Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-06

proved by the cOmmltlees
1.-The committee of citizens. constituted Oh
members OF the Washington Board OF trade
Bankers and Business Mems Association
and having in hand an organized movement
for the promotion OF Washingtons COM
mercfal interests. thinks 1t desirable IN ev-
cry way to take the public in Its commence
and that the fullest information be rur-
nished the public as to the true object and
aims of the movement.
Attention was recently directed IN the
public prints to the fact that washington
while possessing average railway 1achieles
as shipping point to southern and western
territories. and having the advantages OF
navirable water to the Atlantic seaboard.
had only a nominal wholesale business
that. although a city of one-third Oh In'-
lion of inhabitants. 1t was so distinctly ue
ficient in the matter OF represen,a al, .
1t a humiliating spectacle among cities VI
its class; that, although located IN .el !,
rtory normally advanced. prosperous anu
wealthy, the jobbing trade OF us es a~-
representative wholesale houses did not ex-
coed the amount often done by cities OIL
from 5000 to 10000 population.
Anomalous Condition.
"rbere was no accounting for this anoma-
,ous condition OF things. except that WASH
ing supplied by the drunlmers from eastern
honses. and that this was being done at the
exnense of our city's legitimate commercial
,nterasts These are the bare. surface facts.
ona NAV he accepted as a 5uStinaDie OASIS
for the present organized movement Whacn
seeks for no more than to properly caie Ao'
our own commercial rlShts. a.,,ay
1.-The movement, now auspiciousiy 80
oninp was started less than one montn aso,
and from the first the press and the pupi,.c
have manifested the keenest ana mos. ~
stantial interest. It Is properly s ny c Gunner
rial rights and the interest shown mas oeen
a source OF real ENCOURAGEMENT 10 lhe co
mittee 1t needs and bespeaKs tns hlo ta
and financial support OF every puoiic ,IaaI
lied citizen in an attempt to promote ioca.
crrnmercial interests along lines Tree IRON
private or public objection. The pupnc
wanted back of the movement. anu Nv ~
nride should take the initiative IN an "
dertak king with but one alm-tne coniiiiei e
reputation of the capital OF the couh'i''
Plans Outlined.
SIT will be a part Of the comprehensive
Man of campaign Of this conmitte 10 stuoS
how other cities gained their presuse aS
wholesale centers; to collect anu coii"'e
facts. figures and arguments. publish h'e' a.
ture and maps showing the advantageous
location OF Washington as a proper anu
natural distributing point for Wnoies az
merchandise for large section OF .hs
south TO which 1t stands the accrediteo
gateway. 49, ,,,, row he
taken I'D In earnest. and the work given
the character of permanency ana emciemSS
Ear-raaching and exhaustive plans. GRAZING
the globe il necessary, Will De maoe 70 az
effectiye work. Experiments Will nave 10 70
made to determine approved result -pIouuio
ing methods. This may mean efa nr,nce-
do
iv wealth has said: He VINO makes ho
mistakes seldom makes anything
"Washington's commercial interests must
be kept before the public ms WIN m.eii
th~ouehout the mercantile world the city
will be properly and inteiiigentiy consip =
cred In the light of its advantages ana lne
Inducements 1t has to offer. In Wo,u,
~ 10 a commercial center, even under the
conservative limitations set by TINS con,
mittee for Washington, we must naVe Is 81
Innate aspirations in that dlrection. bus
our inducements and advantages are eve"
greater than our afeani "a
quest ,tr IN the
1r,jtsd States offers the opportunity anu
attractions for wholesale cry soous,. ~
and shoe and clothing house that Wasnins
ton does The inducement lies IN tue patu
fact that we are minus such instituIionas.
These facts will be promptly ana ehecl' ny
made known to the business WoIlu' 49,,
re our duty as a community would pc ~
show a lack of public interest ana SPIT.
and II is to this work the commll.ee 10.
set it's hand and Will oeFote
It's time and energies to,,
c,tv mentioned as the fifth retail city IN tiie
United States, is located prac.icsn' -. 20
midst of unpre-empted territory as
snac,s wholesale business In various lneS.
spcb az have been mentioned. The trace o.
This city. which, as stated, Is large, Woulo
lopically go to wholesale houses IcS"eiiis
here The contiguous territory. soutn a. ).
west Of US. would likewise pe IA hn,,sea In
district OF these houses Eastern houso.' a.
the main. now have this trade, II oeihs ia
vided between Baltimore, Phiiaoeipaln 49,
New York with several other ci.ies - LIE. .,o
competitors In the race. 1t VIII Dc saiu NC,
that settles 1t 1t does until Washins lon
taxes the field in real earnest ana assoc :. -
sts rights. which are those OF nav'.s s.s
own Wholesale houses to supply local u au0'
Territory to Be Invaded.
.orbs territory we have mentioned, al
snec,ous arguments to the contrary, Wouio
he the legitimate spoils of leading wnoiesaie
houses located at this point. just as assur-
sa,v "a the several representative wnoiesaie
bouses located here have established large
ap5 growing trade In a NUMBER OF States
south and west. Here Is the argument IN
Concrete the facts being fully Verineo ny
lacal C0ndttiOnS{ ana we Acto isoe ~ ~o-~
that the mercantile world will fan 70 recos-
nize the cogency and validity of this ar2u-
ment Understanding these facts, FespeGt-
suI appeal to the centers OF commerce In
this country and In Europe VIII not long go
unheeded. .,at o,,,.
netirion is the controlling element In COM
merciail transactions. or the basic principle
in trade. But let US suppose for moment
that the community of interest principle
should assert itself in settling the CONNER
cial equation we are considering, and that
the retail dry goods merchants OF this city
should pledge their patronage. as FAR as
they could consistently do SO. to whole
sale house that would locate here and un-
dertake to supply the local market as
cheaply as the eastern houses are now do
ing 1t, how long does any one suppose that
washington would be without that which
II Justly oovets-a thoroughly representa-
tive wholesale dry goods house.
III this were successful how easy 1t
would be to organize other branches of
local trade on a similar basis But WASH
iueton's citizens do not propose to go to an
unseemly scramble for the purpose Of Sc
curing wholesale houses. but rest
their hope on the candid conviction that
an immense wholesale patronage, along
u <od fror elf 4