The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-04
HIS SERVICES 70 THE CITY.
SECRETARY PROsCH's PAPER on
WORK OF PRESIDENT GRAVES.
che Head of the Chamber of Conn
merce, as Presented mt the Re-
cent banquet Given I'm Hts Honor.

II Is ten years now since the guest Of
the evening. Mr.. r. o. Graves. came into
the Chamber Of Commerce In the re-
organization OF the chamber Ia March,
1871 he took an active and influential part.
Though stranger to most Of US, he being
then IN the first year Of his residence in
the city he at once impressed the 30 men
engaged IN the movement az man OF
much courtesy, of great intelligence, OF
valuable experience and OF large capacity
for good. This impression has been con-
firrned by later and more Intimate ac-
quaintanea- ~ common consent he was
then chosen for second officer OF the
chamber, and again and again was he re-
elected vice president In June, 1897 he
was placed az the head Of the chamber,
and seven times since has he been re-
elected president
Ii IL doubtful II In the annals Of bodies
OF this kind mother man has been 50
often called by his fellow men TO lead
them as has President Graves BY as as
sociates % the Seattle Chamber OF Com
merce. They wei knew, however, that IN
honoring him they hbnored themselves
They also knew that IN trusting their pub
liz affairs with him they we're doing the
hest possible thing for their constituency
OF the city. 1hese being their only OBJ
Jects, other considerations were forced to
yield.
Connected with the presidency OF this
ORGANIZATION mas been fnNEN responsibility
ana vast deal OF labor The number "
calls upon the president and their variety
are wonderful People seem TO think that
lie can and should take mp every manner
of question and service. He should enter
tain visitors freely. he should give infor~
nation on every imagiuabls subject. he
should lead off IN the Fourth Of July and
other celebrations. ne should get farms
for people IN the country and homes AMI
situations for men 10 town; he should keep
straight all tho various forms OF govern
men' school. city. county, stale and ma
ftonal; he should pecuniarily assist needy
Individuals and should substitute and To-
cate Industrial establishments 81 all kinds.
he should do al these, and many more,
that no one else can or WIFI DO If he
falls vi performance Of these supposed
duties, or any OF them, ne II promptly aud
SHARPLY called 10 account Doing these
things requires time thought, care. pa
thence, fofbearauce and money II man
hasn't these It IL nor worth while for him
20 be president of the Seattle CHAMBER
of Commerce. The honor win be all on
the one side, and the service will be ne
elected TO the public detrment
President Graves has apparently been
- placed that he could do very much as
he chose He has had q commanding
business position has been master OF his
own time. has had the natural inclina-
tien 20 assist and WIS possessed OF dis
cernrncnt. discretion and strong common
scnsa, Ills choice OF action has always
been 10 the right. Ia do most and best
fer NIL He has fulfilled his official ohn.
Rnuons to the letter. and has rendered
services to this community incalculahle,
endurirt and beyond compensation other
than that OF the good viii OF his fellow
men
Az presiding officer Mr. Graves has
been thoroughly considerable of those in
Ia IA,
~ ease Of difference have invariably been
wise. and the course he recommended has
been pursued Never has there been an
appeal from a decision of his. II has not
been necessary TO notify him Of the meet.
tnHs or urge their attendance upon him
lie has always borne them Ia mind and
has made Il rule 60 put aside other calls
In favor OF thet uf ths Chamber of Com
snsstce. IN hts loyalty 10 the chamber he
has digniflcd II. has strengthened II. and
rs his example has rendered Il service
not e. he obtained IN any other way
Tho having ~ 40 capable man as Mr.
Graves for president has enabled the
CHAMBER II Commerce 10 DO the vast
amount Of work II has done Of late years
This work r. only partially known 10 the
pablh The public however has had the
henetit Of Il Ia thousand different wavs--
~ Address go interesting subjects by
leading men ~ the nation. la sneal at
fans ~ varied character. IN excursions
ta municipal economies. IN lowered rates
ot taxation, Ia city improvements N af-
fairs ~ trade IN preventing dangerous
ifsiHlatipW Ia better postal and railroad
services, "a government matters Of an
kinks, ana genefally, Ia fact In those
things dome reF tho people which cannot
be tone IN aait other way or hy any other
tosiy. In these the Seattle Chamber OF
Commerce has not been narrow and petty.
hut has enaeaYared 10 encourage and helm
the pecpia 81 other communities as we'll
Aud particularly those OF communities IN
thvmseivcs weakest and most necdful OF
heip The record Is enc ef which We may
all hr proud 8pd 20 no une IS $50 much
credit tHe therefor as 40 President Graves
@aFe--s--s---as