Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-12-12
MERCHANTS To
HERE
Get Together Session at Smoker
Given Last Night

merchants get together" was the
keynote OF the smoker held last
night at the Elks building by the
merchants association of the Cham
ber of Commerce. 1t was without
doubt the largest affair of it's kind
ever held in this city, as more than
two hundred and twenty five busi-
ness men-most of them retail mer-
chants-responded to the call from
the Chamber of Commerce to show
willingness TO come together and
cooperate by listening to men well
versed in business affairs and quail
fed to offer valuable advice.
The meeting was presided over by
George +. Reynolds. who at the out
set presented Mayor Dorsey's regret
at not being able to be present to
address the assemblage. Mr.. Reyn-
olds said that the unusually large
gathering disproved statements that
the merchants of this town could not
be gotten together and aScribed the
success to the work of the committee
in charge, co nposed Of Frank Spie-
gal, Nathan Margaretten and Frank
Woglom under the supervision of J..
f. Kennedy, the assistant secretary
Of the Chamber of Commerce, who
has just taken charge of the mer-
weeks, and by the handling of this
affair has shown his ability to handle
this department efficiently
AS the first speaker Mr.. Reynolds
introduced Attorney Harry Medinets
who, though not business man in
the ordinary sense of the word,
proved his qualifications to address a
group of this kind. Mr.. Medinets
showed quite clearly the possibilities
of Perth Amboy if the right methods
were taken. He spoke particularly
of the advantageous waterfront,
dwelling on the overcrowded condi-
tion Of the New York docks and fa-
cilities which this harbor could offer
the vessels which can not find berth
there Mr.. Medinets pointed out
how only by cooperation the miser-
able train and trolley service can be
remedied.
The greatest essentials, Mr.. Medi-
nets claimed, in order TO make Perth
the Chamber of Commerce to the nth
degree.
Twice during the program James
Ward, a professional entertainer
from New York who had spent many
months entertaining the soldiers in
several of the camps, dealt in
laughs and tried and succeeded in
selling" the audience n good many.
1. T. Madsen, president OF the
Chamber of Commerce, impressed
upon the merchants the necessity of
their backing the Chamber OF Com
merce, both for their own good and
the good Of the city. Mr.. Madsen
pointed out how the merchants have
fallen down on this job, how, with a
paltry membership of 900 and an in
come of only $500, very little can
be accomplished for the city through
this source.
The chief speaker of the evening,
Charles T. Gallagher, of Jersey City,
a trustee of the State Chamber of
Commerce, compared the good show
ing which the merchants of Perth
Amboy made at this meeting to that
of larger cities and commended the
committee highly on the results of
their efforts. Mr. Gallagher. for the
most part, spoke on the possibilities
of organization and cooperation" He
took his own city as an example and
showed how greatly business condi-
tions improved when the merchants
got together and worked for one an
other, instead of the old way of
working against each other. The
source of good work of this kind in
any town, Mr.. Gallagher claimed,
was the Chamber of Commerce. How,
with a substantial membership and
financial backing, a city can 60 so
far as to take up national affairs
when a qualified representation is
behind It,
After a short talk by Mr.. Reynolds
endorsing Mr.. Madsen for second
term of presidency of the Chamber
of Commerce, a rising vote of thanks
was offered Mr.. Gallagher for his
! kindness in coming here and ad-
dressing the merchants and Offering
such valuable advice.
A motion was also made and sec
onded that such meetings as this be
repeated once u month and ii is
thought that these affairs will be an
incentive for greater cooperation
with the Chamber of Commerce
among tho merchants of this city.
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