New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1920-04-03
Citizens Respond to Public Meeting.
Merchants Strongly Urged to Cooperate
and Bring Shoppers to NeW Iberia

Last Tuesday night, March 30th took
place the regular monthly meeting Of the
New Iberia Chamber of Commerce at
its office on East Main Street The
Secretary Manager had issued to each
member special notice, inviting them
to participate in the proceedings, being
determined to get as many of the mem
bers present, so that ideas would be ex-
changed that would be beneficial to the
community.
We noticed in the audience a numbsr
of faces we had never seen at any of the
previous meetings. There were several
gentlemen from the country districts who
also responded, showing that the influ-
ence of that civic body is commencing to
be felt throughout the entire Parish.
A large number Of the business men
of New Iberia who are always willing TO
give their time and assistance in public
matters was also on hand. vet the absence
of some of the largest property holders of
our City was very noticeable.
Owing to the unavoidable absence cf
the President, Mr. Alfred Lewald. tae
vice president, Mr.. E. H. Buffinton
called the meeting to order, stating that
Mr.. Shepherd, representative of the
Chautauqua Association wished to- ad-
dress the signers Of the contract that
madA the Chautauqua possible for the cit
liens of New Iberia.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Mr..
Frank Noel, the Manager of the Cham
Der then addressed the audience in his
usual frank manner bringing out many
ideas that took deep root with the mem
bers. He dwelt considerably on the need
Of real co-operation among the business
men, especially among our merchants,
impressing them with the great im-'
portance of pulling together, so as to
counteract the efforts of the foreign
houses TO get trade that belongs to me
New iberia merchant. Buying at home,
Mr.. Noel said. should be driven into the
mind of every citizen, and this could be
accomplished # the merchants will to-
operate with one another and carry sucn
stocks. or as he said, get the customers,
confidence, and let them know that even
if they have not the identical piece of
goods desired, they have something else
equally as good to offer. He related his
personal experience, stating that some
statesmen tell their customers right off the
bat, as It were, 1--WE have not got such an
article in stock" without making any ef-I
fort to show something equally as good,
when he knew that the stores in question
carried stocks that would answer the pn--
pose of the one requested. He left good
imoression upon his listeners.
Cata1og houses, we all know have in
jured the business houses of New Ibe-
ria, and Mr.. Noel hit the nail on the head
when he stated they should work to-I
gether, to hold the trade. He might have
went little further and urged some of
them to do a little more advertising BY
the use of printers ink through the col
umns of the local newspapers. Until our
merchants learn that they must make
lnown the goods they carry in stock, like
the firms in New Orleans, and the large
department stores Of the East they will
continue to let customers slip them.
Goods can be bought here in New Iberia