The times., 1899-07-01
DISCORD In THE WELCOME
Priority of the Dewey Reception
Idea Causes Strife.
Mr.. l.. VI. saunders. of the Business
Mems Association. Declares Tint
the appointment of the Commits
Tee of 100 Wns Secured Through
the TricISery of the Board OF Trade

the selection By the District Commission
ers of committee of one hundred citi-
zens on the reception of Admiral Dewey
Members of the Business Mems Associa-
tion regard the appointment of the gem
eral committee as a victory for the Board
of Trade, which in no way reflects on
the ability or earnest desire of the as
sociation to make the reception of Admiral
Dewey in every way successful and cred
liable to the National Capital. The idea
of a reception to the returning Admiral,
il is said, originated with the Business
Mems Association and the matter was dis
cussed as early as May 10. At a subse-
quent meeting a committee of one hun
dred members of the association was ap
pointed to consider the matter and %
take the necessary steps toward the ma
turing of the plan. L. NJ. Saunders was
elected chairman of this committee.
Mr., Saunders when seen by represent
ative of The Times last night said that
there was no intention on the part Of the
organization TO which he belongs to take
more than its proper place In the recep-
tion. IT was hoped that the cooperation
of the Board of Trade and of every asso-
citation in the District would be secured.
1T might be stated" said Mr.. Saun-
ders, that the appointment of the COM
mittee was secured through trickery on
the part of the Board of Trade, by having
list of names presented TO the Commis-
sioners, composed with but four excep-
tons of members of that organization,
before the perfection of the plan, and in
anticipation of the intent of the Business
Association. The list was presented to
Commissioner Wight by Theodore Noyes
President of the Board of Trade. AS the
list then stood there were ninety-six
names of members of that organization
and four names of members of the Business
Mems Association. 1t is significant that
the four members of the latter organiza-
tion are also members of the Board of
Trade. Commissioner Wight made several
changes III the list as presented. removing
a few names upon ii and putting in their
places others, of which ! was one. This,
however. did not change the proportion of
Business Men to Board of Trade men and
the committee, as il stands now is prae-
tically the same as named by Theodore
Noyes. At a meeting OF the committee as
appointed. ". S. Knox, President of the
Business Mems Association, stated that
understanding that the reception would
be official he offered the cooperation of
the organization which he represented, and
said that the 500 members would do all in
their power 10 make the event a success.
which the executive WAS ap-
pointed by Chairman W. II. Moses there
was on il the name of only one member of
the Business Mems Association, z. G..
Schafer.' The Board of Trade has done
many things 10 throw cold water on pro-
1ects of the other association. We admit
that IL has scored a victory in this in
stance. The Board of Trade has really no
right to the name. The business men of
this city represent the greatest strength
dohF sr
wood in the Board of Trade. On account
of the government of the District, how
ever, men appointed by the President have
more voice in the management of affairs
than the citizens. The committee of the
Business Mems Association has been dis
banded, and We will take our places in
the audience and watch the distinguished
members of the Board of Trade conduct
the celebration. Individually We will do
ali in our power to make the event a sue
cess both with our money and our efforts,
but as an organization We are not 10
take part. We have no feeling of ven
geance but one of profound regret"
Mr.. Noyes Explains.
The following communication from Mr..
Theodore W. Noyes was received by The
Times last night:
ITO the Editor Of The Tines
iOu lniS morning issue GER
tain resolutions of the directors of the
Business Mems Association attacking the
District Commissioners for the course pur-
sued by them in the appointment of tie
Dewey reception committee which resolu-
tions, in order that they may perform most
effectively their work of injury are 20 be
forwarded to the President and the Secre-
tary of the Navy Interviews and news
matter heretofore printed by you indicate
that the Board of Trade, though not named
in the present Indictment, is viewed as at
least an accessory to the Commissioners
alleged crime
If anybody is TO be blamed for the fact
that the local arrangement for welcoming
Admiral Dewey are entrusted to a COM
mittee thoroughly representative of all
Washington, and not 10 a committee I'm
lted in its membership TO a single local
organization, the main burden of respon-
sibility falls upon the Board of Trade, and
not upon the District Commissioners
Priority of conception of the idea of
welcoming Admiral Dewey is claimed both
in behalf of the East Washington Citizens
Association and the Business Mems Asso-
citation. The view taken by the Board of
Trade on the subject was that there could
be no copyright of this idea: that the
IDEA was spontaneous and universal: that
all Washington thought Of welcoming
IeNSvr ana was READY ana ANXIOUS 10 iiar-
ucipate in the welcome.
The Board of Trade considered that,
even with its own large and representa-
tive membership. Il would be presumptu-
Gus and unwise 10 undertake to represent
thu entire Capital in receiving Dewey. In
ste.d, therefore of fostering jealousieg and
heartburnings by pushing TO the front with
a committee of its own, IT suggested to
the Commissioners that they appoint a
tt,-a bod - nfr
could stand unquLstionably for all Wash
ington.
In pursuance of this request the Com
missioners appointed the committee of
one hundred. as fine a body of widely
representative Washingtonians as it is
possible to conceive. After this commit
tee had been appointed and announced.
two representatives of the Business Mems
Association appeared before the Commits.
sioners and urged that their organization.
which was already well and ably repre-
scented on the committee OF one hundred,
should receive further consideration. in
the shape Of an enlargement of the gen
eral Committee by merging of the same
with the Business Mems Association com
mittee. This request could have been
made with equal grace by any citizens as
sociation or labor organization which felt
dissatisfied with the judgment of the Com,
misssoners upon the point OF the repre-
sentation 10 which 1t was fairly entitled
upon the general committee. To grant
the request would involve the paradox OF
making the Business Mems Association
equal in representative Importance TO all
the aggregated organizations and classes of
citizens who were already represented I'm
the general committee, among which was
the Business Mems Association itself
TO reopen the question of the makeup