Page 20 - Past Presidents' Club Book 1

First Annual Con:\'nth>n 21
distributor and jobber, might release the manufacturer from some
work and danger of being misunderstood— that is if the jobber
and dealer could find it practicable to lake more interest in new
articles brought out by manufacturers.
In that connection I want to express my gratification at the
remarks made bv a gentleman a while ago as to exhibits. From
my observation at other places there is generally two days’ time
devoted to the examination of new goods. In Germany and
France they have trade conventions, at which the manufacturer?
and dealers meet as they do here, and then devote two or three
days to looking at new goods. The dealers bring their salesmen
and representatives there, and they introduce the new articles to
the consumer. We have found it necessary to introduce some
of our specialties to the consumer direct to get them on the mar­
ket, but it has been our policy to turn that business over to the
jobber and distributor. I thank you. (Applause).
P r e sid e n t S t r o n g : Mr. Hall. (Applause).
M r. IIai.i.: I did not come here expecting to contribute any­
thing to the deliberations of this Association, but I can say that T
have regarded this Association from its formation with a great
deal of pleasure and with the feeling that it would be of great
assistance to our company in endeavoring to carry out the policy
which you have adopted of fixing a re-sale price, the purpose on
our part, of course, being a selfish one.
We want the members of this Association to work for our
benefit and we feel the only way we can get them to do that
is to make it worth their while. The great difficulty in doing
that, is that some one wants to give away what we possess, and
we believe this Association will do a great deal of good to our
people. (Applause).
P r e sid e n t S t r o n g : There seems to be a little love in the
proceedings. I think it would be entirely proper that the Asso­
ciation should become a little better acquainted with some of its
officers, and I would suggest that we hear something from Mr.
Somers, of Pittsburg, our first Vice President.
M r. W . A. S o m e r s: Mr. President and Gentlemen: I am
not a speech maker. I will not be able to entertain vou verv
elaborately. I can say that I believe the organization of our