The Washington times., 1911-05-26
BOARD OF TRADE.
VETO BALKS THE
MERGER EFFORTS
Chamber of Commerce Con-
ferees Will Not Be
Named.
REPRESENTATION AT
MEETING is SMALL
Effort to Obtain Recount After
Three-Hour Session Ends
in Stampede.

While hope for one large represents
tive organization Of citizens Is still
lively in the minds Of many who fought
for its creation through a merger Of the
Board Of Trade with the Chamber Of
Commerce. for the time being. at least,
all effort to bring the two bodies to-
gether has ceased.
James F. Oyster, president OF the
Chamber Of Commerce, who was au-
thorized to appoint special committee
OF seven to meet a similar committee
from the Boasd Of Trade, should It be
appointed. will not name that commit
tee because, of course, the Board OF
Trade will not name one.
Despite the fact that 343 members Of
the Board Of Trade previously had reg
istered their desire for a merger with
the Chamber of Commerce, and the fur
ther fact that at last nights special
meeting at the New Willard, less than
go of the $50 members of the board
were present and voted, the verdict of
the meeting, which adopted John Joy
Edson's resolution by vote of 145 to
=. that the Board of Trade is not in
favor Of a merger" is taken as putting
a quietus upon present plans to bring
the two bodies together.
Would Renew Fight.
So convinced, however, are many men
who have led in the merger propaganda
that the best interests of the city lie
in the existence of one organization
representative Of the whole community
that there is talk today Of continuing
the fight until such a result has been
accomplished
The resolution offered by Thomas W.
Smith at the opening of last nights
ho b.
cred to appoint a committee of seven
to meet the committee Of the Chamber
already appointed never reached a vote.
1t was quickly sidetracked by a sub
stttute resolution, offered by Adds B.
Browne. declaring that the Board of
Trade continue its existence as a civic
organization This substitute, in turn,
was amended by Mr.. Edison SO as spe-
cifically to declare that the Board Of
Trade is not in favor of q merger"
The vote, the only one of the even
ing, was upon this amendment, and
was carried after a count of ayes and
nays Tellers were demanded, but once
the result was announced the crowd
did not wait even for a motion to ad-
journ, but rushed to the adjoining
waiting to be served for more than an
hour.
Early in the evening, by the ap-
plause given the first speakers, 1t be-
those present was predominantly op-
posed to the merger, yet the debate
continued and waxed very warm before
the last speaker, D. J. Callahan, sat
down after an impassioned plea to de-
feat the Edison amendment.
Clash Between Members.
A sharp clash between members who
are not members Of the Chamber and
those who are members Of both Cham
ber. and Board was precipitated by Hope
H. Darneille, when he asked the latter
| to step aside and let those who are
members Of the Board only express
their views upon the question WILL
liam E. Shannon declared that while
he stood for a combination because he
believed the best interests Of the city
demanded It, he doubted, after the optn-
ions given in the debate that the Cham
Der Of Commerce would now desire to
affiliate with the Board of Trade.
| Next to the last speaker was John
Joy Edison, who, after recounting the
achievements of the Board Of Trade
since its organization. charged the
its work. He advised the Chamber to
| go about the commercial affairs Of the
| city and let the Board take care Of the
civic.
Participants in Debate.
The debate lasted more than three
hours, and against the merger It was
participated in by Adds B. Browne, e.
H. Thomas, W. H. Singleton, w. H.
Saunders, H. H DarneilIe, Judge
Charles 8. Bundy, James F. Shea, Col
George TruesdelI and Mr.. Edison, and
for the merger by Thomas w. Smith,
Arthur C. Moses, John L Weaver, Con-
| rad H. Syme, Z. C. Graham, John
Dolph, F. L. Siddons, o. P. Metzerott,
! NJ. I. Weller, William z. Shannon, r.
| B. Watrous and D. ]. Callahan.
! 1t was after midnight when the last
| of the antagonists had left the big
ballroom Of the hotel, where the buffet
! luncheon was served.