The Washington herald., 1911-04-30

Consolidation of the Board of
Trade and the Chamber of Com
merce is to-day one step nearer
consumnation than it has been
since the last fruitless effort on the
part of the two trade bodies to get
together.
STRONG FOR MERGER.
The straw poll conducted by James
Sharp. Julius Garfnkle. A. T. Hensey. and
John B. Sleman. jr.. has resulted in an
Overwhelmingly majority In favor of CO.
alition. There ware 655 favorable replies
to the circular letter issued. against
50 expressions Of negative opinion But
ten Of the members who replied to the
question refused to express definite views,
although the ten replies classed as mon
committar' in the recapitulation were by
no means all in doubt. It was not the
policy Of the committee. however, to class
as favorable any votes which did not ex-
press absolute approval of the plan.
Following the count Of the votes the
committee wrote a letter to the boards of
directors Of the two organizations. The
letter detailed the vote and requested the
two organizations to take such action as
they might deem necessary to promote
the full and free discussion Of the mer.
ger proposal by a joint special committee.
The following Is the text Of the letter:
To the Board Of Dir.c.ors, Washington, D. O.
Gentlemen: The undersigned April Is addressed
a letter to the members Of the Board Of Trade and
Chamber Of Commerce to ascertain their opinion
ru1a attpv1 Hn p<f% IL kx,<l.x a
copy d this Is letter is attached. Up to date IA
replies hare been received es5 Ct which are favor
able. s. arc against the merger. and 10 non
committal. We teli.se that the opinion Of the en-
tire membership IL aIFruxin ately represented By
those voting On the subject
In order that /the matter may be formally and
officially considered suggest that the subject be
made the special order Of business at the next
succeeding meeting Of the Board Of Trade, and
that 1t is the sense # the meeting that merger
Is desirable. committee from the Board Of Trade
Chamber Of Commsrce. the Joint cmmittee to
select . chairman. who shall be q member Of both
bodies. We would further suggest that this joint
committee formed should be empowered BY the
by which the merger may be Effected the form Of
organization Of the new body and all other matters
pertaining therem and to report to both organiza-
tions with their recommendations.
It Is on judgment tha. such consideration should
MT be hurried. that the Joint committee may have
opportunity to hear the views Of all who wish to
express them, as well As to study the forms Of
organization most successful in ether cities
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES SHARP,
JULIUS GARF1NKLE,
A. r. HENSEY
JOHN B. SLEMAN, Jr.
Meets Tomorrow Night.
The board Of directors Of the Board of
Trade will meet tomorrow night The
letter from Mr.. Sleman's committee is
now in their hands. The board Of d.
rectors Of the Chamber win meet Wed
nesday night. 1t is not believed there
will be any serious opposition to the ap-
pointment Of the joint committed 1t is
known the opposition to coalition is a
more potent force within the Board Of
Trade than within the Chamber Of Com
merce.
At the same time 1t is pointed out by
even the opponents Of the plan that the
Board Of Trade cannot afford to refuse