The Washington times., 1919-05-14
TRADE BOARD SEEKS
1000 MEMBERSHIP.

The launching of a plan to bring
the membership to more than LOCO.
speeches by officials OF the United
States Chamber OF Commerce, an
amendment to the constitution re-
garding the election of members, and
reports from the reconstruction and
other committees featured the May
meeting OF the Chamber of Com
merce held at Rauscher's last night.
Congressman Frederick H. Zihlman,
of Maryland, who was scheduled to
outline the plan Of making Washing
ton practically a seaport by develop
ment of the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal to carry raw materials to Cum
berland from the wharves Of this
city, was unable to attend owing to
pressure OF business incident to the
opening of Congress next week.
Arthur E. Seymour, secretary Of the
chamber, asked for the services of
100 members for six hours to make
personal canvas OF 500 business men
whose names he has listed as pros
poets for membership in the chamber.
Col. r. N. Harper, president Of the
chamber, declared these men had
been selected with care and were only
those whom business men would be
willing to sell goods to on time"
Reeounts History.
Elliot H. Goodwin, secretary OF the
United States Chamber of Commerce,
told of the organization and growth
OF the national body. Seven years
ago, when il was organized by Prest-
dent Taft, he said, II occupied three
office rooms. had a staff of six per-
sons and a membership OF sixty
three bodies. Today the membership
has increased to 1,160 organizations
with an underlying membership Of
over coo, 900 business men; it occupies
two and a half floors in the Riggs
Building. has a staff of 125, branch
Offices in New York, Chicago, and
San Francisco and an annual revenue
Of over $500, 900 in dues.
F. r. Shepherd. in charge of the
field work of the national chamber,
spoke on how the experiences of the
war had been BENEFICIAL to the bust
ness man by teaching him the value
OF collective thinking and acting.
Merle Thorpe, editor of Nations
Business, said the successful business
organizations are the ones which have
developed teamwork in all their &C
tivities. He cited the training he had
received as a football player under
Gilmour Dobie, now coach of the
Naval Academy's eleven. Teamwork,
he said, was Dobie's principal recipe
for success.
P. T. Moran. chairman Of the COM
mittee on reconstruction, read the re-
port of that committee. Among other
things Il recommended that agricul-
tural communities be made more at
tractive for farm labor; that the sup
ply of labor now be awaited OF to de-
IF ha nff nd
to build up suburban communities;
that the railroads be restored to pri-
waite ownership; that adequate ship
ping facilities for foreign trade be
obtained; that light manufacturing
esta blishments be brought to Wash
tngton: that Congress provide funds
for the continuance of the employ
ment service of the Department of
Labor, and that more numerous and
better paid policemen and fremen, be
obtained.
An amendment to the constitution
was adopted which provides that
new members be elected by the MEM
bership committee subject to ratifi-
cation by the board of directors.
The Montrose quartet rendered Sc
lections between speeches, one of
which was a Hawaiian jazz" in
which all four mmbers sang a diff
efrent verse of the same song at
the same time.
Surplus In Liberty Bonds.
Secretary Seymour announced that
all surplus funds of the chamber
were invested in Liberty bonds.
A communication from the Pan
American Union was read inviting
the Chamber to send delegates 10
the Pan-American Commercial Con-
gress to be held June 5 to 6.
An invitation was received from
the United States Bureau OF Educa-
ton to send delegates to a public
conference on Business Training for
the Engineer and Engineering Train
ing for the Business Man" at the
New willard June 23 and "a.
P. T. Moran was named chairman
Of a committee to attend a recon-
struction conference at Atlantic City
June ).
The management of Nations
Business" extenued an offer to fur
nish copies of the June number.
which contains a comp etc a, coun,
of the recent convention at st. Louis.