Evening journal., 1916-02-28
NECEAR ELECTION
MEETS APPROVAL
Chamber OF Congress Ex-
pected to Prosper Under
His Leadership
DAVID SNELLENBURG
MAKES STATEMENT

The selection of William b. Megear
TO head the Chamber of Commerce as
president, is meeting with popular ap-
proval among the business men OF
the city. Il is the opinion of many
business men that the trade board
will move forward rapidly under Mr..
Megear's leadership. David Snellen-
burg, who for years has been active
in the affairs OF local trade organiza-
tiOns has made the following state
ment relative to the possibilities for
the betterment of Wilmington that
have developed with the selection of
man Of the caliber of Mr. Megear
10 head the Chamber Of Commerce:
Never in the history of Wilmington
were opportunities so vast and Won
derful to develop Wilmington's natur-
al resources and possibilities. as now"
said Mr.. Snellenburg. Wilmington is
in the eyes of the whole nation. Just
now, in view of her present remark
able activities. We are being weighed
in the balance by the world at large.
and now, today we must break
ground and SOW the seed for Whining
tons future greatness.
"ln his new Office, Mr.. Megear has
the opportunity to do everything in
connection with the advancement of
the entire Industrial and business
community that would fall to the nat
ural province of a live Chamber of
Commerce I'm the past, the merchants
of Wilmington have shown very little
activity as members of the Chamber
of Commerce except merely to be
members of that body, which is not
fair either to them or to the chamber
The time has come for them to decide
10 be active, energetic. resOurceful
and hustling members and help to
accomplish something because it
would be impossible to accomplish
anything for the benefit of the COM
munity at large, which would not be
of equal benefit TO each individual
"The Mercantile Section. with the
largest membership of any section of
the Chamber of Commerce. by all
means should be the most active and
influential section in that body, sup
porting the effects of the president to
the utmost by every means IN its
power. In my opinion. the Mercantile
Section should be permitted TO work
out its development along the lines
Of It's own particular requirements, by
having a certain fixed proportion of
the dies paid into the Chamber Of
Commerce allotted to it for the pur-
pose of prosecuting a vigorous cam
paign which would further their own
needs and would make their member
ship in the Chamber of Commerce a
benefit to them. and make it a benefit
TO the Chamber of Commerce to have
them as members. Now, with the new
president assuming the reins, these
matters should be agreed upon, and
Il ,I IL
pendence in its effort to work out its
own salvation. according to its own
individual requirements, and the mer-
chants, particularly, should give the
new president and officials that earn
est, whole-hearted cooperation with.
out which no organization can sue
ceed.
"Mr, Megear has had wide business
experience. and through that expert
ence and his study of these questions
knows the needs of a Chamber OF
Commerce and the work that prop
erly organized and ably administered
body of that character should do, in
order to make it effective as a real as
set to the community. l believe that
the program of activities which was
adopted originally should be taken
seriously and each particular line as
adopted then should be rigidly fol
lowed. The president with the best
intentions in the world. cannot singly
and alone bring about results
"In my opinion. the managing sec
retary should be a man of such broad
ideas and be so familiar with the par.
ticular needs of our own community
that through him. ideas and plans
could be initiated which would tend t
bring those results which we all SO
much desire for Wilmington, and
which we now have such wonderful
opportunities TO secure. In my opinion
we can never hope to attract out
siders to this city until we first MAKE
Wilmington something worth while
and the Chamber of Commerce. being
a non political organization. should
enjoy the confidence of all the people
of the city that what it suggests ant
purposes TO do should have the full
and united support Of everybody, ir
respective of politics or parties.
I'VE all know that Wilmington
needs many things to make the city
what it should be, and what we de-
sire it to be. We should have streets
ana markets. anu transportation Ia
cilities and housing conditions which
would of their own presence attract
workers TO make their homes here
as we'll as to attract to Wilmington
seekers for investment. More adyer
Using and boasting never will bring
results We must get down to funda
montals, and build from the grount
up. With our splendid location ant
unsurpassed natural facilities and Oul
wonderful surroundings, we have no
scratched the surface of pOssibilitiei
up to this time We are hiding Ou
light under bushel, and the wOrli
today is ignorant of what we havl
here. We must set to work to develOl
those wonderful possibilities, AM
then. of its own accord. Whining
ton Will come into its own.
Il congratulate Mr.. Megear on be
ing chosen president of the Chambe
of Commerce at what l conceive 4
be the physiological moment 70
building up an organization whicl
will put forth its best efforts an
which will see the real needs of tn
city. He can make a name for him
self which forever will make him dea
to the people of Wilmington and tn
entire State of Delaware, and writ
his name on the pages of history sid
by side with our other great sons VIII
have made Wilmington and Delawar