The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-13
PLAN is CHANGED
Merchants May Withdraw
Plural Membership in C. of C.
Would Eliminate Controversy
Over Distribution of Funds.

At the last meeting of the Topeka
Merchants association board of di-
rectors resolution was adopted
which asks the Chamber of Com
merce directors to release all associa-
ton members from their plural mem
bershlp contracts The money that
now goes into the Chamber of Com
merce treasury would be diverted to
the Merchants association, under the
plan proposed
while it is not the intention of the
Merchants association officers to
make such diversion of dues manda-
tory, large number Of retailers
have asked that they be permitted to
pay more money into the Merchants
association and less into the Chamber
Of Commerce, according to the re-
tailers' organization directors.
Need More Funds.
with the increased activities of
the association it has become neces-
sary to secure more financial sup
port" said w. w. Eden, who intro
duced the resolution adopted. The
merchants feel that they must dig
more deeply for funds, unless they
can get their release from the Cham
Der OF Commerce. which now gets
large share of the money they ap-
propriate annually for civic pur-
poses
Some of the retailers carry a large
number of mem berships in the Cham
Der of Commerce. The total carried
by the members of the association
amounts to approximately $3.50. All
members are not retailers. however.
This action does not indicate any
breach between the two organizations.
As matter Of fact, several of the
directors of the association are also
directors of the Chamber of Com
merce. and the two directorates are
practically interlocking.
Ancient History in Action.
Ancient history enters into the &C
ton. Several years ago, when the
Chamber of Commerce was first or
ganized, it was agreed that it should
be merged with the Retail Merchants
association existing at that time. 1t
was also agreed that the Chamber of
Commerce should make appropriation
of some of these multiple member
ship funds to the especial uses of the
Merchants association. for work
which was obviously retail merchants
work.
altogether satisfactory, since there has
been annual controversy as to the
subsidy" to be paid to the Merchants
association by the Chamber of Com
merce. Officers and members of the
Chamber, not understanding the
agreement. have opposed the paym ent
of the sum. and there has been gen.
eral misunderstanding.
r OF IndI reason the reSOluuOn OUT
lined was passed by the directors of
the Merchants association Tuesday.
At Suggestion of c. of c.
1t was passed, according to w. H.
lines. president of the Merchants as
ISOLATION. on the suggestion of indi-
vidual members of the directorate OF
the Chamber of Commerce, and was
not initiated by the board of directors
of the Merchants association.
Several of the directors of the
Chamber of Commerce, in discussing
the arrangement. have Suggested that
we eliminate these annual disagree
ments. by having the money designed
for the Merchants association paid
directly TO that association We SIM
ply approved the suggestion of these
directors" lines said
lines is a director of the Chamber
of Commerce, as well as president of
the Merchants association, and Geo.
w. Stansfield, president of the Cham
Der of Commerce. is a director of the
Merchants association.