Evening journal., 1912-10-15
NEW LIFE IN HOARD OF TRADE.

ThTE are delighted to see that an intelligent and
w comprehensive movement is foot to infuse
new life into the Wilmington Board Of Trade There
is nothing that is needed by that organization
which should play in the practical development Of
our city more conspicuous and effective part than
any other civic body we have Heretofore there has
been too much talk and TOO little action There has
been lack Of free and frank interchange Of thought
Too many members have refrained from yoicing their
true opinions questions OF public import because
they feared that they do so, they would
upon the toes of other members and thereby
bring about acrimonious discussion In too many in
stances matters Of Importance which should been
threshed out in the the floor Of the board
room have been referred to committees without de-
bate In other words, things have been permitted to
drift until finally the board far from being militant
and aggressive body, fighting, day in day out, for
the advancement Of the trade interests Of our city
has become mere shadow Of what it ought to be
We sincerely trust that the movement will lift Il
out Of the slough Of inacton into which has fallen
and that win become, In fact as well in name
potent instrument the upbuldlng Of the commercial
interests OF Wilmington
II has been said that from a comparison Of ideas
the truth is evolved II be So and we think It
is, let have in the Board OF Trade that comparison
OF ideas which should make for wise solution Of all
questions in controversy Free and full discussion
Eliminates but never harms anything that is good;
II usually brings condemnation upon anything that
is bad. Then let the members of the Board Of Trade
engage in such discussion. Let each member who has
anything TO say that is worth while say his say, and
hew to the mark matter where the chips may fall
But above all other things after the members have
had their say after they have talked themselves out;
after they have applied truth and wisdom the sol
OF public question let there be aggressive action
along the lines indicated by that solution The adop
tion of n motion or resolution does amount to
anything without subsequent action It has been said
that hell IS paved with good intentions It also might
be said with equal truth that the OF thousands
OF worlds civic organizations pastered with
resolutions which were not followed by action. Our
local Board Of Trade has a splendid opportunity We
have here city Of approximately 10000 inhabitants.
II is possessed Of splendid transportation facilities by
rail and water. The people eager for municipal
development. and they look with friendly eye upon
their Board OF Trade to bring II about Our hne
community has thousands OF business who are
possessed OF keen intelligence and eRdequae
ception OF the commercial needs Of city and in
addition it may he said that there Board Of Trade
in the world that can command more freely the as
sstance and the support OF the newspapers In the
community in which II operates than the Will
mington Board of Trade. We think may say truth
fully that there is not In the State Of Delaware
newspaper that is not the -wisher OF that board.
So there exists ideal situation. The trouble Is,
that one in ten Of the business in city is
n member OF the board. There Is not OF the
thousands who arc not members who could not, II a
member, do something good suggest something
good for the commercial advancement or our city.
The membership should be enlarged until every ward
and square in Wilmington has n voice and vote in
the hoard When the board decides that this thing
or that thing should be done by Federal State or
city government should fight until that thing has
been done It has been demonstrated concusVey
that t cannot be done
The trouble heretofore has been that the business
Of Board Of Trade has lacked proper and aggres-
sive business management and that the social feature
has entered too slightly into IT, The inauguration OF
Greater wilmington luncheon plan Is step in the
right direction. Such weekly daily Board of Trade
luncheons have proven wonderfully successful in
other communities. and there is valid reason why
equally valuable results shall not attend them here
We congratulate Board Of Trade upon this ad
vance step and take advantage Of this opportunity
to assure the members that THE EVENING JOURNAL
will support both in it's editorial and local colums, al
wise plans the board may inaugurate for the upbuld
ing of city.