The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-17
Much Business Transacted
at Meeting Last Night.
Attendance Large
KETTIG TALKS OF
THE REGIONAL BANK
Sibley Suggests Appointment of Nine
Delegates to Meeting of National
Chamber-Jones Reports on
Travelling Mems Dinner


At ono of the most largely attended
meetings held in months. the Chamber
of Commerce last night selected nom.
inating committee. voted to send a tele-
gram to the Alabama delegation in Wash.
ington in regard to the matter of scout
Ing a regional bank for Birmingham.
heard Harry Jones report on the travel
ing mems dinner held recently, and re-
ceived some valuable suggestions from
W. II. Kettig. chairman of the regional
bank committee of the chamber. John W.
Sihley. national councillor of the United
States Chamber of Commerce, told of the
work that organization was doing and
suggested that Birmingham send nine
delegates. if possible, to the national
convention. TO be held in Washington
February 10-1s.
President W. p. G. Harding presided
and first called on Mr.. Sibley for talk
as to the work of the United States Cham
her of Commerce.
Mr.. Sibley told of the map recently
issued by the United riates chambe.,
showing the condition of the country,
showing that Alabama was the only state
in the south in which business conditions
were described as good. The Birmins
ham chamber has been a part of the
national chamber two years now, aid
Mr.. Sbley thought that it had receive /!
in advertising enough to more than re-
pay it for the small fee expended. He
n S1<n1 that 1plppafipp ba IN
attend the national convention and the
president has the matter under consid-
Grafton.
Jones Reports on Dinner
In Harry Jones report on the travelins.
mems dinner 1t was shown that more
than 400 people attended the banquet
which was held on the night of Decen
Der 20 at the Hotel IIillman This was
The largest number in attendance at any
travelling mems banquet that has yet
peen held. Mr.. Jones poin, ed out that
the expense of the banquet was s51 25.
or little less than the appropriation of
5000 that was allowed for this purpose.
He recommended that the directors OF
the chamber provide in sne annual bull.
get an appropriation for this banquet,
for, he said, it Is one of the best III =
diums of advertising that could be do
vised.
j. e. Shelby. president of the Boar
of Trade, was requested to make a shol
talk by the chair, who paid tribute %
the work of the Boa.rs of Trade. Mr.
Shelby told of the work that his o..
ganization had done in tho year pas
and attributed it in part to the fac.
that the board had identified itself With
the Chamber of Commerce. In speaking
II the good things that had been done
by the board during the past year. Mr.
Shelby said, among other things: I'VE
had the distinguished honor of entertain
ing the greatest statesman of the United
States at a dinner in order that his peo-
pie might become better acquainted with
fim--Oscar w. Underwood | think the
entertaining of Mr.. Und.rwoo was the
most beneficial thing we have done in
the past year, but we hope to give him,
a dinner this fall as United States sem
ator from Alabama, and We believe we
are going to do it." The applause was
loud at the mention of Mr.. Underwood 3
name.
Mr.. Shelby said that he thought tho
time was ripe for all the civic organize.
tions in the city to become affiliated with
the Chamber of Commerce. He said that
his organization had been more success
full in the past year than it had ever
been and attributed 1t to the fact that
they had become affiliated with the cham
Der. He hoped that the other organiza.
tions would take the matter up.
Estes Makes Brief Talk
w. Thornton Estes. the newly elected
president of the Builders exchange, was
requested by Mr.. Harding to make a few
and as he arose to his feet re-
ceived an ovation. He assured the cham.
her that his organization was with it in
every movement that looked to the up
building of Birmingham. and stressed
the Importance of the regional bank and
of the auditorium.
Mr.. Harding made a short reply to Mr..
Estes, thanking him on behalf of the
chamber for the cooperation of the
builders
In bringing up the matter of selecting
the nominating committee, which is to
rame the tickets for the presidency and
other officers of the chamber for the year
ensuing, Mr.. Harding said: "As the tim >
for my retirement draws near | wish To
express my deep appreciation for the
hearty cooperation that has bee naccord-
ed me by the members of the cham
ber."
Mr. Harding referred to the fact that
there had been few general meetings of
the chamber in the year past, telling
of the auditorium being in a state of
repair during most of the year.
The auditorium Is now in condition
for meetings and it is the intention of
the chamber to hold a general meet
ing monthly. There was some discuss
SIGN as to whether or not the meet
Ing should be held in the afternoon
or night and motion was put that
they be held at night
L. Fl. Motion offered a resolution
that the meetings should be held in
the afternoon, because, he said, after
a man had got home and was all COM
with his cigar and newspaper,
with his family about him, 1t was a
hard matter to convince him of the
logic of attending a meeting of the
Chamber.
Decision Is Deferred
A resolution was, after some discus
sion. offered by Judge A. M. Douglass
to the effect that the matter be held
In allegiance until the next meeting,
February 6, and this was carried.
In the discussion preceding the
adopting of Judge Douglass resolution.
Harry Jones expressed disapproval of
holding the meetings in the afternoon.
preferring instead almost any other
time John c.. Henley secured recog-
milton from the chair and indorsed Mr..
Jones' remarks. saying that he himself
was anxious to be in attendance at
Rickwood field as often as possible the
cou,iOc suu1n1ar A general laugh fol-