The Washington times., 1917-05-26
BOSTONTRADE BODY
MERGER HELPS CITY
Good Results Described by
Leader in Hub S Activities.
EXAMPLE URGED ON CAPITAL
Declared That Washington Should
Have Model Organization.

Continued from First Page)
and clerical work. Further than this.
where there are a great number OF
small organizations the most ensr-
getlc and valuable men are so over
worked that they can accomplish but
little.
"Also ! found, in my experience in
Boston, that after one or several OF
the smaller organizations were won
over for q needed improvement the
opposition proceeded to win over some
OF the other organizations and moth
ing resulted. One killed the other.
LonE Battle Fought.
After years Of this kind of expert
enee, in company with some like
minded men. started to bring to-
gether the small organizations into
one big, effective body. After some
months OF unsuccessful work, start
ed a campaign and succeeded in get
ting 200 men who recognized the need
for a big, representative organization
to agree to give $500 each toward a
sustaining fund for the first two
years OF the work to get q combina-
tion OF the business organizations of
oObLOus IL IL COuAo pG pEOukuE hDOuNs
THE battle was. even then. not
wholly won. The Merchants Associa-
tion was not willing to give up its
name and the Chamber of Commerce
was also unwilling to lose its name,
and there were some other complica-
tions.. The smaller organizations
were more willing.
"Ffhally we offered the 200 mem
bers and the $780, 700 to the Mer-
chants Association on the condition
that we should be allowed to rewrite
the bylaws and submit them TO the
membership. This was dona and
thereupon there happened what we
had expected. and all the members OF
the Merchants Association became
boosters for the consolidation. be-
cause they clearly saw the great
gains that would come to them and
the city thereby. and when. a year ]
later, we were able to win over the
Chamber OF Commerce, there was no
contest about the name, because the
members Of the Merchants Associa-
tion realized the Chamber OF Com
merce was a more dignified and q
more effective name for the combina-
tion.
Aeeompllshed by LuneheOns.
"All this work was accomplished
through a series of luncheons, vary
ing in size, and we found that the
advantages OF getting the mrn to-
gsther so that they might know each
other better and exchange views
were OF greatest value to us. Once
we had a chance to get them all to-
gether and talk things over, our diff
hculties vanished
~ fhNa rnUahfna ffnn
the Merchants Association, which
had had great difficulty in raising
more than enough money to pay its
rent and secretary and a few clerks,
and the Chamber OF Commerce,
which. while raising larger sums,
still. on account OF Its real estate
charges and other calls upon Its
funds, was also hampered, the mem
bsrs Of both organizations found
themselves part of q combined organ
iEation with plenty Of funds to en-
ploy competent exports. an adequate
clerical stan, and to give opportunity
for effective public work. More
than that, the power OF the organ
ization, and the power of every indi-
vidual member was immensely In
creased.
The Boston Chamber Of Commerce
now has some 1000 members and has
been employing experts at salaries as
high as $4,000 year. 1t has been q
very important factor In the life OF
the community and IL now OF the ut
most Importance In the great ques-
tions that are facing the community |
and the country, which number OF |
small organizations would be power |
less to deal with.
Foreseea Success Here.
Now your situation here in Wash !
ington is similar to what ours was |
there. and there Is no reason why |
you should not succeed In building |
up q great Chamber OF Commerce OF |
which the entire nation may be Justly |
proud.
II know some OF your business men
and am sure tkAt you have the men
and the power to bring this lnl-
portant object about.
Washington should have such an
organization for three very distinct
]