The Washington herald., 1912-04-23
Full Of Possibilities.


The gathering of 500 delegates from
all parts of the country in commercial
conference is notable event, and the
fact that this commercial organization
sprang into life in Washington is both
fortunate and fitting. 1t is hard to
overestimate the possibilities for ma
tional good that lie as yet dndeveioped
in an organization of this character
with membership consisting of the
men who have done big things in the
commercial and financial world.
The preliminary Work Of the body
must needs be of general nature.
Little can be done in the early days but
the work of organization and the def
milton in more or less abstract terms
of the functions Of such an institution.
After that, when the division of activ-
tiles is made, viii come the revelation
of the work that this body will map
out for its members to accomplish
There will be some who can see in
such an organization of the foremost
business men of the nation, and espe-
cially at this time, nothing other than
a political significance. But a glance
at the expressed purpose of the, con-
ference, a study of the personnel of the
delegates. and cursory study of the
possibilities for good must convince
even casual observer that here are
gathered very earnest body of dis
men who have in mind the
establishment of a body which will
stand to the great commercial, indus
trial, and financial interests of the coun-
try in much the same light that the
Society for the Advancement of Science
does to the world of investigation.
In the Department of Commerce and
Labor there is now organized a force
for constructive uPbuilding of the na-
ton that few, even well versed in ma
tional affairs, have as yet fully realized.
Foreign trade is developed through the
active work of this department acting
in conjunction with the consular serv-
ice. Facts, knowledge, and informa-
ton valuable to the business men of
the nation are gathered from all
sources, and are Systematically and very
distributed in quarters
where such knowledge will do most
good. Active cooperation, thoroughly |
systematized, will doubtless be a large
part of the work of this body. Its
work will be educative, and there will
be, according to the outline of the work |
as formulated, practical application
made of all that the Federal govern
meut is doing in the way OF developing |
the trade and commerce of the nation. |
With such a programme, with such |
a field of possibilities before it, and
with such membership, it is little
wonder that the first national CONNER
cial conference is attracting nation
wide attention and interest The choice
Of Washington as its organization point
is happy one, not only on account of
the prestige that naturally attaches to
any body that is born here, but particu-i
Iarly On account of the wealth of ma
terial upon which the body may follow
up its work and the hearty cooperation
that it will receive in its benehcent un-
dertaking from those whose official
duty it is to foster and to further so
audable an undertaking.
1t is with feelings of the deepest in
terest and with lively sense of the
great possibilities for national good that
we welcome this important body. and
with confidence look for the initiation
oy it of a work that will rebound to
he prosperity of the na6on.