The billboard (July-Dec 1898)

24 THE BILLBOARD IF it is a proprietary remedy you have in mind, 'it will pay you to write us about it first.. Allow us to show you how you can get more and better publicity from the billboards than by recourse to other mediums. We can give you advice that is worth having. If you want to post; by all means, write us about it first. Billposters, Attention. The Fall trade will soon open up now, and all in- dications point to the fact that business is going to boom. Now is the time to get after your local merchants. Solicit them every week. Sow* the seeds now that spring up latet and bear orders. Bear in mind that out of every five firms that make a trial of the boards, one will prove a steady patron. Our posters for Fall trade are now ready. Send for samples. Show them to your more progressive dealers. It will pay you. Fair Managers, If you have not placed your order for posters yet. send it to us. We ship promptly. We can ship your order, no matter how big it may be, the very day we receive it. You can get more for your money from us than any other printing office on earth. We have the tej-t posters and more varied designs than all other houses combined. Samples free. WHEN you use Donaldson Paper, you buy and pay for honest paper. The paper will not fade under the effects of sun or rain. Neither will the inks. Both are as near being perma- nently non-fading as human inge- nuity can make them. And it costs little if any more than cheap and inferior makes. —Any kind for any business under the sun. CHRISTMAS POSTERS. will be completed before^September 1. We will send samples of the ona-sheets free. The larger posters (from three-sheets to 15-sheets) we will sell from half-tone illustrations. Do not place your order until you have written us about it. We will have better designs and a greater vari- ety of them this season than any other printing office in America. Some are finished now. All jNjC,_.^ I P^Ti^F""^ — We wu * not De responsible for errors in crosslining unless copy for same is typewritten. DlSTRlulirORo— We sel1 the best Magnetic Tack Hammer in the world. Two section handle, $2.00 each. Three section handle, $2.50. The Donaldson Litho. Co. CINCINNATI, O. THE BILLBOARD Vol. X., No. 9. CINCINNATI, SEPTEMBER 1, 1898. PRICE 10 CENTS PER YEAR, 91.00 THE CHICAGO MEETING. The Complete Stenographic Report of the Convention of The International Association of Distributors. Held at Chicago, July J 9-21. J898—The Minutes of the Meeting repro- duced entire—Somewhat tardy, but interesting and instructive. Owing to a delay on the part of the stenog- rapher, the minutes of the Chicago meeting did not reach us in time to appear in our Au- gust issue. In spite of the tardiness, how- ever, we believe it best to reproduce them this month, because there is much in them that can be read with profit by members of the I. A. D.. and distributors at large, as well. The report Is given in full, and though it will consume some time to get through it, it will amply repay the reader. Convention called to order at 10:30 a. m. by the President. Jos. Refd. A committee on credentials was appointed and after a short discussion it was moved, by W. H. Steinbrenncr, that the convention be adjourned, to meet at 2 p. m. sharp: which motion, after being duly seconded, was submitted to the vote of the hcuse, and unanimously carried. JULY 19, 2 P. M. Convention called to order by the Presi- dent. Jo?. Ucid. Second order of business: "Filling va- cancies in office by temporary appointment.** Pending the absence of the First and Second Vice Presidents, Mr. W. C. Tirrill, of Lima, ■ O.. and Mr. O. P. Fairchild. of Co*.ington. Ky.. were appointed by the President to fill said vacancies. Third order of business: "Roll call of the members by the Secretary.'" W. H.' Steinbrenncr. Secretary-Treasurer, before calling the roll, stated that he had ar- ranged the roll alphabetically, according to the States, and proceeded to cell the names of the members of the association, many of whom were present, and answered to the roll call. Fourth order of business: "Appointment of Committee on Credentials." Tfie President here stated that the nature of the office of Secretary necessitated having two members of the association to act with him in case there was anything to be done: that he and Mr. R. S. Douclass had gone over the books with Mr. Steinbrenncr. antici- pating that some few would be brhind in their dues. Such Credential Committee re- ports that almost the entire membership is in good standing, with the exception of a • few, who are in arrears, and supecsts. that those members who have persistently refused to conform to the constitution and bv-laws of tills •association be dropped from the or- ganization. Mr. Douglass read as follows: We. the Credential Committee, would re- spectfully report as follows: M. Wei-itrnub & Co.. Providence. U. I...S7.