Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-18

What Washington wants Is local patriot
ism, and that is what they are in prospect
OF getting through the Shippers As
ISOLATION. This, in brief, was the way
that w. B. (Billy) Hibbs put the matter
to a Star reporter today.
washington Is differently constituted
from any other city in the country said
Mr.. Hibbs. 1T has real local population
but we seldom hear anything of 1t. When
there is an Inauguration or an encamp-
ment or any other big thing we get few
big names at the head of the local COM
mittee. You know who they are as well
as | do. and there Is no use in going into
details. They are bankers and financiers
and officials. This is not a case of sour
grapes with me. and do not want to be
understood as kicking. get more Of that
sort of committee appointment than want,
so l am not criticising because / am left
out But any Washingtonian knows just
what mean. The people who are brought
to the front and put at the head of al
most any Washington movement are men
who have offices rather than the men who
nave stores. There are lot of solid busi-
ness men in the city, and the number is
growing. When some of these do get put
on local committee they usually prove
the pest workers We have, and 1t is be
cause this shippers movement Is going
after that sort of men that l think it is
bound to succeed.
What Makes Success.
Take any town in the country. I don't
care how small it is. and If YOU find a resi-
dent of that town anywhere in the world,
the first thing he will begin to talk to
you about is his town and how it is the
best place in the universe. has all the
natural advantages. 1t may not be quite as
Dag as New York or Chicago, but it is
growing straight along and Ii Is liable to
put New York out of business next month.
Now. that Is what call local patriotism. 1t
may nail from Dogville. Texas or Xibosh,
Kan. but it is good to hear. and it is the
thing that makes the success of a town
NOW, we have the local business man
here. but he is modest He seldom gets
invited to take part in any local movement.
Things OF public sort are turned over to
financial men and government officials and
the business man is not invited in and he
does not force himself In. l only hope now
that this awakening of Washington is on
that the gentlemen who are at the head of
the movement will see to 1t that these bust
ness men are really drawn in that they are
given responsible positions on the various
committees and urged to work. They can
work and they will work. They know what
the city needs from a business standpoint
better perhaps than some of the rest of US,
l hope that they not only will be invited
in in polite perfunctory sort of way,
but that they will be made to understand
that we want them. and want them badly,
want their suggestions and all the help
they can and will give.
The local patriotism is here all right but
1t has never before been given a chance to
show itself. l am thoroughly in favor of
the business movement, though have been
sick and not able to attend the meetings as
l would like. But while I will attend and
a lot of other Local men whose names you
see in print right along will attend. what we
want most of all Is the local business man.
whether he is big or little You may find
some little business concern that is using
up all its output supplying two or three
firms out in Virginia or Maryland, but these
out-of-town firms have friends and &C
quaintances. We want to cultivate them
through the local men, no matter how small
he is. Friends breed friends. and If the
rank and file of the local business men can
be urged into the association, as fully be-
lieve they can be. then the movement is
going to be a success, as it ought to be-
Secretary Howe's Mail.
This prediction was quite borne out by the
mornings mail at Mr.. Howe's Office. He
was in receipt of a number of belated let
tiers explaining for one reason or another
that the writer's had been delayed in getting
their names down. but that they did not
want to be omitted. One letter was from
an out-of-town firm, saying that they had
felt the Inconvenience of Inadequate rail-
way facilities and would be glad to CO.
operate in any way they could with the new
association.
The letter was from Merchant. Evans &
Co. of Philadelphia, dealers in tinpIate and
metals. 1t said that possibly they were not
In the line of trade in which Washington
was particularly interested, but that they
did have common interest with the Ship
pers' Association in trying to get the rail-
road facilities improved. They said in part:
I'VE have experienced much trouble in
getting goods shipped from Philadelphia to
Washington and are willing to do anything
in power to help your movement. We
are interested in good time and good service
between Philadelphia and Washington, and
would be glad to cooperate with your asso-