The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-08-09
DINNER FOR
MERCHANTS
Local Retail Merchants Asso-
ciation Organize

CidtlOH VISd1iiZc
On Friday evening the Retail
Merchants of Sumter met at the
Claremont Hotel to discuss the ad-
visibility of organizing a local Re-
tail Merchants Association.
After enjoying a, most delight
full and elaborate dinner prepared
/ by the arrangement committee,
Mr.. Alfred Bryan, who presided
over the meeting, made few in
troduetory remarks. stating the
purpose of the meeting; then he
introduced the speaker Of the oc-
casion, Mr.. L. H. Wannamaker Of
Columbia. secretary Of the South
Carolina Retail Merchants Associa-
ton. After a short Introduction of
the question before the meeting,
Mr.. Wannamaker said that the re-
tail merchant should know what
such an organization can do for
him. and what it has accomplished
in the past. He expounds upon
the associations accomplishments
and first sights the case of the lux
ury tax and tells how the associa-
ton prevented the passing Of this
bill, thereby saving the retail mer-
chants the hardship Of being tax
collectors. He said that such a
tax would run thousands Of dol
lars from the state, owing to the
fact that no other state has such
a rax. He said that the association
did not do all that was done to
stop this bill, but the greater part
of it. He said that the associa-
ton was not trying to impede the
progress of the sta1e, but it was
the principle that they fought. He
said the association was now work
ing for a better law against giving
bad checks, that the bill had been
put up before, and was blocked
in the senate, owing to the fact
that large number of senators
were not present He has no doubt
that the bill will go through. He
said that we should have lower
fire insurance rates in this state;
that there should be equalization
of taxes, that merchants pay heavy
taxes on articles. He said that
there We're a few. Sumter mer-
chants in, the state association,
that there were associations IN
Greenville, Spartanburg, Charles
ton, Columbia, Anderson, Cheraw,
nr,-rab,,roy ord q ,,,,poho,. of ~ ho,-
! places. He gave welcome to any
who wished to come into the sta,.
association. Mr.. Wannamaker
then turned to the local organiza-
ton and impressed the fact that
you must be optimistic in the or
! ganization of a local association.
He continued, saying that business
associations are abSoltely neceS-
sary in such times as we are hav-
| ing now; that without cooperation
we can accomplish nothing. All
other professions are organized,
why not the merchants? He said
that merchants in this state have
| been slow in seeing the good and
! advantage of such an organization:
! that Greenville and Spartanbug
have the best local associations in
the state. He said that coopera-
ton was the source of progress
! and that the merchants were the
| backbne of every community. He
then named the activities Of a To-
cal association, giving examples of
methods that had worked success
fully in different cities. Mr.. Wan
namaker closed, saying that he
hoped the merchants would do
something tangible, and offered the
support and assistance of the
| South Carolina Retail Merchants
Association.
Mr.. Bryan thanked Mr.. Wanna
maker for what he had said, and
spoke highly of the work of the
South Carolira association through
the efforts of Mr.. Wannanlaker
Mr.. Bryan then called on Mr.. S. L.
Krasnoff to say a few words, he,
| Mr.. krasnoff having attended the
meeting of the South Carolina Re-
tail Merchants association in Co.
! lumbia
Mr.. krasnoff spoke cf his inter
est in the association, stating that
he had learned many profitable
things since he had been a mem
Der of the association. He gave
! his reasons why he thought Sum-
ter should have an association.
Mr.. Bryan brought UP the ques-
ton. whether Sumter is to have
a local association and threw the
meeting open for discussion. He
called on difference men for their
opinion. Mr.. Sam Sanders said that
he was in favor of such an or
ganization. Mr.. G. c. Cooper said
that there should be no doubt of
organizing the association: Mr..
i Hutchinson said that this was the
! logical time for sucn an organiza-
/ ton; Mr.. King expressed himself
! favorable to the association. The
question was put before the meeting
and it was unanimously passed that
local organization should be
! formed. a committee for the
nomination of officers was appoint
ed, consisting of Messrs. Frank
Chandler (chairman), Sam Sam
ders, Hyman Love, P. NJ. Parrott,
W. NJ. King, G.. c. Cooper, +. 7.
McInyail and DR.. J. G. DeLorme,
which committee submitted the
! following nominations for officers: