Evening journal., 1900-05-17
COMMERCIAL AGENCIES BALKED

its active agents and attorneys, the
Dun and Bradstreet commercial agen-
cies are attacking the Philadelphia
Commercial Musuems, and stirring up
sentiment against Congress granting
them an appropriation OF 100000.
They worked the Wilmington Beard
Of Trade, and they have worked other
boards OF similar nnture, but in most
places they have met with rebuff. The
worst blow yet sustained by these
agencies, which would hamper a great
public benefaetion 10 serve their own
private ends, was in Chattanooga,
Tenn, yesterday They tried to work
the Southern Industrial Convention as
they had worked our Board OF Trade,
and met with signal defeat The vote
commending the Museums was over
whelming.
Secretary N. i. Thompson, one OF the
convention officers. said that five
years residence In JOhnstown, Pa.,
gave him occasion to know OF the good
work being done by the Philadelphia
Musuems. He said one Johnstown
manufacturer who wanted to enter the
Australian field sent an expert to Aus
tIalia, who spent four months In
gathering data that cost $4,000, where
as the same could have been had In
better form for nominally nothing
through the Museums. He believed the
great strides made by the South In
commerce in the pasthve years had been
largely due to the Philadelphia Com
mercial Museums.
This called Robert Pritchard, law
yer, to his feet. He said:
AS local attorney for Dun's Meroan,
tile Agency. l want to go before that
committee and present evidence that
the Philadelphia Commercial Museums
is a private concern, run for private
gain, in competition with Dun's, Brad
streets and other commercial agencies,
and for that reason has no right TO
claim governmental aid.
Il was the same old game, worked
so successfully on the Wilmington
Board Of Trade
Mahlon N. Kline said the Mu-
seems were run az much for the benefit
OF Chattanooga, New Orleans or San
Francisco. as for Philadelphia; that
there could be no private gain to those
interestedin the project, and thehustees
were broad-minded and publis-spirited
He denounced the attack Of Duns
Agency as a selfish attempt at free ad-
vertising. He demanded that Pritch-
ard prodnce his proof at that moment
on the floor OF the convention. or else
TO withdraw his iibelous charges. but
Pritchard made no effort to produce
the proof
Secretary Thompson, with a good
deal OF spirit and feeling. said he
would demand an immediate vote upon
his resolution. and would insist that no
attorney OF a private corporation
should be permitted 20 occupy the time
OF the convention In trying to bolster
up private corporation, run purely for
gain. at the expense OF a public insti-
tuition. such as the Philadelphia Com
mercial Museums is known to be.
The resolution had TO 20 to commit
tee under the rules, bat the convention
wouldn't have It. The rules were sus-
pended, the resolution adopted and the
Museums cheered until DR.. Wilson re-
sponded briefly for the splendid vindi-
cation of the great work he repre-
sents.
After the convention adjourned DR.
Wilson said; II regard Il as one OF the
most complete yindieations my institu-
tion has ever had. and 1t is proof to my
mind that our work is appreciated IN
the South as well as all sections o.
the country. which have never seer
greater interest manifested in an in
stitution than has been shown our
since we have been here"
Clarkson Clothier, OF Philadelphia
said: philadelphia is proud OF her in
stitutons. but OF none more than tn
Commercial Museums I was gratife'
TO see how completely the convention
vindicated It from the charge OF beinl
a private concern run for selfish gain.
n. B. Kelly. OF Philadelphia, said n
was glad Attorney Pritchard raised tn
point he did, as It served to impres
upon all present that there were n
grounds for the charges. All the Phila
delphians expressed themselves in lik
strain, and all are immensely pleased a
the impression their city has mad
upon representative men OF the South
In his explanatory address. Dir. Wi
son emphasized the fact that his mat
tuition is on-politicala and non-section;
A delegate inquired II the Museum
were making efforts in behalf OF a
American merchant marine. Dr. Wi
son replied that It was not; the ma
ter was a political one and the MI
seums refrained from taking side
However. data showing the amom
paid for subsidies and the status
American merchant marine, withol