The Washington times., 1909-09-18
Greatness of Washington De-
ponds on Cooperation, .
Says w. M. Balderson.
MUST SUBORDINATE
SELFISH INTERESTS
Manager of Palais Royal Lauds
Chamber of Commerce for
Achievements.

Cooperation among business men, a
desire to see Washington mount to the
highest rtlng of the commercial ladder,
and the natural advantages that this
city has over others, are the chief fac
tors in making the present prosperity, is
the opinion Of Wistar NJ BaldersQn.
manager of the Paiais Royal. mer-
chant Of wide experience, and one whose
belief in the future of the National
Capital Is profound. But as sanguine
as is Mr.. Balderson for the ultimate
greatness OF Washington. he warns that
il needs the continued cooperation Of
It's bushes man. their unselfish determ-
ination one TO help and encourage
another, If the present upbuildinE move
inent Of the city is TO broaden to its limit
of development-if IL is to be made a
permanent thing. In short, they must
subordinate all selfish interests, must
even make sacrifices. for the communal
tvs general good.
AS evident as is washington's pros
perity right now and az certain as is
its future to be among great and pros
porous cities, II cannot be maintained
so unless its business men stand togeth-
or. Their best success Is to be realized
through collective effort, for no individ-
ual business man in a community as
large as this. however bright his pros
poets, can stand alone
Years of Stress.
This is the keynote Of Mr.. Balderson's
faith in the city that has seen more
than twenty years Of his labors as a
commercial captain, the city that ne
has witnessed rise in haze Of uncer7
tainty. pass through years of business
-
a commercial as well as a residential
community, until the transformation
was wrought and the city's business
rested on a foundation as firm as rock.
Through all this time a few men have
led the way: their lamps. burning with
faith and confidence despite the firmly
grounded idea Of many that the Capital
could never be more than the seat Of
the Government, have lighted the path.
Mr. Balderson says, that others might
follow.
And. as Mr. Balderson refers to the
great advances the Capital has made he
lauds the efforts OF the Chamber of
Commerce to promote It's business fu-
tLre. Such publicity ideas as the
hsmber's floral parade, he declares
should be fostered and encouraged. for
they add not only 10 the popularity Of
the city. but lure business 10 its mer-
chants But while he points out the
advantages OF advertising through any
and all legitimate methods. Mr.. Bladder
son advises that IL be kept up Just as
constant dripping wears away stone,
cor slant advertising will, IN time, place
this city in the vanguard Of great trade
communities. Sporadic effort, ne says,
viii avail but little, and 10 make the
benefits OF publicity lasting TO the city,
he advises that il be developed into a
prolonged campaign.
The growing tendency OF our bust
ness men TO cooperate that they may
accomplish a common good is the best
son. 1T has not always been so, and.
in consequence the cfty's commercial
side has suffered. but II is becoming
more and more the watchwOrd now, and
J. for one, believe that this spirit with
ultimately put Washington IN the ranks
o. big commercial cities. We have
learned much from the example OF other
cities whose success has been measured
By the amount Of collective Organiza-
ton which Is only another term for
cooperation that their merchants have
injected into their work. No city can
succeed commercially where its business
men act out OF harmony. where they do
not subordinate selfish interests for the
general good. / would say that upon
this to q greater extent than anything
else depends WashingtOns future as a
business City.
Prosperity Is Here
when we are considering only the
present. Of course we must admit that
prosperity is here. It's evidences are
undeniable. We are on the high wave.
but we have by no means reached the
crest. Believing that we are 10 expert
euce a long era Of good times. Of
greater business activity than we have
known IN years Of more liberal living.
this store has added largely % itr
stock That is the way a merchant
shows he has confidence not orlv in his
city's future. put in its immediate pros
pects
"It has come TO our observation this
year that our patrons are handling more
money than during the preceding year.
and they are spending fl more literally,
and that their tastes seem to run to the
higher grades of goods. This. II woIid
seem. is an excellent barometer OF i'm
proving conditions, Tor the buying pub
lie. like the merchants, is quick TO be
moved either by prosperity or by re-
verses
1T Is probably so that the Federal
Government friendly attitude toward
its employees. combined with the assur-
ence that the employees feel IN the sta
bility Of their positions that they are
disposed this gear 40 be entirely liberal
The Governments manifest desire to
make Washington a Capital worthy IL
the greatness Of this country has Ger
tainly spread o good influence through
the city. Merchants rea lie this, and
accordingly they are adding % the i'm
pOrtancc Of the city by building up its
business side.
But in a word, we can never climb 10
the summit until we work together. UNI
al we follow the example of those great
Northern and Western cities whose sue
cess Is matter Of national pride. and
resolve TO make the success Of the fu-
ture the desire Of all. Reach Que I'm all
directions and bring the people mere;
We have the substance and the material
Of premier city, but who will know IL
until we take il 70 their door,
LODGE ORGANIZED