Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-13
ON STRONGER LINES
Will the National Board of
Trade Forge Ahead,
PROMISING OUTLOOK
MANY NEW APPLICATIONS FOR
MEMBERSHIP.
Thirty-Third Annual Contention In
Session at observation-disclosures
sioner Barry's Report.

"Your president has no set speech to de-
liver" Mr.. Blanchard Randall OF Baltimore,
president of the National Board OF Trade
said in calling to order the thirty-third an
nual convention of that body at the Snore-
ham this afternoon. ut is his desire that
the delegates get down to business at once
and that the work be expedited as much as
possible and without loss Of time. He does
not mean by this that the delegates are to
hurry.
There is one thing he desires to say.
however. and that is that the National
Board of Trade Is now going through a
period of reorganization. 1t Is an upoutlo-
ing of a new National Board OF Trade, or,
to be more just, the upbuilding OF the OLD
ON new lines If We are to make ourselves
felt in the country we must make ourselves
strong. We must have definite purpose TO
accomplish something. We must be CO.
hes,ve; concentrate our work on lew I'M
portant subjects. We must work In mar
mony We want vitality, and with 1t we
shall have the strongest commercial Or
ganization in the country"
Committee on Credentials.
Mr.. E. r. Wood of Philadelphia. Mr..
Anderson of Pittsburg, Mr.. Hilkins Of Bal
timore, Mr. Carter of Boston and Mr.. ]. w.
mittee on credentials, and while this COM
mittee was celebrating the secretary and
treasurer, Mr. w. r. Tucker of Philadel-
pnia, read his annual report, and also the
report of the executive council. On motion
Of Mr.. Murray Of Cincinnati the courtesy
of privilege on the floor of the convention
was extended to Mr. J. c. Brown, statis-
tcan of the New York produce exchange,
and MIR. Ross of the Baltimore stock ex-
cnange. Former Governor Stanard of Mis-
souri, delegate from st. Louis. was In
vited to a seat beside the president.
Next in Importance to the report Of the
committee on revision of constitution and
bylaws. which was submitted just before
adjournment this afternoon, was the req
port of Mr. Frank Barry, commissioner OF
the National Board Of Trade, who was
appointed last summer and whose perma-
nent headquarters are in this city.
Mr.. Barry has during the last few months
visited thirty-seven cities in twenty-one
states and called upon the officers and di-
rectors of more than 100 commercial and
industrial associations, endeavoring to i'm
press on them the Importance Of the mis-
sion which the National Board of Trade
has to perform, and urging them to give to
it their support and cooperation.
He has also conducted an extensive corre-
spondence with organizations. Invitations
to affiliate with the national board have
been extended to most Of the leading as
sociations throughout the United States,
and replies that have been received give
promise of excellent results.
Lively Interest Awakened.
Gas a consequence of the work accom-
piished," Mr.. Barry said, very broad
and lively interest in the national board Of
trade has been awakened, which 1 am con-
fdent, will bear fruit in a substantial en-
largement of its membership. During the
past year we have received the following
applications for membership: The Mil
waukee chamber of commerce, Buffalo mer-
chants exchange, Omaha board OF trade,
New Orleans cotton exchange, Little Rock
beard of trade, National Hay Association.
Illinois Manufacturers Association. Wichita
chamber Of commerce and Davenport BUSH
ness Mems Association.
THE question Of joining the national
board-with strong assurances Of favorable
action-is now pending with about twenty
five organizations, among the number being
the National Grain Dealers Association.
Southern Hardware Jobbers' Association,
Massachusetts, state board Of trade, New
York produce exchange, New York cotton
exchange, Rochester chamber Of commerce
and other influential bodies Several Of
these associations have appointed commit
tees to attend our annual convention, and
subsequently report upon the advisability
of Joining
Outlook is Promising.
After careful study Of the situation, /
am convinced that the outlook for this as
ISOLATION is exceedingly promising. I be-
lieve that our membership may very soon
be doubled II we continue upon the course
laid out, and that the national board OF
trade may become a most potent factor
for the commercial veal of our country,
especially through its influence upon ma
tioEal legislation. While the United States
Congress and public sentiment are not to-
day easily moved as formerly. by the
mere expression of opinion of any con-
vention, no matter how prominent or i'm
portant Its constituency, the possibilities
for accomplishment of desired results are
just as great now, through organized and
persistent effort, as they ever were.
There undoubtedly exists the urge mt
need OF a compact national organization,
which shall embrace within It's membership
not only the prominent local commercial
and manufacturing bodies of the country.
but also the state. sectional and national
associations, representing various indus
tries to serve as a medium for concentra-
ton of business ideas and opinions in mat
tiers OF national import. and to secure har-
monious and united procedure toward de-
sired benefits.
An Evident Necessity.
This necessity is plainly demonstrated
and accumulated by the recent tendency to
organize special associations for the pur-
pose of promoting legislation, whenever a
question OF popular interest arises such as
the National Irrigation Association, the Ma.
tional Sound Money League, the national
reciprocity convention, the National Con-
sular Reform Association, the National
transportation Association, the national
pure food congress. the Interstate Com
merce Law Associa ton, and so on, ad in
finitum.
Such organizations, formed and MAIN
tanned for a brief time. and single object.
at considerable expense, and with much
waste of energy. have a mission, because
there Is no established organization under
taking the work they are intended for.
they no doubt accomplish some good In
their limited sphere, through securing
unity OF action on the part Of their con-
stftuents, and to some extent they reduce
the volume Of prom,scuous clamor.
One Strong Organization.
Congress is at times overwhelmed With
the opportunities of multitude of asso-
cations, pleading by diverse arguments
and through many delegations for this
legislation and that, and proceeding, often
at cross purposes, to a common end. Con.
fusion and doubt must result. The ee.
forts Of one frequently counterfeit those of
another. The flood of resolutions daily