The Washington times., 1907-03-10
JAMES F. OYSTER.
Continued From First Page.)

all our people interested in local
affairs. The only way we can rem
edy the conditions they cover is to
have a free exchange of views from
those with special interest in the
city.
But before J say anything about
this editorial in particular, want
to compliment The Times for the in
telligence and independence with
which it follows local matters.
The great difficulty about trade in
the District of Columbia is lack of
cooperation among its merchants.
Their failure to get together is, TO
my thinking, greater obstacle chan
all the others put together. So clear
a need as a commercial exchange for
a business like mine has never been
met for this reason, and this alone.
The Washington merchant who Wis
its almost any other city viii find
its business men closer together,
developed by frequent meetings and
conferences, ahd making general
progress by uniting their interests.
We shall never make any headway
in the form of trade for Washing
ton until we do the same thing.
How Could 1t Be Done?
How could Il be done here? We'll. the
first step is to organize a single bust
ness association 10 take the places Of
the three we have now. We should then
have solidity Of interest. get the mer-
chants closer together. give them op-
portunity to unite and expand. This
would be especially so n. in connection
with the single organization. there were
| a business mems luncheon. Why there
are tradesmen Of Washington in whom
| I have genuine interest that / hardly
see once a year. 1 say this and ! urge
: the substitution Of one strong body for
tie three we have now, in the light Of
I fun experience as a member OF them
all.
! Trade is a distinct benefit 70 every
community. It's advantages are shared
/ by every citizen. If the wholesale buy
! ing now done for Washington in Balti-
more and New York were done here the
profits would be spent here and there
/ would be more work for our people as
well as larger stocks for Washington
retail buyers. We ought 70 have more
large stores. But we viii never get them
unless we affiliate our interests as the
business men Of nearly every other city
have done.
| Washington must go at this problem Of
the publ, health with its coat or If
the condi ions are as represented, there
I Is a remedy fer them. What that rem
! edy is / leave TO Dr. Hlckling. chair
) man or our Business Men S committee on
public health, and his associates to find
! ont. But it mast be found out and put
! 10 work.
Find Out What's Wrong.
A while ago used to regret that the
impression was spreading chat Washing
ton was not a healthful place 10 live in.
/ Now 1 believe that no such condition
/ can be hid and tcat the only way 10 help
the city is to find out what's wrong and
improve it. There can be no doubt
about that. 1 have. personally. a strong
suspicion that the Anacostia Flats are
largely responsible for the malaria
] am very glad TO say that the present
| Board Of District Commissioners is as
able a board as the community has had,
to my knowledge. They are rightly
pleased, and the city ought to be pleased
at the unusual amount Of good legisla-
tion they have led In obtaining from the
last Congress-
Our association was interested this last
session to get allowances for filing the
records OF the District Supreme Court
in 1ireproof cases; for school gardens
and Fairgrounds, for new school build
ings, and for paying deficiencies in
teachers salaries. All those things were
granted, but they are not the only good
things which Congress gave us.
Both committees o. Congress on the
District have been. in my experience.
! ready and anxious to cooperate for the
benefit Of Washington. In this connec-
ton want to say 'ha: the District has
been particularly fortunate in having
had as the two chairmen Senator Cal
| llnger and Representative Babcock