The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-17
ME ERCHANTS AT TER. CLOSER ALLIANCE
Association Of More Than 1000 Members Decides
 On Holiday Celebration

wholesale and manufacturing in- terests of Birmingham will get to- gether'' at B big smoker and jollifi- cation meeting next month. The Merchants and Manufacturers' asso- citation of the Chamber of Commerce has decided to stage such function in order that their executives and the men of their various sales depart ments may get more thoroughly ao- quainted with one another, and may swap ideas for the developm enet of a bigger trade territory for Birminea ham.
 The Merchants and Manufacturers association has enjoyed substantial growth during its three years of ex- istence, and now numbers in fcs mem bership nearly hundred of the big gest concerns in Birmingham.
 The annual report of c. c. Black wel$ Eetiring general chairman of the association, rendered at the anu nual meeting, reflects this progress and mentions some of the tangible accomplishments of the organization. The general chairman elected for the ensuing year is J. E. Keith of Mar shall, Jordan 6 Keith, and his asso- ciate members are LeGrand c. Wilson and R. c. Thompson (elected this year); J. c. Odell, George Johnston and C. C.. Blackwell.
 Ire Report
 Mr. Blackwells review was as fol- lows:
 With the closing of the third fiscal year of the Wholesale Merchants and Manufacturers association, your chairman is pleased to report few of the outstanding features that the association took part in for the de- velopn.ent of the wholesale, jobbing and manufacturing interests of the district.
 Since the inception of the organi- zation, October 15, 1920, s3,240.47 was refunded in railroad fares to visiting merchants, representing merchandise purchased from members of this as- sociation amounting to 450,3S7.22. It is obvious that the amount of mer- chandise purchased from the mem- bership during that time was prob ably ten tines this amount, due to large number of the retail merchants of our trade territory not participat- ing in this refund, but as an associa- tion We are assured that this policy has had a great deal to do with di- verting trade to Birmingham that otherwise might have gone to other localities. Our outlying competitive markets offer such Inducements to the trade, and 1t is only sane to agree that such policy Is truly ne- cessity.
 'One of the greatest achievements this association carries on annually Is the entertainment of the Alabama merchants through the Alabama Mer- chants association, organized by some of our leading wholesalers about Il years ago. The merchants of our trade area look forward each year to this occasion. At the last convention, namely, the seventh annual we reg ic,fa I 0 { persons. representing 2,320 retail mer- chants and 414 travelling men of our membership. This was the greatest number of merchants ever assembled at one time In the history of Alabama. Some of us are not aware of the in fluence the wholesalers. jobbers and manufacturers of Birn.in gham have over these visiting merchants. It is up to us to treat them fairkTand re- tain this splendid association we are enjoying. There are some wonderful possibilities before us in molding the minds of these merchants and in ee- menting trade friendship that will always be of inestimable value to our i business. An example of the huge success fostered by the convention is the fact that $449,248.76 worth of merchandise was sold by members of our association during the three days of the convention on the auto mobile plan; that ts, giving one chance for each s100 worth of mer-' chandise purchased from the meber- ship and contributors. What about the merchandise purchased of which we have no record? Whether or not this annual get-together benefits each of us directly during the three days visit of the merchants, we must admit that the lasting Friendship created at these conventions keeps our shops and stores going at 8 bet ter pace for the remaining 363 days of the year and aids in keeping the money at home. The small cost of well for this undertaking. Compet- ing markets are always ready to take