Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-09-24
GATHER At WHITE HOUSE
President Tells Them of the I'm.
portance Of Their Work.
OFFICERS ARE NOMINATED
Members Of the Association Also
Hear Topics Discussed Pertain
ing to Their Duties.

A00I0Cdl l. AAI WCiCOluGQ the delegates
to the seventh annual convention of the
American Association Of Commercial Ex-
ecutives at the White House today, and
commended the members Of the associa-
tdon upon their efficient work. The Pres
ident said:
Il am exceedingly glad to welcome you
here. There are certain things that we
all know, but we do not express them. We
know that where there Is chamber of
commerce in any city there is usually an
executive committee that does some work
and then there is a secretary that does
all the rest.
Il do not know that you will like
that comparison. but you ought to.
The most highly skilled professional
taries Of the Young Mems Christian
Association. They are taught in the
professional schools which carry on the
system, and I should Nken your posi-
ton and duties to theirs. Somebody
has got to take the responsibility with
out getting much honor. And you oc-
cupy that relation and find your re-
ward not SO much in what comes In
the way of compensation. 1 fancy, but
III that which results from the con-
seriousness Of duty done.
ITO speak more to the point: The In
fuence Of the bodies which you repre-
sent is growing greatly in this country.
No one can ever have had to do with
the discharge Of the responsibilities of
government without realizing how far
from business ideals the government the
Dry Of business and work brings us as
at present conducted. The amount OF
money that might be saved. the effective
ness of government work which could
be increased. enlarges as you study the
subject. And the organization OF ma
tional chamber of commerce. IN which,
I doubt not. you were all interested, is
perhaps one step toward bringing bust
ness more closely to the administration
of government.
Prone to Attract Public.
1.-The truth is, gentlemen. that one of
the troubles with us, what is inherent In
the character of our government, the
government we haye-and as 1t is the
only government We have-the best gov
eminent on earth, We must take 1.-THE
truth Is that Congress and public men
are prone to deal with these things that
attract men easily and most favorabiy,
in short, headline the attention OF a gen
eral public. 1t is pretty hard to get the
people to pay attention to system of
finance, for instance, to banking sys-
tenn, than which there is no more I'M
portant subject in the whole range OF
national subjects that are coming before
Congress and pressed on Congress Tor &C
ton.
II don't have to say, gentlemen, to you
who are so skillful and learned in the sub
ject. that the banking system and the
currency system is the basis Of all per-
manent prosperity That must be solved.
and I say that while the commonest peo-
pie, the humblest people. arc really more
interested in that subject than any one
else, you cannot bring it to their atten-
ton. 1t is up to the business men of this
country to make such a step important.
When a panic comes the people suffer.
You business men probably will not suf-
fer, but it will be the man who depends
on the pay roll. l think that all the
money that we have ought to be in cir
culation in a system that invites 1t and
doesn't drive 1t into socks and into safety
deposit vaults where nobody is going to
let 1t out
| the economy Of government. with refer
ence to business methods, with reference
| to having certain plans carried out for
the greatest business that is carried on
in this country-I say that the govern
ment is the greatest business.
Calls System Anticipated.
Now, gentlemen, we ought to have
some means of conducting this matter
| SO that we would know where We stand
every month. some means Of knowing
whether We are running uelllHu VI
whether We are keeping up. Oughtn't We
to have some system by which we could
have prepared our plans in this regard?
We have an antiquated system that has
come down to us from some one hundred
years and which has not been changed
TT Is you. gentlemen, who can sue
| coed in changing the business methods in
| that regard But when you get up before
| a popular audience that is not subject
| that attracts attention. 1t doesn't bring
| votes. Therefore, it is RENTED to the
| discussion of the committee room. or pos
| gentlemen. it is to you that We look to
| arouse a public spirit on that subject.
and I believe that you are closer to 1t
| than any other business men except, pos
Sibly, the government business.
| Now I didn't intend to make a speech
| this morning. but when You face such an
| intelligent audience as this. under con-
ditions where it can't get away until l
| finish. have done SO. [ have no doubt
! that your conference will result in good
to all OF you. I congratulate you on the
prosperity Of your association. I con-
graduate you also on its general useful
ness. and I hope that you will have a
pleasant time in Washington
| After leaving the White House the
| association met in the first Of Its busi-
! ness sessions Of the second day Of the
| convention In the Chamber Of Com
merce. Nominations for officers and five
| McLuUo1S Va INC ooo1u VI O11CCtoiS VI
tho association were made, although
| the actual election will not take place
until tomorrow morning. In the case
of the Office Of president and first vice
| president however, only one nomina-
| ton was made for each Office. This
means election. The nominations were
as follows:
Nominated for Office.
| President. NJ. b. Trezevant: first vice
president. James Bell; second vice
president, Herbert N. Davidson and 8.
Christy Mead; third vice president. c.
B. Yandell and w. L. Seely: secretary
treasurer. c. Frank Terhune and Edwin
Quarels: board of directors, five to be
elected. Henry T. Hoag. Richard B.
Watrous, H. G. Spaulding. Vincent
Stevens. H. v. Eva, A. V. Smell, George
H. Lehman. George H: Lenhart. John
NJ. Glenn. NJ. c. Huggett, William Nell
son. w. r. Williams. Thorndyke De-
land, Milton Carmichael. A G. Brown
and Walter Reed.
City promotion was the topic of discus
sion at today's meeting. Joseph H. Beck
of st. Paul, Mimi. and r. j. MacLean OF
Spokane were among those who spoke on
this subject. Mr.. Beck declared himself
in opposition to what he termed the hot
air method" He said that he was con-
WINGED that solid advertising and book
llets we'll printed and illustrated were far
better than much of the matter which was
sent to the newspapers and magazines by
publicity bureaus.
Mr.. MacLean defended the news bu-
He said that the difference between news
ond advertising must be taken into con-