The Washington times., 1908-03-04
Of TRADE BODIES
Be UP FOR DECISION
Il FRIDAY NIGHT MEETING
Many Board Members Opposed to Union, While Cham
Der Constituents Resent Being Forced to Make
So Many Concessions.

Since the two conference committees
appointed by the directors Of the
Chamber OF Commerce and Board OF
! Trade have completed their labOrs and
| reached a conclusion favorable 10 "a
merger of the two bodies. the matter
may be definitely settled. so far as the
/ Board of Trade IS concerned, at the
/ general meeting to be held on Friday
night.
1t is pointed out today that a spe-
cial meeting OF the directors OF the
Board OF Trade may be called before
the Friday meeting. I'm order TO re-
Ceive the report of the merger commit
tee and that then the matter will be
passed on to the open membership of
the board, for a vote. The notices for
the meeting already sent out bear the
statement that resolutions from com
Inittees may be offered" after the hear
ing Of reports, thus making such a pro-
ceeding in order.
Those who are considering today the
advisability OF presenting the subject
10 the membership Of the Board of
Trade reason that, if this were done,
the whole situation would be quickly
clarified. and. if the decision of the
members. who finally must decide the
matter. he favorable to a merger fu-
ture conferences Of committees from
both organizations would have the
simple duty OF framing a definite
scheme under which the two bodies
might join.
Resolution Is Passed.
II. on the other hand, the popular
vote I'm open general meeting were
against merger, there would be no
further need for the appointment of
committees to consider the matter. Ia
either case. the question that has been
discussed freely for weeks and occu-
pied the attention Of the members Of
both examinations. would be settled.
This afternoon the directors Of the
Chamber Of Commerce will receive the
report OF the merger committee, and
the matter probably will be passed on
TO the whole membership at the meet /
ing next Tuesday night.
After two lengthy conferences, the |
committee appointed - consider the
merger yesterday reached a conclusion
favorable to such a step, and adopted
the following resolutions offered by D. /
J. Callahan. by vote of five to one. the
dissenting vote being cast by the chair |
man Of the Board Of Trade committee. |
John b. Laraer:
RESOLVED, That in the judgment Of |
the committees appointed by the boards |
Of directors Of the washington Board /
OF Trade and the Chamber OF Com
merce. Il is deemed advisable 10 mGgc
both ORGANIZATIONS, and said committees
viii recommend 70 their respective
bodies that such merger be effected |
under the name Of the Washington /
Board of Trade
Other Resolution Fails.
After the adoption OF this resolution !
another. offered by Mt Gala /
han. failed Of adoption through the |
votes of the members Of the Board /
Committee Thus the effort to make /
a Joint committee of the two confer !
ring committees for the purposes Of /
proceeding further was defeated. /
The resolution was as follows:
Whereas the appointment OF COM /
mittees by the board OF directors OF /
the Board OF Trade and OF the Cham /
Der Of Commerce indicates a willing /
ness on the part of each body to con
slider favorably the amalgamatiOn of !
the Board Of Trade and Chamber OF
Commerce; therefore, be 1t
Resolved, That the committees for
mally organize and draft such bylaws
and effect such changes In the working
order of each body as VIII be neces-
sarv TO a union without lmpairing the
usefulness OF the present articles Of
OF the Board Of Trade
Mr.. Larner Makes Denial.
Mr.. Larner today denied the report
that he had informed the members Of
the two committees that II any merger
were effected which would not be sat
Isfactory to the minority OF the Board
Of Trade, the minority would imme-
diately form a new and independent or
ganization, and that the minority would
be considerable in influence. II not in
numbers.
'T wish to deny that I made any
such statement at the meeting yesteT-
day." said NJ. Larner.
That there is decided opposition to the
merger. and that there Is talk or a new
by the minority in case OF
The union, however, cannot be denied,
the strength OF this move
ment is not at all well defined. This
las dampened the ardOr of many men
Who were most enthusiastic in their ad-
7ocacy Of tie combination.
It is pointed out that the merger Of
he Business Mems and the Jobbers'
md Shippers Associations last year to
Orm the Chamber OF Commerce pre-
5ented an entirely 0lIGTenT situation. At
hat time the memberships of both those
organizations were DESTROYS of a union.
There were so few dissenters from the
general opinion that their influence vas
lot felt. The merger was, therefore,
speedily accomplished. In this case
here is a minority of unknown proper
ions: according to the votes cast in
The Times inquiry, more than One-third,
nd, furthermore this minority TO a
ertain extent IS bitterly opposed to any
with the old organization OF
he Board OF Trade
Resent Concession of Name.
The fact. too. that the only condition
nder which 1t was possible for the
onferees representing the Chamber OF
commerce TO obtain the support Of a |
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