The Washington herald., 1910-05-29
By j. CLINTON RANSOM.

While the suggestion made by Edward
H. Droop during the week that 1t was
a good time for the Board Of Trade and
Chamber OF Commerce 10 unite and form
Ii stronger organization than either or
them has aroused some interest. the
same old arguments are being used that
tho Board OF Trade, with fits long record
of usefulness. must not be dissolved or It's
character lost IN a merger with another
body.
Mr.. Droop's suggestion was in the na-
ture Of a spontaneous expression of opln-
Ion OF what ought to be the character OF
working trade body in Washington. a
meeting had been called 20 consider the
question OF raising a fund TO be used by
the conventions committee Of the
Chamber Of Commerce in bringing the
meetings Of national bodies 70 this city.
Mr.. Droop had recently returned from
Richmond. where the chamber OF com
merce OF that city. aided by the muni-
cipality. had handsomely entertained the
convention Of the plano dealers Of the
United States and Canada.
Urges Merger of Bodies.
Mr.. Drcop made a short speech in
which he said that II was an opportune
time 10 meyge the two trade organizations
Of Washington by the formation OF one
strong body with annual dues Of $50 10
$50. the cost Of membership being graded
according TO capitalization. Mr.. Droop
said this would place enough money in
the treasury OF the organization 10 enable
II 10 perform these larger undertakings
without going around with subscription
papers. He thought body ought to be
formed in Washington with close on to
1000 members with a minimum annual
fee Of $50. This he held would provide a
fund sufficient TO take care OF conven-
tons and 10 do many other things for
which money IS now lacking.
Mr.. Droop also suggested that the
merger Of the two bodies be approached.
not through joint committees appointed
by the directors, but by meetings called
OF the membership Of the two bodies
with the question put fairly up 10 those
who pay the dues as members.
Two Attempts Have Failed.
II may be stated in this connection that
two serious efforts have been made 70
merge the two trade bodies both Of which
have failed for about the same reasons.
The first Of these efforts was made when
the Business Mems Association and the
Jobber and Shippers Association were
united in the Chamber Of Commerce. The
Board Of Trade was invited at that time
to join the movement, overtures being
made that the name Of the older organi-
zatlon might be preserved.
At that time the formation OF trade
body with annual dues larger than had
been customary was a new thing in
Washington. Some Of the members OF
the Board Of Trade were fearful Of the
experiment, and the old and conserva-
tive part OF the board finally convinced
the younger and more radical part that
the continued existence OF the Board Of
Trade was essential to the welfare OF the
District.
something over a year ago another ef-
fort was made 20 bring the two bodies
together. This time j joint committee
Of the TWO organizations discussed the
proposition for several days and could
not reach an agreement. The merger
failed because Of the tenacious hold the
history and work Of the Board OF Trade
has upon its members. Then and at ali
times the majority Of the members OF
the Chamber OF Comerce have been fav-
orable TO the formation of one strong
trade body with annual dues sufficient 20
afford for liberal expenditures for the
work OF the organization.
Character Of Board of Trade.
The Washington Board Of Trade. ex-
cept in name. is hardly a trade body at
all 1t was originally formed as the
follower OF the committee Of 100 which
exerted itself in the later seventies to-
ward the formation of the present com
mission form OF local government and
the half-and-half principle Of making ap-
preparations for paying the expenses OF
the municipality. The Board OF Trade IN
the beginning was and It IS to-day a civic
rather than a ;-ade body Ii has busted
Itself through the years principally with
matters directly affecting the local govern
ment II has worked for the beautiAca-
tion OF the city rather than for its COM
mercial and industrial advancement. In
these directions the Board OF Trade never
has been very active
In its chosen field the organization has
done effective and admirable work for
many years. Good reasons rest in the
minds, specially of the older members
who have been with II since the begin
ming. that the existence and work OF the
Board Of Trade should not be lost or
dimmed. Many of the members Of the
Board do not sympathlze with the idea
OF making Washington an industrial city
or very much OF commercial city They
bellere tpe Capital should be preserved
from the smell Of smoke, that its actrvi-
ties should be those Of a quiet residential
city and the dignifed capital Of the rich
est and most progressive country on the
globe.
Character OF the Chamber.
While the Chamber Of Commerce gives
considerable attention to civic matters.
much Of IT'S effort is toward developing
industry and trade and building up the
community In riches as we'll as beauty
The Chamber has been very active and
successful through the three or four
years OF its history It's dues are 500
annually and with this money IL has been
able TO do a good deal IN many wavs.
1t has aided several public movements
not only with its Endorsements and moral
support but with appropriations from its
treasury. It has permanently invested
considerable sum held in security for any
emergency that may arise when the
money shall be needed. The Chamber
has demonstrated, II such demonstration
were necessary, that an active organ,za-
ton with some money at its disposal is a
power in the city for It's general benefit
and advancement.
Though the Chamber two or three in