Evening journal., 1900-05-10

fees. II is virtually the manufacturers
themselves who direct the policy of this
department, as II is their money alone
which maintains IT,
The Delaware senator and represen-
tative probably know the facts better
than do the members OF the Whining
ton Board OF Trade. who have been
duped into placing an obstacle in the
way OF an institution so peculiarly use
ful to the promotion OF our export
trade that it has been reproduced by
the German government IN the interest
Of German manufacturers. The SEN
aoors and representatives who have
visited the museum and have investi-
gated its methods, are convinced of its
surprising value and of the reason
ableness of its application for this ap-
preparation. They know that IL can
40 more to increase the foreign sales
Of our manufactures than could the
easily Department of Manufactures for
the creation of which a bill is now
pending in Congress. In simple JUS
tice the Wilmington Board OF Trade
should learn the facts and then recall
It's resolution.
This is an editorial which every
member of the Board OF Trade should
commit to memory. Fifteen Of its
members have served as cat's-paws to
pull chestnuts from the fire for the
Dun and Bradstreet commercial agen-
cies
What do they get out Of It? Nothing.
What does the Board Of Trade get
out Of II? Nothing.
What does the city of Wilmington
get out OF 1t? Nothing but the enmlty
Of Philadelphia for this uncalled-for
and unwarranted interference.
Il is time for the members OF the
local Board OF Trade to wake up and
attend its meetings and have say and
a vote in deciding it's action. When
commercial agencies, to serve their
own ends, can swing public organi-
zation into line against a great trade
institution, that public organization
no longer is performing its proper
function.
This special meeting Of the Board of
Trade. to consider the adverse action
already taken, was called at the in
stance OF the Harlan and Hollings-
worth Company. the Jackson and
Sharp Company the Remington Ma
chine Company. the Diamond State
Steel Company and other big Whining
ton enterprises which have felt the
banehcent Influence Of the Philadelphia
Commercial Museum and who appre-
ciate fully its great value to the export
trade OF the country.
1t was not shown at the meeting last
night that the museum ever had given
commercial rating in regard to any
firm in this country or any other coun-
try except TO inform exporters whether
certain firms we're reputable or dis
reputable, and whether they were work
ing in certain lines Of business.
We hope that the members OF the
Board OF Trade will awaken to the fact
that they have done Philadelphia and
themselves a grave injustice and that
they will not permit the records of the
organization to remain as they stand
to-day. The people of Wilmington
have a far greater interest in the ex-
port trade Of the country than they
have In Dun and Bradstreet. They
have a far greater interest in retaining
the friendship OF the Pennsylvania
delegation in Congress than they have
in commercial agencies. In the inter-
est of our city those members Of the
Board Of Trade who were not present
last night should assert themselves,
ask for special meeting, expunge
from the minutes the proceedings Of
the last two meetings and set them
selves straight before the public.