Evening star., 1915-11-17
Chief of Bureau Of Foreign
and Domestic Commerce Ad-
dresses Local Credit Men.
MENTIONS SOME THINGS
WHICH MIGHT BE PUSHED
Edward A. Brand Says Washington
Should Capture Its Share of
Trade in This Territory.

After pointing out the methods of
! the civic commercial bodies and of the
government trade-promoting bureaus
IN getting trade, Edward A. Brand,
| chief OF the bureau of foreign and do
mestic commerce of the Department of
Commerce, this afternoon, addressing
the Washington Association of Credit
| Men at luncheon in the New Ebbitt,
expressed the belief that Washington
business men were trying to capture
, some of the wholesale trade in this
| territory.
Declaring that it was the first duty
OF commercial bodies to study the re-
sources of the territory it covers as
well as the things it does not possess,
he pointed out that neither money nor
, time should be wasted on things which
can bring only artificial returns.
In cursory way" he said, "I have
attempted to take stock of some of
Washinston's possibilities. In the first
place, 1t would seem that Washington
ought to- capture share of the whole
sac sac trade ;11 o. OF the territory. l believe
months ago recall seeing something
ABOUT Junket trip made through the
STATE OF virginia by number of Wash
ington's leading business men. ~ he
1
are admirable If the results to be OBJ
tanned are really understood by the
people who take them. Getting ac-
quainted with old customers is more
! important to my mind, than securing
new ones.
Should Capture Shopping Trade.
Washington should capture its share
Of the nearby shopping trade. 1 have
often heard the statement made in
some sections that retail prices of COM
modities in Washington are higher
than in some other cities in this local
ity. Now. it seems to me that 1t is up
70 the business men here to dissipate
this idea. 1t is certainly not my ex-
perience that the retail prices are
higher.
"The nations capital should be the
playground for business and social
gatherings of every description. am
convinced that your local associations
are doing much to secure these con-
ventions.
why should not Washington have a
great convention hall?
Perhaps you leading gentlemen of
Washington are studying the water
power problems at Great Falls
Many Things Might Be Pushed.
There are many other things that
l might mention to illustrate the point
about taking stock of possibilities that
may be pushed. Transportation.
schools for traffic managers, package
cars, wholesale trade, merchants meet
ings. retail trade. cooperative delivery
OF mercha ndise, factory getting, help
for local industries, financial schemes,
factory buildings, industrial buildings"
are among the things he pointed out
FOR investigation during the course of
the inventory taking.
Discussing the work of commercial
bodies. he said that in local chambers
Of commerce years ago there was a
lot of wasted effort on the part of
many of them, which was due in a
large measure to the fact that the
men in charge Of the work did not
know their jobs. they were simply
grasping at every old proposition
which seemed to carry news value in
lit. But this kind OF city promotion
work is fast disappearing, and the men
who are taking part in this work are
trying to do things of practical val
ue."