The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-14
RETAIL MEN FORM
AN ASSOCIATION
Start Independent of Cham
Der of Commerce.
NAME BOARD OF OFFICERS
Local Merchants Are Eager to
Launch Trade Body Which VIII
Consider Chiefly the Needs OF
Their CIass-sfay Affiliate with
the Chamber at Later Time.

At g well-attended meeting OF the busl-
ness men of the city at the rooms Of the
Chamber Of Commerce last night the Re
tail Merchants Association OF the Dis
trict of Columbia was organized and tenn
porary officers elected.
Enthusiasm characterized the gathering.
and there was a manifest determination
TO organize at once and start the project
before the idea should have time to be-
come stale in the minds of the projectors
Joseph strasburger. chairman OF the re-
tail trade committee OF the Chamber, pre-
sided. He reported that the matter Of or
ganizing the body subsidiary to the
Chamber OF Commerce had been laid be-
fore the directors of that body. where it
had been decided that In the form or
organization 1t would be necessary for
all TO become members of the Chamber
and then members Of the retail branch of
the main body.
Discuss the Organization.
This form OF organization was discussed
at some length. and It became evident
that the sense OF the meeting was for
a body OF retailers with more independ-
ence Of action than membership in the
Chamber would give them. The idea was
expressed by several speakers that the
objects OF the retail organization were
definite in scope and for the accomplish
ment OF ends that would not interest
the majority of the Chamber of Com
MERGE. Affiliation with that body was
the earnest desire of most of the mer-
chants present, but IL was felt that the
law Of the Chamber relative 10 the mat
ter was OF narrow Interpretation, possi-
bly, unsuited TO the requirements of the
situation
Finally. it was decided that an organi-
cation of the merchants should be eff
fected. temporarily. at least. independent
OF the Chamber. and that when it is
in working shape. and It's objects bet
ter understood than az present, it would
be easier fer afillation than would be
possible under the letter of the constitu-
ton Of the Chamber.
No Opposition TO Chamber.
In all this not the least opposition TO
the Chamber developed, but a hope that
when once the retail association shall
be a reality and its work started. it
will be easier for both the new associa-
ton and the older body 10 arrive at the
terms OF utilization. II was held that the
multiplication OF business organizations
was 70 be deprecated. and that the nltl-
mate union with the Chamber was de-
sirable
On motion of NJ Eisenmann, it was
decided TO proceed with the organiza-
ton On motion Of Joseph jacob, a
committee Of three was appointed to
name temporary officers OF the body. IN
Guiding a board Of directors. which
should be charged with perfecting the
details of organization. These officers
We're Joseph Strasburger, PRESIDENT
James F. Oyster. vice president; T. c.
Dulin, treasurer, and George w. Gall
secretary; r p Andrews, a. D. Prince,
II. C. Bergheimer, A. Mayer. and NJ A.
Leese, directors
VIII Perfect Organization.
This board OF officers and directors
were authorized to act for the members
IN drafting a constitution and working
out other details of organization, TO be
reported upon at a meeting TO be called
by the president OF all the charter men,
bers. seventy-two in number.
Those present last night were Joseph
strasburger. Sidney West, T. c. Dulin,
Morris Hahn. Alfred Mayer. w. W
Everett, J. a. Berber,ch, George Strauss,
Joseph Schenker, N. a. Leese. A. 0.
Hutterly, Max Rich, NJ A. Copeland.
l. J. Lauman. Harry Kaufman. F.
Kohner, J. L. Leverton. Joseph Jacobs,
Calvert Rosenthal, and A. NJ Fraiche.