The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-04-25
6. E. CRAWFORD NEW PRESIDENT
 OF TRADE BODY
Chamber of Commerce Elects Officers and Hears John
 Barrett.

The Chamber of Commerce has been reorganized and new officers have been elected for one year under the reconstruction policy, which leaves out the Business Mems association, the Manufacturers association and the Board of Trade. But from the 400 persons who extended the after-session of the Cham per of Commerce held in the new High school auditorium it would appear that as individuals the ma jority of the menb bers of all organ izations have aided in. forming a new body that will be a factor in the civic, mercantile and industrial life of Bridgeport.
 George E. Crawford, former presi- dent of the National. Launrdymen' s association, has been elected president H.. H. DeLoss was made first vice president and E. P. BuHard, Jr., sec ond vice president. The treasurer is D. FairchiFd wheeler. Directors are: Frank D. Bell, Warren D. Blatz, F. IL Bradbury, F. w. Bolande, A. H. Bull lard, A. w. Burritt, Charles D. Davis, David s. Day, Carl Foster, Dwight D. vens, A. H. Holly, F. J. KingsbOiy, James G. LudIum, Charles e. Sanford and J. Carleton Sterling.
 | A meeting of the officers and direc- tors will be held within the next few days when it is expected that the
 
 renamed with few exceptions and oth- CT members added.
 l Following, the election of officers and reorganization of the Chamber the members listened with great interest to John Barrett, director general of the Pan American Union, which com prises the 22 republics of South and Central America. As he was formerly minister to Argentine, Panama and Columbia, the weight of his remarks was great.
 MT. Barrett laid great stress on the situation in, Mexico, stating that upon final settlement of the crisis by the I United States may rest the decision whether the United States will win or l lose the confidence and the commerce | of Latin Am erica The good names | of the counties of South America are the United States and it is therefore l impossible separate the Mexican question from\its Pan-American bear ings, said the Speaker.
 Speaking broadly upon trade and 1 relations between the United States and the various countries forming the | Union Director General Barrett com mended Bridgeport for it's showing as | a progressive, prosperous, manufac- | turing city and commendabIe spirit in 1 study and exploitation of foreign mar | ketS.
 
 that European nations will exert for trade in South America after the war | he believed that with perseverance, i Brid geport and all the United States l would get large percentage of the trade. He refuted the old belief that l Germany and other nations had made more progress in procuring trade in 1 the past than had the United States.
 t"The European war has developed an extraordinary situation in South | Am erica, which gives the United States a greater advantage than here tofore,'' he said. Certain far-reach- ing steps must be taken to insure l trade gained in competition. We must have an efficient merchant mar l inc. must organize banks there to give credit and protect capital and fnan- l ciaI support must be given to replace | that withdrawn by other nations who | have already established banking i'm | StitutiOnS in South America He ad- vocated that groups of manufacturers establish branch bureaus in the vari- | ous countries where business is | sought