A. Ramsay