Morning journal and courier., 1890-03-13
THE STATE BoARD A CERTAINTY.


 Yesterday's Large Gathering of Busl. .
 ness Men From All Parts of tho !
 State to Form a State Board of
 Trade. i
 The result of yesterdays large gathering 1 of business men from all parts of the state at the rooms of the chamber of commerce in this oity fixes as a certainty the existence of a state board of trade. Of all the large towns of the state, Bridgeport alone was un- represented. This was due to various rea- sons, the chief one being the lack of interest which the Bridgeport board of trade has exhibited in the scheme. All ot the dele- gates were very enthusiastic over the idea and the plans for forming the new state board were arranged in the most felicitious manner. Among the prominent business men who attended the meeting were: J. Fl. Leeds, N. D. Sperry, Joseph Shelden, N. Essterbrook, T. Atwater Barnes, New Ha- ven; Judson E. Root, George H; Day, P. B. Woodward; ats.hm ass.iora; D; i3,. S namilton; H. David R. Jones, Norwish; G. w. Hull, 0. A. Harrison, Wallingford; T. O.. Richards, c. K. Hunt, George H. Afford, Winsted; E. J. Hill. F. St. J. Lockwood, Norwalk; Fred Platt, w. B. Brotherton, E. L. Cornwell, 0. A. Tomlinson, Milford; J. F. Pratt, Southington; V. DabolI, John Hopson, jr., G. H. Mckenzie, New London; Helton Wood, A. E. Hewitt, Derby and Shelton.
 James D. Dewell, president of the New Haven chamber, was elected president pro tenn. and Major T. A. Barnes was chosen secretary.
 After few words of welcome to the dele- gates by MT. Dswell the following resolution was offered by John H. Leeds:
 Resolved, That it is the sentiment of this meeting that it is proper, expedient and desirable to or ganize state board of trade composed of the
 various local boards of trade in the state of Connec ticut.
 The meeting was unit in favor of estab fishing this state board, whose object will be to concentrate the power and influence of the various boards of the state in one organize tion in order to secure unity and harmony of action in the consideration of questions pertaining to the financial, commercial, in- dustrisl and sll of the material interests of the state at large, as well as to foster and strengthen the efficiency of each organiza- tion.
 MT. Leeds said the national board had utterly failed in accomplishing the ends in- tended and had even offered an obstacle in securing national legislation for the support of business interests It would be impossible to expect SO unwieldy body to bs effective. But state board was 8 thing of great im- portance. The New York chamber of com- merce had exercised more influence in na- tional legislation than the national board ever could. The New York chamber wa. the old est in the country and New Haven came next. The national board was a nonenity and money and time spent upon it was money and time thrown away. The state board of trade would be unit, as the interest of one would be the interest of all They might differ when it came to getting big corpora 1 tions to locate in their respective towns, but such competition was legitimate, and in the 1 end all would benefit by 1t.
 MT. Leeds' sentiments were warmly sec- l onded. P. Fl. Woodward of Hartford thought among other things that the state board might have an influence to aid in much needed tariff reform.
 Postmaster Brotherton of Milford and J. | M. Bailey, editor of the Danbury News, l warmly advocated the state board for their | respective towns.
 Postmaster N. D. Sperry said the state | Not the least of the objects to be accom- plished was the proper protection of the Con- l necticut coast. The west extremity of Long Island sound is protected, but we want the east extremity also protected. If both ends are safe, then we shall feel secure. We shall
 have varied interests, and no doubt our l opinions will some time clash, but we must
 expect that. Out of clash of opinions we
 will get at the truth, and from this will como
 success. We may differ politically, but we
 must keep out of political questions.
 Turning to Connecticut farms, Mir. Sperry
 said: There will be a day when the farms of Connecticut will return to their once pros-
 porous condition We can't tell when it will
 come about, but come 1t will, as surely as
 we are here to day.
 The formal organization of the state board | will be effected on April 1e, to which day
 yesterdays meeting adjourned.
 At 9 o'clock the delegates enjoyed fine
 dinner at Prokssky's, and in the afternoon
 many of them were entertained at the Re.
 publican league and other prominent resorts
 about the city. It Is expected that Bridge.
 port will join the league of her sister towns,
 now that the state board is a certainty.