The evening times., 1898-12-13
BUSINESS MEN HOLD
SOCIAL INTERCOURSE
j LAST NIGHTS RIG MEETING
Nearly 100 New Members Enrolled.
Commissioner WigIt's Address.
Mass Meeting Saturday Night.

a social meeting of the Business Mems
Association of this city was held al Will
lard Hall last night. This is the first
, time the members Of the association have
had a chance 10 meet on social footing.
| and as a consequence large audience
greeted President Knox when he called
the meeting to order at 5 O'Clock. The as
| sociaton was organized only few weeks
| ago, and. although young, ii contains en-
its rolls the names of the principal busi-
ness men of this city.
| At last nights meeting almost all OF the
members attended and brought with them
a friend TO introduce to the other men,
bers and induce him To join in with thtm
in promoting the interests of Washing
! ton city and its business world.
The work of organization was placed in
! capable, energetic hands. and from the
first the association has been of the most
stable character. Its purpose is to pro
mote the social as we'll as the business i'll
terests of the National Capital and to
| bring the men who pay the expenses of
! the government into closer relations.
| At the meeting last night President
Knox explained in 4 few words the objects
of the association for the beneh, of those
! who attended the meeting for the first
! time, and about sevcnty-fve new members
We're enrolled. The dues Of the association
are s. a year. and the fund now on hand
represents the payment of over go asse s.
ments of like amount. Mr. Knox said
! that there was a story To the effect that
| the Business Mems Association was di-
! recuy antasonistic Ia the Board OF Trade,
but this. he said, not true. They in
! tended To assist the Board of Trade as
much as possible. Mr. Knox said, and it
was intended to commence a unity about
/ the work of promoting the best business
! interests of Washington that would en-
/ able them to present solid phalanX To
/ anything antagonistic To the welfare of
the Capital.
Commissioner John B Wight addressed
; the meeting and said:
| Il could not resist the invitation of Mr.
, Knox To be present at your gathering to-
night / have watched with great inter
est the growth of your association There
are great many organizations in the
city III Washington. ! 30 not believe |
| ever saw a city with SO many organiZa-
| tinns of various kinds. but there is
! enough for all To do no matter how
! many. We have at the National Capital
the erandest opportunity of any city in
/ the country. There is much To develop
I here. and while We have no reason to be
ashamed Of what we have accomplished,
! still there is much more to be done in
I the development of the Capital CITY in
| the way of improving its streets, its sub
urbs. and building uP the city making it
| attractive.
IF We are going to have many organi-
! cations ii iS All right if we work togeth-
er. If for jealous purposes one organi-
| zation opposes the interests Of others. no
good can result; but / take il Mr. Presi-
| dent. there is no jealousy on the part of
| this organization nf the Board Of Trade
/ Whatever may be the name of the sew
! eral organizations. We are all citizens OF
the District of Columbia
! If your organization wants to h p
/ the business interests Of the District thu.
/ Board al Trade wants to assist and il
the Board of Trade is working to secure
! needed legislation. | feel certain that We
can rely on the Business Mems ASS ccia-
ton for hearty assistance and c9-opera-
! tion. With 5c1 live business men in the
/ Beard of Trade and with so live a d
active business men in this associati n.
| we have leo Of the best buSine ss men of
Washington working together and ii we
do work together where will We b. in
1850. and whore will We be in 1910? With
this wish, Mr. President, ! extend u you
my hearty congratulations and best wish
cs for your success"
Addresses We're also made by Conrad
! ~. Syme attorney for the associate IN:
W. 5. Mexican and Charles \. + cl son
\ grand mass meeting will b. held Sat
1 urday To further the projected ccIebra-
ton of the centennial of the Capital