The Pulaskian., 1920-05-06
CLOTHIERS HAVE
 HAPPY SOLUTION
ASK CONGRESS TO REPEAL MANY REVENUE TAX LAWS AND SUB- STiTUTE OTHER MEANS FOR
 PAYING EXPENSES.

sas State Association of Retail Cloth iers and Furnishers, which was organ ized in Hot Springs three years ago, was held in Little Rock Monday and Tuesday Very little has been done since organization and this is the first real attempt that has been made to put the organization upon firm ba- sis. There is membership of forty two firms representing all parts of the state, and it is proposed to carry on a campaign for increasing memberships, the prediction being made by Presi- dent Harry W. Pfeifer that there will be one hundred and fifty members by the time the convention meets next year. The spirit of cooperation is very fine.
 The meeting was called to order Monday morning by President Harry w Pfeifer, who said:
 "Friends and Fellow Merchants:
 Tn bidding you welcome to this gathering, I at the same time desire to congratulate you on your foresight and wisdom i'll effeeting the organiza- tion, which we are now representing The fundamental principles of co-ope- ration in every branch of business has been so thoroughly demonstrated that nothing that 1 might add would give greater weight to the proposition, but 1 wish to go upon record as advanc- ing the idea that this time, above all other, is the time when it is essential that all those who are interested in our line of business, should work in unison to effect and carry out such policies as would lessen the burdens and abuses which have crept into the channels of trade"
 Business Man Carries Burden.
 "It would appear that there has been a pre-concerted idea throughout the country that it is the business man who is responsible altogether for the burden of high prices under which the people of our country are now stag gering and, while there may be some diversity of opinion regarding this matter, at the same time, thorough investigation of conditions and a pro- paganda of education advanced to those directly effected, cannot but dis pei much of this erroneous impression. Furthermore, there are certain restric- tions and conditions which, in my opinion, are altogether unfair to the retailer, which have been exacted and are trying to be imposed upon us by manufacturers and producers, which, while they may be actuated by what they considered to be the best mo- tives, have tendency to work hard ship upon the retailer and, in some cases, tend to destroy his usefulness as distributor to the public.
 There is much good that an organi- zation such as ours can affect both by direct influence against unjust legis- lation and also by acting as restraint against these impositions by showing they are unjust and discriminating. Furthermore, the better understand ing which an association of this sort affects between the individual mem bers of the same, naturally tends to do away with many misconceptions and places the members thereof upon a footing of mutual understanding and confidence"
 "It is, therefore, with much pleas ure that view the birth of this organ ization, which will of itself prove benefit, not only to it's individual mem bership, but to the state of Arkan- sas.'
 Big Membership Possible.
 The ecretary-treasurer, Gilbert Blass. of Jacob Blass & Son, Little Rock. reported forty two firms enroll ed and $462 paid in dues. His report follows:
 "As your temporary secretary, ap- pointed by President Pfeifer at spes cial meeting of retail clothiers, l beg to report that through efforts of our temporary chairman, we have secured 42 members, of which 39 are paid up. A total of $462 collected in dues.
 "The propaganda distributed by him will. no doubt, be productive of results and I believe that we will have a membership of at least 100 as soon as the other retailers realize that we ,,ooau h.lSinpsS