The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-09
ME ERCHANTS SHOW
 APPRECIATION OF ANNUAL MEET INCS
Seventh Convention Breaks , All Previous Records, Ac-
 cording To Bum

Organizat ton of the Alabama Mer- chants association was perfected II years ago in Birmingham. and dur ing the intervening years. with the exception of the period of the war members nave met annually in this city.
 Members of the Alabama Mer- chants association have come to real ize Birmingham Is their logical mar ket, and are not unappreciative of the efforts of the Chamber of Com r cree. especially the traffic depart m,ent in handling their various prob lems." O. l.. Bum. secretary of the chamber stated Saturday.
 This fact could not be more strongly emphasized than on the occasion of the seventh annual meet ing of the association in BirminS- ham August 2S. 29 and 30. when Ala bama merchants were royalty enter q tained for the three day period" MT. Bum added. The Birmingham Chamber of Commerce has come O be recognized by Alabama merchants as 9 clearing house for their many problems and is always at the ser vice of members of the associa ton.
 "Birmingham's trade radius is rec ognized as extending 300 miles north. east. south and west. and the city has taken it's place as leading southern market largely through the activity of the Chamber of Com melce in cooperation with the Ala bama Merchants association. Prop lems of freight rates. always a para mount issue with merchants arc handled by the Birmingham traffic association, without charge. for members of the merchants associa- tion. who have declared the service invaluable.
 Aside from the various services rendered the merchants. the great in- dustrial center of Birmingham with unsurpassed railroad facilities com n 'te stocks, refunding of railroad fares an elaborate entertainment program and by means of other fea- lures has amply demonstrated it's ability to supply merchants with goods in competition with any city Of the south."
 Figures Show Appreciation.
 Figures compiled in the Chamber of Commerce office on the conven- tion just closed. amply demonstrate, MT. Bum stated. the apprecia ton of Alabama merchants for what Bir- minSham has done and is doing for them, and will do fer them aga,n next year following a unanimous vote that the convention come to Birmingham.
 The seventh annuaI convention, m figures, eclipsed any previous one held. Over s465.o00 in purchases were made of Birmingham mer- chants. This much was reported at the Chamber of Commerce offices. Conservative estimated. MT. Buna Stated. would place the figures at s!oOO00 for the three day period. h. cludinS hotels, board, amusements and miscellaneous. Birmingham Is nearly one million dollars better off by reason of the Alabama Mer- chants association convention Mem bers, having bought all their goods on competitive basis. have adopted Birmingham as their market. render ing an unsurpassed cooperative ser vice and placing at their disposal year in and year out the entire ma chinery of big city Chamber of Commerce and its allied organiza- ton.
 The entire project is engineered by the Wholesale Merchants and Manu- lecturers association of the Cham Der OF Commerce, with the support of the Alabama Merchants associa- tion.,