Evening star., 1898-12-13
ENTERTAIN THEIR GUESTS
Business Men Hold Social Meeting at Willard
Hall.
Resolve to Co-Operate With Board of
Trade-PIans for Centennial Cele-
bration-Peace Carnival.

| The social gathering of the Business
| Mems Association in Willard Hall last
| evening was well attended the membership
being represented by large quota, and in
| addition there were present a number of
| invited guests. On each side of the hall
| We're arranged tables, where the lunch was
| served after the speeches, which were made
| in the early hours of the evening. Foliage
| plants were arranged on the platform,
| where was also located an orchestra, which
| rendered choice selection of music.
| AS the announced purpose of the meeting
| indicated, the evening was devoted to so
| ciai intercourse and An opportunity was
given to the members and the guests to be-
come acquainted. After the salads and
| punch were enjoyed cigars were passed
around, and soon the hall was hazy with
smoke, and filled. as well, with the hum
! Of conversation The invitation to join the
association was also acted upon by num-
ber, and at meeting of the board of di
rectors which was held during the evening
applications of seyenty-five persons were
favorably acted upon. bringing up the total
membership, as it was announced, to about
four hundred
Mr.. W. S. Knox, the president of the
association, called the gathering to order,
and the secretary, Mr.. William S. Mexican,
occupied a seat at the table near him. For
the benefit of the visitors President Knox
outlined the purpose of the organization,
which, he said, was to make the interests
of all business men of Washington a COM
mon interest. He denied the statement he
had heard that the organization was an
tagonistic to the board of trade. Instead
of being a conflict of interests between
these two organizations, he said the associ-
alton would assist the board of trade and
work in harmony with it.
A speech was also made by Conrad H.
Syme, the attorney of the association, who
said it was the desire of the association to
have a center where all business men could
meet and exchange ideas.
Mr. Charles A Eccleston also spoke. earn
estly of the advantages of unity of action
in advancing the common interests.
Commissioner Wight's Address.
Mr. John B. Wight, the president of the
board of District Commissioners, was intro
duced by President Knox and was greeted
with hearty applause. He said he had
watched with great interest the growth of
the association, and that it seemed TO have
started off in way that insures success.
There were a good many organizations in
the CITY, but he believed there was enough
for all to do. There Is a great opportunity
here for the efforts of public-spirited men,
he said, and while there is no reason to
be ashamed of what has been done in the
past, still there is much that remains to be
done to develop the city and make it what
it should be. There is the matter of the
improvement of the streets, the extension
of the sewer system, the removal of gar
bage and the Strengthening out OF the rail-
road lines as to increase the freight IA
cilities.
He said great deal could be accomplish
ed if all organizations worked together, not
with a selfish purpose or to oppose or in
jure any other organization.
He took for granted that there was
jealousy between this organization and the
board of trade. Whatever the name, all
are citizens of the District. With 500 live
business men in the board of trade and 800
live business men in this association, all
working together, he thought the District
would advance rapidly. In this view and
with this conception of the purposes of the
organization he extended TO it his best
wishes for its success.
Mas Meeting Announced.
The secretary, Mr.. Mexican, gave notice
of the mass meeting of citizens Saturday
night at Willard Hall, to hear the report of
the committee appointed to suggest plan
for the proper celebration of the centennial
of the removal of the national capital to this
city, which event is to be observed in 1900.
He also said that by action of the board
of directors of the association the president
would appoint a committee to confer with
q committee from the board of trade and
citizens organizations to consider a plan
for the holding of peace carnival in this
city next May.
Elected to Membership.
The new members elected by the board of
directors are as follows: w. E. Abbott, R.
B. Buckley, Joseph Burden, James F. Bar
bour, Col. w. D. Colt, Cannon & Chandler.
James Cunningham, Dorsey Clagett, A. B.
Douglass, Frederick Drew, Dulaney, Flem-
ing & Lee, P. H. Deis. II. J. Ellicott. s. s.
Edmonsou, Frank NJ. Finley H. C. Holther,
G. w. Handy. 8. B. Hege. DR.. John H.
Hess W. A. Haley, Benjamin v. Jackson.
r. j. Kirkpatrick, G. Vernon Knox, ].
Blake Kendall. John c. Knight, D. F. Mer-
rill, jr., Alexander r. Muilowny, p. F. Nc
Mahon. James A. Nicholson, A. L. Reed.
g. Warfieid Simpson. J. L. Sinclair, F. q.
Smith. ]. C. Stoddard. John H. Simms, s.
8. Shedd & Bro, w. r. Turner, w. Scott
Towers, ]. L. TAFT, Tyler & Rutherford,
Charles White & Co., J. Edwin Wilson, II.
O. Wilbur. Arthur 3. Claxton. John L.
Burkhart, Wood. Harmon & Co.. Walter
G. g. Eoclsstou, Meyer Losb. B. Ciinsdtnst.