The Washington herald., 1912-04-22
TAFT WILL URGE
PERMANENT BODY
President to Address Com
merciaI Conference at
Meeting To-day.
NAGEL TO GIVE VIEWS
Organization Of Business Interests
Probably Will Be Effected
by Delegates.


The most representative commercial
gathering that has ever been held In
the United States, perhaps In the world.
according 70 A H. Baldwin. Chief of
the Bureau Of Manufactures, Is the Ma
tional Commercial Conference which
will convene in the New willard at 1890
o'clock this morning. When the meet
ing IS called to order by Secretary OF
Commerce and Labor Nagel, IA dele
gates will be seated in the hail. repre-
senting 224 independent organizations
The organization Of commercial inter-
ests IN this country has never before
been attempted, although Individual in
dustrieE, such as iron, steel, and cot
ton, are represented every year in ma
tional conventions. The conference to-
day will see the association of men
representing all branches OF the indus
trial world.
Bureau Makes SuREestIonH.
The delegates to this conference have
unlimited confidence that g. permanent
organization, that win mean the ad-
vancement OF industries in the United
States, will be effected. A prospectus
entitled Organization Suggestions" will
be distributed among the delegates, and
probably will be followed to the letter.
These suggestions are, in part, as fol-
lows:
That % the membership consist Of
delegates from commercial bodies that
are democratic in their organization; that
C2) representation shall be based on the
numerical strength Of constituent organ
iZstions: that CS) each constituent shall
pay annually dues Of IS for each dele
gate: that ID provision be made for an
nuaI meetings; that 90 there be an ad-
visory committee which shall submit
nominations for directors and officers. and
a board of directors which shall pass on
all questions that may arise between
meetings, after consultation with the sd-
Nsory committee; that 90 the ON
Gers shall consist of a president, two vice
presidents. a treasurer and board OF d.
rectorS; that % there shall be an execu-
tive SECRETARY in charge Of permanent
headquarters"
My Amend Bylaws.
Suggestion No. s defines the duties Of
the board Of directors. and No. instructs
the board of directors to devise a plan
tor the preliminary study OF problems
that may come before the annual meet
ing
Only such subjects shall be considered
at the annual meeting as are Of national
Importance; and provision is to be made
for the easy amendment OF any bylaws
adopted.
When Secretary NageI calls the meet
ing TO order this morning, he will ap-
point Immediately two committees-one
on credentials, and the other on organ
ization- These committees will confer
at the conclusion of the morning ses-
sion, and report back to the conference
at the afternoon session, which will be-
gin at 2:30 o'clock.
President Taft will greet the delegates
with a brief address at the morning
session.
President Gives Views.
An extract from a letter written by
the President when the movement was
first proposed reads:
Il have instructed the Secretary Of
Commerce and Labor to take the nee
essary steps to initiate as soon as prac-
ticable at Washington a conference Of
delegates from organizations which are
engaged in the promotion and develop
ment Of commerce and industry in their
respective districts. such conference to
consider the establishment OF a repre-
sentative national organization for the
development OF commerce, and to out
line the principles by which 1t should
be governed. The development of the
plan win be left entirely with the ac-
credited representatives Of the CONNER
Cial organizations"
The Presidents statement shows the
delegates that IL there is to be a sue
NHmN ares nWTH eNs4Wa q
them to make II, and they promise to
take advantage Of the opportunity offered
them. All this will be outlined to them
by the President IN his address this
morning.
Secretary Nagel will follow the Execu-
tive, and his address is awaited with
great interest by the delegates, as It
will undoubtedly offer suggestions that
will prove invaluable in the realization
Of a national institution.
Represents Commercial IntereGtH.
The National Commercial Conference
is described in the programme as a meet
Ing OF delegates from chambers Of COM
merce, boards OF trade, and similar or
ganiEstions in every portion Of the United
States, Alaska. Hawaii the Philippines,
and Porto Rico, and from national as
sociations representative Of single COM
nercial interests.
In all probability Germany and the at
tention that country gives to its indus
trial interests will be pointed out by the
delegates as fitting example for this
country to emulate.
David A. Skinner, Assistant Chief of
the Bureau Of Manufactures, is in charge
Of the registration and distributing ONCE
on the mezzanine floor of the hotel