Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-17
MERGER PLAN WINS
Chamber of Commerce Favors
Consolidation.
ACTION FOLLOWS DEBATE
George Y. Worthington Leads Op-
position to Project.
NOW UP TO BOARD OF TRADE
Older Organization to Consider
Question at Special Meeting
May IS.

ora at meeting last night in favor of
consolidation with the Board of Trade
After debate lasting more than two
hours and during which strong oppos-
ton to the proposed merger developed, a
resolution introduced by H. c. c. Stiles
calling for the appointment of a joint
committee from both organizations to
frame a plan for the merger and report
back to the board and chamber was
passed by a large majority.
The Board of Trade will consider the
question at a special meeting the night of
May % when a similar resolution will be
laid before that body.
An ATTEMPT to. kill all talk of a merger
Of the Chamber of Commerce with the
Board of Trade with any other
sanization in Washington now or in the
future was made by George Y. Worth
ngton, who introduced a resolution for
that purpose as substitute for the
Stiles resolution. 1t was voted down
just before the adoption OF the resoiu-
ton favcring the merger.
Resolution Favors Merger.
The resolution adopted by the chamber
was as follows
~ HdS pceu lHulCdleO 10 the WdSllHR-
ton Chamber of Commerce through a poll
vote by john B. Sleman and others that
there is a large number of members of
the Chamber of Commerce and the Board
of Trade who deem a consolida ton of
the bodies desira BILE.
1T seems that such consolidation
would avoid
First. \ duplication of work. result
ing in saving of time and labor both
to the individual and to the organic ton.
Second. 4 duplication of expense in
cident to the conduct of two organza-
tons.
Such a consolidation would better con-
duce to the ascertainment of the senti-
ment of the entire community upon pub
lie questions they arise from time to
time, thus making it possible to present
to Congress. the Commissioners or others
the concentrated wishes of the citizen
ship of the District of Columbia
Chamber Approves Consolidation.
THE Washington Chamber of Com
merce. therefore. in special session as
sembled, heartily approves the proposed
consolidation. The president of the Cham
Der of Commerce is empowered to ap-
point a committee of seven 10 meet with
a similar committee from the Board of
Trade, if appointed; the joint committee
to be empowered to select chairman
not one Ol their NUMBER. ana to hear
suggestions as to ways and means by
which the merger may be effected the
form Of ors;.niza ton of the body.
and all matters pertaining thereto. and
to report to both organizations with their
recommendations.
The report Of the said joint commit ee
shall he printed and copy mailed to
the members of both organizations. not
less than two weeks before the respective
organizations shall meet to consider said
report.
Speeches Favoring Merger.
Those who spoke in favor of the reso-
luton for the merger were William F.
Guide former president Of the chamber
H. c. c. Stiles James Sharp, one of the
volunteer committee Of four members of
both organizations which recently con-
Quoted a poll of the two memberships to
learn the sentiment of the members in re-
gard to the merger: William e. Shannon,
Oliver Metzerott and Conrad Syme.
Opposed to the merger resolution were
George Y. Worthington and Charles c.
Lancaster. Charles j. Darr was opposed
to taking any action looking TO a merger
a this time. holding that overtures for
merger should come from the Board of
Trade since the Chamber of Commerce
has nothing to gain from such union.
and the chamber has much that the
Board of Trade needs In energy. financial
health and strength.
Robert N Harper. first president of the
Chamber of Commerce while declaring
that he had not made up his mind on
the question of merger. declared that the
matter should be given the most careful
consideration. He said that he believed
competition between organizations for
commercial and civic betterment was
good for the public, just as competi-
zion in business was beneficial. Mr.. Har-
per declared that he thought IL might be
far better TO divide the labors of the
two bodies so as to do away with dupli-
cation of work, having the Chamber of
Commerce give its entire attention to the
commercial affairs of the city. while the
Board of Trade looked to its civic i'm
provement.
Mr.. GUIDE Favors Plan.
Mr.. GUIDE, who followed Mr. Harper,
said that he believed that the proposed
merger would be for the best interest
of the greater number OF people and for
that reason he intended to support the
proposition. He declared that he did
not believe that ii would be wise to
leave the civic matters to the Board of
Trade alone. saying that in his opinion
the Board of Trade had been run in the
interests of a select few and not in the
interests of the people and that when
legislation was demanded of Congress
the officials of the board did not al
ways have the best interests OF the
at heart.
He referred to the fight over public
school matters before Congress q few
years ago and said that II the Cham
Der Of Commerce had not nut its shoul-