The Washington times., 1907-02-17
By ALI Means Unitel

\ new Ieayen is working in the
three business organizations OF
Washington toward the union of
their resources. With such material
and in the light of so manifest a
need, it ought TO produce results,
and there are many Indications that
the results would he of great value
10 the community.
The material is the membership
of the Board Of Trade, the Business
Mems Association, and the Jobbers
and shippers Association.
In the first body an awakening
has taken place recently which
promises. more for its usefulness. or
for the usefulness of its member
ship. than all its career since the
adoption of the District code in 1901
More than half of the citizens on
it's rolls declared at its last general
election for new activity, a new
spirit, and a new business life for
Washington; and it's meetings in the
past six months ha,e been charac-
terized by more ginger than any
held for years
The second body is pre-eminently
n business body. It's view of local
affairs has been that Of business
men. It's meetings-as was eXem-
plifed last Friday evening-have
been marked by courageous. plain,
energetic purpose 70 upbuild Wash
ington commercially. 1t has in re-
suits, long marked the way for the
Board of Trade to follow.
The third was a business body or
ganized for a distinctive business
end-the development Of modern
and advantageous trade facilities.
An OutgrOwth of a movement start
ed BY the Business Mems AsSOCia-
ton, it has drawn largely on that
body and the Board of Trade for its
membership. It's work has been
well begun, but it could unquestion-
ably be prosecuted with more vigor
If the association could speak for
the whole city.
Characteristically, it has been only
the first o. these three OTganiZa-
tions which has delayed to join
hands. TIE others, with equal right
to pride in their identities and more
results to their credit, have con
sistentIy met every proposition to
avoid duplication and unite forces
with ready acquiescence.
That this should be the attitude
of business men is easy to under
stand for these reasons:
I. Atpresent there are three offices;
with three bills of office expense;
with three calls on the time of bust
ness men who belong to them all;
with three sets Of committees on the
same or corresponding assignments;
with three separate Investigations
into the same conditions; and too
often with two sets of conclusions
as TO action for the good of the Dis
trict.
.. Firms with enterprise enough
TO help wherever they could have
been assessed $50 year for dues
without the return a lesser sum
might reasonably obtain from a
single entcrpriSilg, and truly repre-
sentative body.
3. The outlay for secretaries has
been more than enough to hire a
$1,000 man and pay him the salary
he earns, without providing either
the man or getting the results.
4. Finally, all three bodies have
lost infueHce-because no one of
them could speak or assume to
speak with authority for the united
commercial and general interests of
the city.
The new plan may or may not
prove the best But if it is work
able, if it can be carried through, if
it can be used to overcome the pres
cnt opposition, the men of enter
prise in the three associations owe
it to the city to give it every con-
sideration. The progress of Wash
ingtOn rests with them, not the
uossbacks. They must be the ones
to overcome difficulties, not the fos-
siTs And IL If shall amman that
they-a majority of the Board of
Trade and practically the whole
membership of the Business Men
and the -Jobbers and Shippers must
make unimportant concessions to
accomplish this end, the community
looks to them to do so.