The Washington times., 1911-04-17
OF TRADE
BODIES FAVORED
Replies to Circular Letters of the Chamber of Commerce
and Board of Trade Express Confidence in Advantage
to Be Attained by Combining Two Organizations.

members believed to be the first step
| in their plan of action.
| IL the replies TO the letter reach
| in numbers and enthusiasm the rea-
| sonable expectations of the commit
| tee. they will be made the basis for
formal action in both the Chamber
of Commerce and the Board OF Trade.
! If il be ascertained that the majority
\ of the menw no subscribe to the sup
| port of the two local business bodies
are in favor of merging them into
| one organization, then II Is believed
| that no officer of either will have the
temerity to oppose consideration Of
| the subject.
Signed BY Men Not Seeking Office.
Such a letter as has been sent out
! was discussed after the recent meet
ing of the Board Of Trade directors.
but IL was realized that II II should
bear the signature of officers or di-
rectors 1t might be misconstrued as
coming from men personally interest
ed in a movement to bring the two
together for their own individual ad
Vancement.
1t was suggested that this might be
avoided by a specific declaration TO
the contrary and that no one con-
nected with the movement would per-
nit his name to be used In connec-
tion with a nomination for office of
the combined organization, should II
be brought about. But II was finally
conceded that a letter signed by men
in the ranks, men who had not held
office and who did not wish for Of
flee. would come with better grace.
All the men signing their names to
the circular are well known business
men. Their views as expressed in the
letter are identical with those of the
the movement for consolidation. The
letter follows:
Text Of Circular Letter.
We whose names are signed below
are members Of both the Board of
Trade and Chamber Of Commerce. We
have never held office in either body,
and cherish no aspirations in that di-
rection. We are, however, deeply in
terested in these organizations and
greatly concerned that they should
render their highest possible services
to the District of Columbia.
We are repeatedly made conscious
of the fact that in having two such
organizations there is constant dupli-
cation of effort and conflict in action
Much energy which could be used to
advantage is dissipated by reason of
boards OF officers and directors, and
two sets of committees covering yir-
tually the same field.
THE chief drawback however. is
that the ideas OF the citizenship gen
orally cannot be effectively voiced to |
Congress. the Commissioners. or in |
any other direction save by Joint ac- |
tion of both hodies-a tedious and |
wasteful process
We have, therefore, been moved to !
ask you to answer US informally the |
question propounded on the inclosed |
reply postal card, so that consensus |
OF opinion on the subject of the ANAL |
of the two bodies may be
secured.
"1t has been urged that the Chamber
Of Commerce should attend to matters
of strictly a business nature. while
the Board OF Trade should look after
civic affairs. but efforts to segreKate
the work of the two organizations in
this way have up to the present time
proved fruitless. Therefore, the only
Of the problem seems to II. in
the policy of consolidation"