Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-04-19

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subject Of Mr.. Sewall's address. After
speaking Of the business combines OF the
present day, he said:
.ff l rightly understand the meaning
and objects OF the Maine Stste board OF
trade, it seeks the promotion OF the in
terests Of the business community, as
! distinguished from the separate self-in-
terests of business individuals. All the
cooperation which l have described has
had solely in view the increase OF personal
wealth. Beyond doubt these methods Of
combination have been helpful to COM
munites as we'll as to individuals; but
that has been mere incident, and not the
deliberate purpose Of such corporation.
"What wish to do this afternoon is to
illustrate how we may and must adopt
and adapt these cooperative principles
and methods for the indirect helping OF
individual business men through the
direct improvement OF business COM
munisies. want to set it in sharpest
possible contrast to the old-time narrow
and short-sighted individualism which
originated in the small country village and
unfortunately grew with its growth until
it has equally infested the larger town and
even the city - the spirit which has led
individuals and firms and corporations to
vainly imagine that they could ignore the
well-being OF other lines Of business and
combat by both open and secret methods
their competitors, near or far, in their
own line, and that somehow their COM
munities would still thrive and increase.
at is this same spirit which has led adj
joining towns or cities to stir up jealousies
and petty rivslries and to waste hot air
in boastfui braggadacio which might
with much better advantage be ex-
pended in different manner. That this
day is passing is proved by the size and
strength and splendid spirit OF this state
wide board of trade and OF the individual
organizations represented in your secre-
tary's report this morning.
sThat this day has not wholly gone 10
equally evident from the fact that there
are sill left in your great commonwealth
some towns and cities where boards Of
the work Of which they are capable.
IAN the business men Of every commu-
nifty should get together in one strong or
ganization, sufficiently broad to cover the
|ewhde field, and sufficiently specialized in
departments to care for all diverse inter-
ests. IN many towns and cities to-day the
board OF trade or similar body lacks vitali-
ty because it lacks breadth and depth;
that is, it does not take in enough people,
and it does not attempt enough helpful
activities to interest more people and in
duce them to join.
1.-THE present opinion in cities that are
getting the most help from commercial
organizations is, in my Judgment, that
there should be only one organization
instead Of two or three. A board Of trade
and merchants' association ought not to
maintain separate organizations, but get,
together, and by means OF . suhicient
number of committees do together all the
things which now they do separately.
There is no possible reason why merchants
which increases the success of manufac-
turers, and vice versa.
s'Furthermore the professional men Of
. city should come into such q body; the
lawyers and doctors, the teachers and
ciergymen ought to get together; for there
is really no line Of business or profess
sional work represented in . city direct
DRY, unless it be that OF undertakers,
which ought not to be encouraged and
broadened.
1.-THE business men of Maine should
At once get together and present united
front in dealing with the question Of
corporate control Of public utilities. You
are at present in the stage where you
have great opportunities and great needs
of the development Of unused resources.
The water powers of this State are worth
more than you now realize; but :here
are plenty Of people outside OF Maine
who know their value and are doubtless
laying their plans for capitalizing that
knowledge.
"There are two attitudes toward corpora
tions seeking to develop public utilities
which the experience Of other states
should teach you to avoid; first, the atti-
tude OF suspicion and unreasoning preju-
dice, and second, the attitude Of child
like simplicity and unquestioning acqui-
escence in any and everything which these
corporations may AK you to give them
and to do for them.
sin the matter of street railways, you
are OF course eager for their extension;
and any person who proposes to connect .
remote village with the outside world ID
hailed o. public benefactor. Such he 10;