The Washington herald., 1911-05-02

Plans for the merger OF the Board OF
Trade with the Chamber of Commerce
were discussed for more than two hours
at the meeting of the board Of directors
of the former organization yesterday aft
had been taken.
Several of the members had announced
their willingness and their opinion of the
preparedness of the whole body to con-
slider the proposed amalgamation, but
Ghen the directorate was frankly con-
fronted with the proposition Of appoint
ing a date for such consideration or Of
even agreeing upon the time for spe-
cial session Of their own body to discuss
merger and nothing else, the directorate
balked.
Made Mail Canvass.
The question Of merger was put square
ly before the Chamber by the receipt of
a letter bearing the signatures Of James
Sharp, Julius Garfinkle, A. T. Hensey.
and John Sleman, jr. In this letter, the
text of which was printed by The WASH
ington Herald last Sunday. it was ex-
planned to the Board Of Trade that the
above named had made a mail canvass
tions. with the result that in the opinions
received from 72i members, 655 had IA
fored a merger, 50 had opposed. and 10
had refused to commit themselves.
1t was later explained that Of the men,
bership Of the Board of Trade who had
volunteered their opinions in response to
the letter, 34S had voted aye" flfty-three
mo-" and nine had refused to be COM
mitted.
The advisability of immediate action
by the directorate Of the Board of Trade
was then discussed. John Joy Edison ex-
pressed his unalterable opposition to the
consolidation. He begged the directors
ton.
He took issue with Daniel ]. Callahan,
who he inferred wished to force consider
alton. He explained what he considered
the necessity for the existence of two
trade bodies, the one, the Board of Trade,
to look after the civic betterment of
Washington, while the other, the Cham
ber of Commerce, took care OF CONNER
Cial interests. He deprecated all efforts
to bring about the consolidation of the
two bodies. on the ground that their
work was dissimilar their purpose, and
even their reasons for existence, wholly
out of alignment.
Arthur c. Moses spoke Of the neces-
sity for meeting the problem as it now
confronts the Board Of Trade.
Replies to Edison.
Daniel ]. Callahan disclaimed any de-
sire to force hasty action upon the Board
of Trade He did want to know why the
report Of the special committee Of 1908.
which had. by vote Of 8 to /, expressed
views favorable to amalgamation, had
teen pigeon-holed. pocketed, or lost in
transit, and why the Board of Trade, as
a board of trade, had never been per-
mitted to express an opinion upon the
subject.
John H. Small moved IN adjournment.
and the question Of the projected merger
was thus left in the air for the present |
1t now becomes evident to the pro-mer-
ger men of the Board Of Trade-there are
no anti-merger men in the Chamber of
Commerce-that the project Of amal9a- |
nation must be sprung in the open ses-
sion of the Board Of Trade at a business
e
The time was not ripe for, although II |
is Well known what action the board of |
directors Of the Chamber of Commerce
will take at their meeting Tomorrow |
night, the pro-merger men Of the Board |
o. Trade did not want to exhibit their
power in advance Of the Chambers ac-
ton