The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-02

the time has come for the bueinees'
professional, and civic leaders OF
washington TO cease lighting among
themselves and unite on common
ground and eight for their common
interests-the betterment Of wash
ington.
Joseph A. Berberich, who Ii q men,
Der OF the Chamber OF Commerce, the
Board of Trade, and the Retail
Merchants Association, sounded the
keynote when, early in the evening,
he came forward with the suggestion
that the presidents of all three
bodies resign, that . joint meeting be
called, q new constitution, and bylaws
be adopted, and a new president and
other officers be elected.
UnIaeafIon Wanted ny AL
I'VE are all agreed that Cne big,
representative organization is the
only sane and sensible thing for the
city" Mr.. Berberich declared. II am
sure that everyone in this room feels
that way about It, ana / will 60 a
step farther and say that 1 am sure
DO per cent Of the business and profes-
sional men of washington, who have
the interests Of the city really at
heart. are in favor OF one organtza-
tion.
asSow, why can't we look at this
thing in q sensible way and get right
down to rock bottom Each OF these
ORGANIZATIONS wants to do what Is
best for washington, they say, and
ali are agreed that the best cannot
be done for Washington as long as
there are 90 many organizations.
Each organisation feels that II ought
to be the big organization-that the
others ought to come to IT.
'Tf the presidents OF these organ
nations are sincere in what they say,
will they not be big enough and
broad enough to come forward and
offer to resign IL by their designations
the city may be forwarded II the
presidents Of the Board OF Trade, the
Retail Merchants Association. and
the Chamber Of Comemree all viii
agree TO resign, then we could cell
Joint meeting OF the three bodies and
elect Q president and ADOPT a new
constitution and bylaws and lay the
foundation for real, effective, concen-
trated work"
Mr.. Berberfch's remarks were greet
ed with enthusiastic applause.
Business Men Seek Merger.
The same reason exists for the
several organizations here to unite
into one organization as exists for
the members Of any one organization
to be 9 part of that Organization"
said Attorney S. 7. Cameron. III we
as individuals are stronger aS y re-
suit Of banding together, Is II not
true that the several organizations
will be stronger by uniting7
II was q member Of the Forward
Washington Committee which can
vassed business and professional men
of this city" Mr.. Cameron continued,
'-and l was impressed with the senti-
ment that prevailed for the merging
of the several organizations. Men
who are members OF the Board of
Trade, the Chamber OF Commerce, and
the Retail Merchants Association and
men who are AFFILIATED with none of
them, voiced the same sentiment
that they wished to see one big or
ganlIation here
william F. GUIDE said that by bring
ing all the organizations together
sufficient funds could be raised to
erect Q building that would serve the
joint purposes Of q headquarters for
the central association and its various
bureaus OF a city club. You might
call the organization what you pleas
ed" Mr.. GUIDE said in closing, that
would not matter. The greatest good
for the greatest number is what we
are after. with q long pull and q
strong pull and q pull all together"
George Y. Worthington, president
OF the Real Estate Brokers Associa-
ton. said 'T have come to the con-
clsion, as q result OF my contact
with the citizens OF Washington, that
IL Is absolutely feasible for US to
merge the present organizations and
form q body here of from 5000 to
1000. men, with annual dues OF $50.
This would produce q fund between
$50. 900 and $4,000 a year for carry
ing on the work OF building up
Washington into the great city that
II should be. / am sure that we
can organize q body OF this size just
as easy as we increased the mem