The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-25
RETAILERS. BE ARRIYI ING
  g 000 Merchants Open Convention Here
 Tuesday

Retail merchants, from all over the state, members of the Alabama Afer- chants association, will begin arriving in Birmingham Monday afternoon and night. The annual three-day conven- tion opens here Tuesday morning, and before the close of the first day it. is estimated that between 2,500 and 5000 merchants will have arrived in Bir- mingham.
 Birmingham merchants and 5obbers will act as guests of the visiting re- tailers, and an extensive program of entertainment has been arranged for the three-day meet, program that in sures three days of enjoyment for the guests. Sidney W. Lee is general chairman of the convention--that Is, he is chairman of the committee on ar engagements for entertainment of the visitors.
 It has been stated that approximate ly 10000 invitations have been ex- tended to state merchants to attend the convention here. Up to late hour Saturday night, over 2,000 acceptances had been received, according to Chair man Lee. Arrangements have been made to care for delegation of 5000 visitors, he stated
 N Birmingham Is Host
 Birmingham merchants, who will act as hosts, have arranged the entertnin- ment for the three days meet. The Alabama Merchants association has outlined the business sessions for the meet.
 The first business sesion come on Tuesday night at Phillips High school auditorium, to be sandwiched in be- tween entertainment features planned by Birmingham merchants. Tuesday night, the meeting win be turned over to J. l.. Hicks, president of the as- sociation, for short get-together busi- ness session. Thursday morning, at the Chamber of Commerce, the main busi- ness session is scheduled. when the Ala bama Merchants association will elect officers to serve during the coming year. These two meetings conclude the business end of the convention. The remainder of the time will be given over to the series of entertainments planned by Birmingham Merchants.
 Ball Game Tuesday
 The first entertainment, and the opening event of the convention, will be a baseball game at Redwood Tues day afternoon. Tuesday night, in con nection with the business session at Phillips auditorium, a program of talks, music, stunts and motion pie lures will be given.
 Dr, G. W. Dryers talk on "Busi- ness Economics" will be the feature of Tuesday nights program. In addition, Commissioner W. L. Harrison, Sidney W. Lee, general chairman of the con vention J. L. Hicks president of the Alabama Merchants association, and O, l.. Bum, secretary of the Chamber of C6mmrce, are listed for talks.
 Wednesday morning has been left open, to be used as the visitors see fit. It is expected that tours of the Bir- mingham district, visits to local mer- chants and general sightseeing will te the order of the morning, In the aft ernoon, mammoth barbecue will be given the visitors at East Lake, at which various stunts and entertain- ments are planned.
 Election Of Officers
 Thursday morning the general busi- ness session of the association Is sched- uled for the Chamber of Commerce. Thursday night the grand finale will be staged at Cascade Plunge, consisting of a bathing review, aquatic stunts and contests, and the giving away of an automobile, Then, at the close of
 (CCutinued On Page 2.l