Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-11
CHOICE OF DIRECTORS
Matter Of Interest Among the
Board of Trade Members.
NEW POLICY PROPOSED
Effort to Have Organization Concen-
trate on Commercial Development.
PROGRAM OF ANNUAL MEETING
Reports Of the President, Secretary
and Treasurer, Respectively, to
Precede the Election.

The annual meeting of the Board Of
Trade, to be held tomorrow evening, prom
Uses to be one of the most interesting and
important gatherings of that body in its
entire history. The chief item of business
upon which the attention of the member
ship Is now focused is the election of one
third of the directorate ten of the thirty
members retiring at the expiration of their
terms and being succeeded by ten to be
chosen by the votes of all members in good
standing. The ten retiring directors have
been placed in nomination and in addition
seven other names have been proposed,
these seven representing a new question
affecting the status and function of the
board. The issue which will be decided
Monday night is practically whether the
Board of Trade is to be merged with other
local bodies of citizens into an organiza-
ton devoted primarily to the advancement
of the commercial interests of the capital
or is to continue as in the past to work
along broad lines of policy affecting the
welfare of the entire community.
For the sixteen years of it's existence
the Board of Trade has been a material
factor in advancement of the general inter-
ests of Washington, its bylaws defining
its scope and function as follows: Its OBJ
ject shall be the consideration of and ac-
ton upon matters concerning the COM
merce, prosperity and advancement of the
material interests of the national capital
and the dissemination of information relat-
ing thereto; it shall give special attention
to the promotion of public improvements"
The Boards Function.
The Board of Trade has served as a
medium of communication between the
people of Washington and the houses of
Congress. 1t has embraced in its member
ship all classes of citizens, of all lines of
occupation, and all professions. The mer-
chant. the lawyer, the physician. the de-
partment clerk, in short, citizens of all
descriptions of employment and activity
have been included, and have taken active
part in the management Of its affairs and
the furtherance O. it's objects.
AS indicative of the broad scope OF the
Board Of Trade and its particular objects
may be cited some Of its accomplishments
| and it's undertakings during these years of
its existence. 1t has steadfastly and in all
half-and- half principle of financing the
Districts expenses, as prescribed by the
organic act of 1878, and it has successfully
defended this principle on various occa-
sions when Congress has been disposed to
set 1t aside. 1t has worked for, and had
large part in securing the elimination of
grade crossings in Washington. 1t has
fought for, and in large measure secured
the burial of overhead electric wires 1t
has been largely instrumental in securing
the adoption of the underground CONDUIT
system of street railway propulsion 1t
has been influential in securing a compre-
| hensive sewer system for the District. 1t
has helped to secure the development OF
the park system. 1t was chiefly instrumental
In securing the establishment of public
library and its proper maintenance on a
half -and-half basis. 1t fought for long
| time for the replacement OF the Long
bridge by a modern highway bridge. 1t
and the ultimate enactment OF code or
laws Meanwhile it has published pamph-
let's and other documents booming WASH
ington and advertising its advantages as
place of business and or residence.
Policy Outlined.
Those who oppose the definite concentra-
ton Of the Board of Trade upon the COM
mercial development of Washington hold
that the organization can best serve Wash
ington by continuing as in the past to ad-
vocate measures Of general public improve
ment and by affording a means of commu-
nication between Congress and Washing
ton They argue that the board has been
strong in It's work for the District in the
past because 1t was not exclusively a COM
| mercial body, and that the necessary work
Of booming the business opportunities and
developing the trade Of the capital city may
better be done by one or more other Or
CARNATIONS working in harmony with the
Board Of Trade.
| to a high point during the past few days.
| and is evidenced by the numerous inquiries
which have been made of the officials OF the
| Board of Trade by members regarding their
status, the bylaws limiting the privilege
of voting for directors to those whose dues
| have been paid in full. There are seven
| hundred members on the rolls, and 1t Is ex-
pected that most If not all Of them will at
tend the meeting Monday night and will be
prepared to cast their ballots.
The Candidates.
The ten directors whose terms expire and
who have been renominated are Henry F.
Blount, William v. Cox. Robert N. Harper,
John B. Larner, R. Ross Perry, Frederick
L. Moore. Theodore w. Noyes, ]. H. Small.
| jr, Gen. George NJ. Sternberg and Brainard
H. Warner. All Of them have been identi-
| fed with the board for long time most of
| them from its inception. The new names
placed in nomination are those of w. T.
Galliher, 3. s. Adams, j. L. Weaver, E. D.
Shaw, Scott c. Bone, F. l.. Siddons and E.
| G. Graham These seven, it is understood
| directly stand for the proposition that the
| Board of Trade shall become a definitely
commercial organization.
At the meeting tomorrow night the pro-
gram announced in the formal CALL and in
/ accordance with the usual custom, will in
clude first, the annual report of the pres.-
| dent, which VIII summarize tHe reports OK
! the standing committees and will review the
years work of the organization; next the
| reports of the secretary and treasurer, fol-
lowed by report from the directors laying
before the board with their approval the
proposition that the board cooperate with
| the Commissioners in preparing and main
| tanning a municipal exhibit at the James
| town exposition, and then the election Of
directors, which will be followed by the
serving of lunch and adjournment. 1t Is
| expected that these matters will completely
| fill the time and that no other business will
he vav, aotod