~.1 W. A. Walters. Philadelphia. Pa 1« sn \V. W. Wakefield. Denvers. Mass 6.15 Maurice Weintraub. Boston. Mass 9.30 It was moved by Mr. Curran and duly sec- onded by Mr. Tirrill. that the persons whose names were just read as being delinquent in dues, should be dropped from the associa- tion: which motion was put before the house by the President and unanimously carried. Mr. Douglass asked to be allowed to intro- duce to the convention Mr. H. T. Haves and Mr. Venus, of the Dr. Chase Company: Mr. llibbard. of the Boston Institute, of Chicaeo. and Dr. Burkhart. of Cincinnati. The vis- itors were welcomed by the President, who said that there would be an opportunity given for each of them to make a talk before the adjournment of the convention. • Fifth order of business: "Report of the President." ",The President: This gives me an oppor- tunity to make a speech, but I will relieve you who know me best, by announcing that I am not going to do anything or the kind. I have been considering this matter a great deal and had thought that I would make the speech of my life on this occasion. There are a few things I wanted to recommend in making this report. I notice In our Rules of Order we have no Committee on Laws and Revision of Laws. I think in the old constitution we certainly had a committee to art along this line, and while perhaps it would not be wise to apnnint Mtrh a com- mittee at this time, I desire that the matter should not be forgotten. I am in duty bound to make a report here, but I am not pre- pared. . However, my reports made quarterly are in the hands of the Secretary-Treasurer, and are here, and can be referred to. I in- tended to prepare a special report for this occasion, -but the last few days have been fully occupied. I am most hanny to say that the association la In good condition, our num- ber has been Increased largely over two hun- dred during the past twelve months, and we have otherwise Improved our condition In a most satisfactory manner. Anything further I do not care to say, but It you feel as I do about the appointment of a Committeo on Law-B and Revision of Laws, I will be glad to hear, a motion to that effect. Louis H. Ramsey moved that a committee be appointed by the President, on" Laws and Revision cf Laws. The motion being duly seconded by Mr. Case", was submitted to the house by the President, and was unanimously carried. The President: The motion did not rec- Cash on hand July 14, 1S97 $21.49 Initiation fees and dues received 1,457.17 Received from Dr. Miles 28.85 Received from J. L. Hill 26.40 Making a grand total of $1,533.91 Our expenditures have- been as follows: Postage $165.02 Case 87.75 Printing 332.70 Typewriters ..: 185.00 Miscellaneous 32.41 Dr. Miles 28.85 Quinn B. P. Co. Dist 5.00 Membership fees returned 7.00 Vansycle .» 1.85 Reid 22.71 Moulton Adv ....... ......;...... 15.00 Kane Adv ...................... 9.60 Billboard 163.00 Stenographers 178.57 Alchene Printing Co 9.83 J. L. Hill 12.10 $1,366.39 COL. BURR ROBBINS. ommend any number. I don't believe in hav- ing a committee too large: neither do I be- lieve in having the committee too- small. If it meets with the approval of the convention, 1 will make the committee five. There be- ing no objections raised, I suppose that num- ber will be satisfactory. I want to put both the Secretaries on that committee—Mr. Steinbrenncr and Mr. Case—and I will add Mr. Leonard, Mr. Bryan and Mr. Curran. The members of this committee will neees- sarily have to meet when the convention is in adjournment. There being no objections, these five gen- tlemen will constitute our standing Com- mittee on Laws and Revision of Laws. The President: The sixth order of busi- ness comes next, "Report of Secretary-Treas- urer." Mr. Steinbrenncr read the following report: Mr. President and Gentlemen.—In submit- ting this, my annual report of the business handled by me in my capacity as Secretary and Treasurer of the International Associa- tion of Distributors. I desire to direct your attention particularly to the vast amount of hard work involved. Among other things. I have written upward of forty-six hundred letters on association business; in addition thereto. I have mailed to advertisers twelve thousand circular letters., I have also mailed nut two thousand letters and lists of mem- bers, and sent out one thousand invitations. This in itself involves a vast amount of time and work. Cash received is as follows: Total amount received $1,533.19 Total amount expended 1.366.39 Cash on hand $141.12 Taking the first item of our expenditures, to-wit. postage. I respectfully beg leave to submit the following itemized account: Circulars soliciting members $112.52 Reports of 1S97 meeting to members and others 4S.O0 Letters, application blanks, constitu- tions 189.50 Postal cards 10 00 Cuts to members 5.00 $365.02 -Taking the account of printing in like man- ner, it will be found that our account was $332.70, as above stated. On this account, I deemed it best to itemize the list of printing which we had had from them, in order that it might be better understood. I submit it, as follows: 11.000 letter heads. 13.500 envelopes. 12.300 letter circulars. 10.000 large envelopes. 2.000 application blanks. 2,000 constitutions. 5,000 four-page circulars. 500 copies Advertising List. 1 line cut and slenature. 87 cuts. Tackcr Dis. and Center Piece. 400 badges. 