Page 13 - Past Presidents' Club Book 1

14 1 hr National Supply and Machinery Dealers’ Association

gentleman who has had eleven years’ experience in work of this
kind, and knows whether it is valuable or not. I would like to
hear from Mr. T. J. Fernley, Secretary of the National Hardware
Association.
M r. F e r n e r y : While I was Secretary, Mr. McIntosh told
me if I would behave myself he would give me a loving cup, and
I suppose his idea of behavior is resignation. I assure you that
1 enjoy opportunities of this kind too much to resign even for a
beautiful loving cup.
I am pleased to be here and carry to you the fraternal greet­
ing of the National Hardware Association of the United States.
As many of you know, I was interested in the birth of this
organization, and, in fact, I was present when you were born.
I saw your struggles to obtain life, and I certainly congratulate
you upon having attained such strength in one year.
I regret to part company with your Secretary, Mr. Drury.
He and I have been brought together very closely, and we have
helped each other when possible. He is to be congratulated, as I
understand that he is to graduate from the rank of unpaid Sec­
retary into the beautiful column of prosperous manufacturer.
Certainly, while you have to part with him as Secretary, and I
have to part with him as co-worker, he may be in position to
help us all, certainly when the competition between the manufac­
turer and the supply dealer is so keen that the supply dealer is in
need of help. Whatever line Air. Drury may be in charge of as a
manufacturer, he will certainly see that the supply dealers have
ample compensation. I think I wrote him the other day that fifty
per cent on the sales will be satisfactory.
You are to be congratulated, however, that another man is
found so quickly to step into the place thus vacated. I think you
are to be more congratulated on this fact than I am, because it
makes me realize that if the motion of my friend from Cleveland
was gratified, possibly another man could be found to fill the large
space I occupy. (Applause). This is not the time for applause,
gentlemen.
I am reminded this morning of the language of our esteemed
President, Mr. Roosevelt, at the time he received the National
Hardware Association of the United States, in New York. In his