The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-24


duested to adjust the rates. In the
meantime Secretary Reardon pro-
poses to find out whether there is any
need for a general investigation be-
ore going deeper into the matter.
Secretary Reardon has received no
tice of the election of the Sumter
Chamber of Commerce to member
hip in the Chamber OF Commerce Of
the United States of America. Ac-
cording to the official list of nem.
bership furnished, the Charleston
and Sumter Chambers OF Commerce
are the only two South Carolina com.
mercial organizations belonging to
the national organization. There are
more than one hundred and fifty
commercial organizations and boards
OF trade and mercantile associations
connected with the United States
Chamber OF Commerce, representing
every state in the Union.
At the next meeting of the board
Of directors of the Sumter commercial
organization national councillor
from the Sumter Chamber Of Com
merce will be elected to represent that
organization at the annual meeting
20 he held az the New Willard Ho-
TEL Washington. ID. c., February IL,
l2. %. 1914. This councillor will be
. number of the National Council Of
the United states Chamber of Com
mercc # America, and acts in con-
Junction with the National Board Of
Directors thereof.
This meeting in February Is to be
perhaps the biggest gathering of
business men held in the United
Sttaes in many years. The fact that
Sumter will be repreented at this
meeting means something in the
shape of advertising to the Game
cock City," and puts the member
ship Of the local rganiaztion into the
closest possible touch and affiliation
with the leading State and local COM
msrcial bodies of this and foreign
countries.
Bulletins are sent out weekly to
every commercial organization hold
ing membership in the National
commercial organization giving in
formation OF every bill introduced in
congress affecting interstate COM
morce, consular reports, foreign trade,
intra and interstate commercial busi-
ness, railway freight rates and regula-
tion of freight rates, and many mat
ters If Importance to business men
that the local organizations would
never hear about or have explained.
II they were not connected with the
national organization.
The official staff and board Of di-
rectors Of the Chamber OF Commerce
of the United states of America.
through its headquarters officers and
various committees in Washington,
cooperates with every commercial sec
proper regulation Of interstate freight
and passenger rates or other legisla-
tioi needed. The agricultural, man.
! ufacturing, wholesale, retail, finan-
cial, labor. transportation. and many
other important interests of this
country are closely watched by the
experts Of the National commercial
Crennization. Just as soon as a bill
Is introduced in either branch Of the
national congress affecting either of
the above business interests. printed
bulletins are Immediately rushed out
to the managing secretaries of every
local commercial organization with
the full text Of the bill and explain
ing Its effects upon the business inter-
ests. Printed ballots. for and against
the bill are sent with the printed bull
letins. The boards OF directors of the
local commercial organizations are re-
quested to say within few days
what they think OF the proposed bill
and to send the printed short ballot"
vote to the general secretary in
Washington. voting for or against the
bill. and the local directors are re-
quested to notify their congressman
what tho local directors think of
the proposed bill.
The local commercial organizations
may also initiate my movement for
the general or local good and submit
II through their local national coun-
cilor to the general board OF directors
In Washington. who will take the mat
ter under advisement. If the ini-
tiatory move is OF general importance
bulletins are sent out to every COM
merclal organization holding MEM
bership to vote upon same within a