1,500 printed receipts. '%' My report would not be complete, either without I included an itemized account of the association's indebtedness, which is as fol- lows: Due Hennegan & Co Due "The Billboard" ..: ... Due on typewriter Due President Reid $ 42.40 106.00 70 00 3.60 •oiP ne the ycar we nave acJded to our list 21. new members. We have dropped twelve members for cause and non-payment of dues, and at present have in good standing 309 members. There are dues unpaid and owing to the association outstanding to the amount of $2H.70, most of which will be paid as soon as the fall business opens up. While we have added 217 new members, we have re- jected 4.1 applications and returned 36 appli- cations on account of already having a mem- ber in the town from whence the application came. We have on hand at this time thir- teen applications, which are undergoing the customary rigid" investigation. I have been somewhat criticised for men- tion made of the International Bill Posting Association. I wish to embody In my report an explanation of the episode. The Interna- tion Bill Posting Association was very lavish i"." 1 ' notices which it gave our association. fk7n,.vV? rt it omy courteous to extend them the two notices which I did. My only intention was to reciprocate their courtesies t want to go on record here as having no af- fliction with either of the bill posting asso- ciations I am not in the bill posting busi- «£•■ « • fu f th ^? nore - l a ° nolVbelieve our association should rorm any entangling al- liances with other associations. =tlt.?i , i E ,!r. alf VV m f eeet a cnan ee In the con- stitution and by-laws. Heretofore it has been our custom, upon taking in a new mem- ?/£ o° 8,ve . h,m ^o exclusive franchise of a 5" y ° r „ C „°," nty - a f "* m>"Sht wish. Some asked for counties and some for cities, and this gives rise to endless confusion. We ought to have it one or the other. I personally favor giving one roan one city only uua,, y Iav °r As I said at the beginning of this report I wish to direct your attention to the vast S i o""? involved in conducting the office cf Secretary and Treasurer. It has n-7rt. rC ^ t ? me J bat EOme of tne bu «Jcn rright be taken from me by separating the two offices, and electing a Treasurer I do net know though, that this would bring the desired relief. I am afraid that if the Treas! 5w » a t a E E,dr , nt - m some far distai " t<""> that it would only increase the work of the frl'Z / y K. " ccp «»atin S additional cor- respondence between the two offices, and the delays incidert thrreto might on occasion work"" ""Ptde the Secretary In his ■ °.1 P } h .iP p J* absolutely necessary, and that is that the Secretary be allowed $1 a day for a stenographer. A gocd. competent and capa- ble stenogiapher can not be had for le«s I have rot been able to se^rre and keep one ■'Don the present amount allowed me. and for that reason I seri-usiy recommend that y-u consider the miction of increasing your al- lowance for this class of service I also recommend that t><is association ex- tend a vot" of thanks to "The Billboard" for the vrry eble and cm<i-nt assistance it his loaned us during the past three years. It has worked hard and tirelessly. Everything that It could possibly do to further our organisa- tion or extend its scone, it has ('one. aud done rreCilv ;rd willingly. Much of our growth is dirrc tly due to the efforts they put forth in our b»half. An acknowledgement of our appreciation world bo a graceful tribute to our fri-nd and ally. "The Billboard." It has Plso been suggested that this asso- ciation adopt a uniform for its journeymen Crnubitors. This uniform to be the same in ell citi-s. It has been further suggested that a brass button of some suitabl" desicn be adopted, ard that this button be also used on all the uniforms alike. A lapel button of recognized and uniform design has also been suggested. AH of which I submit for your consideration. Very truly yours. W\ H. STEINBRENNER. President: You have all heard the report of our Secretary-Treasurer—what will you do with it? L. H. Ramsey: I move that the report of the Secretary be received as made, and placed on file: and also that a vote of thanks be extended to our Secretary. Motion being duly seconded, was placed be- fore the house by the President, and unani- mously adopted. President: We now come to the seventh order of business. "Report of Soliciting Sec- retary." We will now hear his report. Mr. President and Brother Members.—In accordance with Art. VI.. Sec. 4. of our con- stitution and by-laws. I beg herewith to sub- mit my report for tjie year just ended. Like , my predecessor (Mr. Jas. L. Hill), when I I assumed the duties of this office I found ab- solutely nothing in the way of ' information, either regarding our members and their ter- ritory or the advertiser who was friendly to our association. Much valuable time has been taken to gather up and arrange information concerning the members, their territory, prires. etc. I am pleased to say that I have these points of reference arranged now nearly to my satisfaction, and with a very few ex- ceptions am enabled to state to the adver-* tiser the price of the different class of work he may wish to place, also the class of ser- vice he will receive at the hands of that par- ticular mer^bcr. Durloir tb" year rnci««» July 16. 189S. I have received letters as follows: Frc,m mm- ][