The Washington herald., 1917-06-10
MERGER PLANS READY
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have an initiative and directing force
behind 1t OF a character to command
the confidence and universal respect
Of the people. 1t did not seem ad-
viSable to select any existing organi-
ration into which the others should
be merged. The idea is to attempt to
organize an entirely new association
to absorb the membership of the three
leading organizations of Washington,
and to secure this, IL Is deemed neces-
sary to organize an independent tenn
porary body under whose auspices the
consolidation work shall be carried on.
This committee TO be formed will
= therefore plan and conduct the con-
solidatiOn movement
Explaining its purpose further, Mr..
Berberich said:
Everything Is now In readiness for
the meeting to form the consolida-
ton committee. We have received
many excellent suggestions about the
best manner to proceed, and one sug-
gestiOn caused US to delay the meet
ing from yesterday to Tuesday. 1t
was our first idea to call in a limited
number of men. and have them form
the nucleus. On later consideration,
we decided to invite any member of
the three organizations who believes
that the three organizations ought TO
join hands and consolidate. We do
will take. but we presume that it will
elect q chairman and appoint COM
mittseS to handle various phases of
the campaign to bring about a con-
solidation.
I'VE have drawn up a statement
which will be read 20 the melting This
statement. which has been drawn up
with the aid OF an organization expert,
viii be a basis to work upon. II will
define the duties Of the committee, the
type Of organization to be created, the
steps that should be taken, and the
committees that are essential
Sentiment for Consolidation.
There Is a tremendous public SEN
timent back OF this consolidation idea.
In spite of the fact that no orEani-
nation has been back Of the plan, II
has grown in volume daily, and I
think that there Is no question but that
the Chamber Of Commerce and the Re-
tail Merchants Association will unite
whether the Board OF Trade does or
not We expect some opposition in
all three organizations, but We be-
heYe that II the campaign convinces
r majority OF the business and profess
sionA men Of the city, that the in
terests OF Washington would be bet
ter ssfeguarded by one organization,
that those now opposed to conSolida-
ton will line up for II.
II almost everybody seems to fav-
or the plan when there is no concerted
action flrtherIng 1t, I am sure that
II will sweep the city like wildire
when the most powerful and infiuen-
tial business, financial and profess
sional interests OF the city organize
10 make II a reality.
II have talked with many infuen-
tial men about the merger, and ! can
say without qualification that this
movement is not going to be directed
against any one organization, and
there will be no criticism or men or
associations. Even II Il does not sue
csed In bringing the three organiEa-
tons together, 1t viii. I think, result
IN separation OF civic and COM
mereiA activities 50 that there will
not be the same duplication Of effort
as there has been IN the past
The committee will likely draw up
a statement TO be sent to each Of
the three organisations and request
that subcommittes be permitted to
meet with their board OF directors 80
that II can present the consolida tIon
arguments personally. The subconi-
nnittes VIII probably request that the
board OF directors OF each organiBa-
ton refer the question 10 q vote Of
the membership. The action OF the
nsnosrshtp VIII Be considered as