The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-02-05
zAz0DORs L. MED

Representatives of leading chambers
of commerce, boards of trade and 9TH
er Influential commercial bodies re-
Gently gathered in the city of Wash
ington and perfected the organization
Of a national, cooperative trade ex-
tension body that is bound to prove OF
the greatest potency in the promotion
of American commercial interests at
home and abroad. The delegates pres
ent at the inaugural meeting came
from all parts of the country and
there is no doubt but that the new or
ganization is thoroughly representa-
tive of the business life of the nation
In its braados. lense.
This lev .actor n American com
mercial and industrial progress Is to
be known as the National Council of
Commerce. The first steps looking to
the projection of this new force into
the Yankee trade field at home and
abroad were taken about a year ago
when Secretary Straus of the federal
department of commerce and labor
himself business man as well as the
official head Of that branch Of the ma
uonal government having to do with
commercial. matters-called a prelim-
mary conference Of leading business
men in the hope of paving the way
for Just such an association as has
now been created. A temporary Or
ganization was effected at that time
but 1t was only at the recent gather
ing at the national capital that the
unique project assumed concrete
shape, and was put on a practical
working basis.
The prime movers in this underta-
king confidently predict that it will be-
come the greatest trade organization
In the world. The high character of
the interests involved and the power
of the affiliated organizations can not,
perhaps, be better indicated than by
presenting the list of members of the
executive committee Of the new body.
This board of directors comprises B.
A. Eckhart of the Chicago board of
trade; Mahlon E. Kline, of the
Trades league Of Philadelphia; vii.
liam McCarroll of the New York
board OF trade and transportation;
George I. Mccarthy of the American
Meat Packers association; H. E. Miles
of the National Association of Manu-
facturers; H. Mosle of the Galveston
chamber of commerce; Edward A.
Filene of the Boston Merchants asso-
citation; George c. Perkins of the San
Francisco chamber of commerce; L. A..
Ransom of the Atlanta chamber of
commerce; G. D. Rogers of the Mime
apolis chamber of commerce; Gustav
H. Schwab Of the Merchants associa-
ton of New York; James E. Smith Of
the Business Mems league of ST..
Louis; d. A. Tompkins of the South.
ern Manufacturers club, and Frank B.
Wiborg of the Manufacturers club Of
Cincinnati.
At the recent meeting which was at
tended by more than so delegates.
bylaws were adopted and officers were
elected for the ensuing year. Mr.. Gus
tav H. Schwab, we'll known to bust
ness men throughout the country
through his Connection with the North
German Lloyd Steamship Company,
was chosen as chairman of the per-
manent organization. B. A. Eckhart
of Chicago was elected vice-chairman;
William r. Corwine, secretary, and
Frank B. Wiborg of Cincinnati, treas
urer. Meetings will be held annually
and permanent headquarters will be
maintained for the conduct of mis-
sionary work" on behalf of the Ameri-
can trade interests which Is one of the
principal objects of the new organiza-
ton. Although this is the first and
only association of the kind yet pro-
jected on this side of the Atlantic,
somewhat similar organization have
for years existed in countries which
are the most formidable trade rivals
of the United States-namely Ger
many, France, Great Britain, ETC., and
it was the object lesson afforded by
these foreign bodies as promoters Of
commercial development that spurred
the national government to foster the
present organization here.
Secretary Straus who, with his
right-hand man, Mr. Theodore L..
Weed, and the assistant secretary of
commerce and labor, Mr.. William R..
Wheeler of California, were instru-
mental in starting the ball rolling. will
henceforth be connected with the or
ganization only in an advisory capac-
ity, they preferring to leave the active
direction of affairs in the hands of the
business men themselves. However,
Secretary Straus hopes that one Of
the ultimate results of this new move
ment will be to bring about closer
relationship between the commercial
interests of the country and the ma
tional government. In speaking OF