Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-09-27
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/ GERS, forming them into an executive
committee to collect data concerning
the organization of a Honolulu Civic
/ Union. This committee sent tto the
/ mainland for the bylaws of other
j greater chambers, and on October rs.
reported that these had been receiy-
i ed. These were turned over to II.
Gooding Field in order that he might
1 prepare digest, and the committee
also prepared general outline of the
work which it intended to do.
4 "The plans were to amend the
IChamber of Commerce bylaws in or
luef' to broaden the scope Of the pre-
lposed amalgamated organizations.
land proposed to submit these to the
reconsideration Of a special committee.
The committee then decided to open
a campaign to secure the general feel
ing relating to the proposed consoli-
dation of the Chamber of Commerce
and the Merchants Association. On
August 8 the committee held a joint
conference, at which time the bylaws
we're read and discussed, and those
present signihed that they were in IA
vor Of the plan, but no definite action
was taken. Since January 1, last,
Inothing has been DONE"
Chamber Now Too LIMITED.
II fully believe that the Chamber
Iof Commerce whichswas organized 30
years ago has done splendid work,
but at the present time the chamber
lis entirely too limited both in mem
lbership and in its scope of work. The
chamber has 40 members in q city
of $4,000, and the work is in the
hands Of seven standing committees.
the committeeman being limited In
selection from Is trustees. Features
which are being made use Of BY
chambrs of commerce on the main
land are committees handling bank
| ing, insurance, shipping, foreign trade
living conditions, parties and excur-
sions, and many others. 4 further be-
lieve that the Chamber of Commerce
and the Merchants Association are
working along separate lines. The
strongest argument in opposition to-
the plan before this meeting is that
| the consolidation is not feasible or
practicable, and it would be impossible
to get men together, because OF the
fact that the employe would constant.
~ come In contact with the employer
/ believe that, in large organiza-
ton all would be able to express
themselves freely and frankly We
are living today in a world of ANAL
gamation, where the best results are
to be accomplished through coopera-
ton.
Argues For Negative.
The first argument in favor of the
negative, was presented by George
Davies, who, after a witty and inter
esting preliminary, spoke, in part, as
follows.
1T is not improbable that to the
minds of many of you the thought
has occurred that IL no one better
qualified than myself can be found to
present the case against amalgama-
ton of the chamber of commerce and
the merchants association, the debate
is as good as lost already. But
would ask you to distinguish between
the cause and its champion, and to
concentrate your thoughts on the ar.
gument rather than on the speaker
The question of a Greater Cham
Der of Commerce is one which has ex-
ercised the minds and had the close
attention of some of the ablest of our
members, notably Messrs E. L Spald-
ing and E. E. Paxton. In addition to
the active part these gentlemen have
always taken in connection with the
affairs of this chamber, they have
studied the examples of large cities
on the mainland, particularly Cleve-
land and Boston, which have adopted
the amalgamation policy apparently
with highly beneficial results. /
therefore feel all the more diffidence
in taking up position adverse to
that policy
In order to make my own attitude
perfectly clear in the matter, would
like to preface my remarks by saying
that no one appreciates more highly
than do the desira bility of coopera.
ton and unanimity of thought and &C.
ton, especially in civic affairs. am
told that the great secret Of the phe-
nomenal progress of Los Angeles con-
sists in the fact that, like a tug-of-
war team, everyone there pulls in the
same direction at the same moment.
This is, of course, a contamination
deyoutly to be wished. and a state OF
affairs with which we in Honolulu are
all too unfamiliar In fact. think !
shall not be far wrong when say
that there are more cross-wire-pullers
and conflicting efforts and interests
IN TTrral1lltI fhan IN au.- athnr Tlann I