Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-01-15
MISSISSIPPI
 ASSOCIATION
 OF COMMERCE
Organization Comprises In terests of Twenty States to Promote Commerce.

NeW OrleanS, Jan. l4-JOhn M. Parker, of New Orleans, was elected president of the newly organized Mississippi Valley Association at the concluding session here tonight of a convention attended by representa- tlves from the twenty states in the Mississippi Valley, called to bring about cooperation of business inter- ests in the valley in an effort to pro- mote foreign trade and develop do- mestic trade along North and South lines.
 The directors announced a decision to place representatives of the or ganization in every principal foreign port, to act as Mississippi Valley trade consuls. Market needs, credits and other information will be for Warded to valley interests from the foreign ports and their offices will be used as clearing houses for valley trading interests.
 Bankers were urged to study the sippi Valley Bank to handle all for eign financial matters of Valley inter- ests. Foreign finances, it was stated, now are being handled through New York.
 A committee was appointed to take whatever action possible toward speedy removal of trade and financial restrictions imposed during the war.
 A reciprocal trade committee will later be appointed and will be in- structed to see that trade inquiries are referred to interests in the valley and sales made in that section when- ever possible.
 Zone Directors Increased.
 Zone directors were increased from seven to eight in order to give New Orleans representation. The directors were named as follows
 w. P. Ross, New Orleans; Joseph Newburger, Memphis; J. c. Fennelley, Kansas City; F. Ernest Cramer, St. Louis; Chas. H. Hinch, Cincinnati; Harry H. Merrick, Chicago; c. c. Bovey, Minneapolis and F. c. Water bury, Des Moines.
 These directors with the president constitute the executive committee. A. E. Pradillo and Rudolph Hecht, both of New Orleans, were appointed Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.
 The directorate will be further in- creased later by the addition of a man representative of the entire agricul- tural interests of the valley and an- other representing labor, both or ganized and unorganized. The presi- dent of the association has been in- structed to name these directors.
 Membership in the Association will be limited to approximately 1000 com mercial organizations in the valley with an associate membership by in- dividual firms. Harry H. Merrick, President of the Chicago Association of Commerce, in address today de- clared he believed it impossible to operate the United States Merchant Marine under present legislation.
 "This fact" he said, "must be inn pressed upon Congress"
 John M. Parker, urged the forma- tion of gigantic National Foreign Trade Service which would use war vessels of the United States to carry it's commercial emissiaries throughout the world.
 M.J Sanders, of New Orleans, Fed eral manager of the MississippiWar- rior River Waterways. urged business men to use to the fullest extent these waterways. The New Orleans-St. Louis barge line, he said, should car rv heavy cargoes in each direction. Committees will report at the meet ing called for April 24th, in Chicago, to be held in connection with the Ma tional Foreign Trade Council conven- , tion.
 Business men from the twenty states comprising the Mississippi Valley today organized the Mississip- nj Valley Association for. the an- nounced purpose of advancing the in- terests of the valley in all matters pertaining to commerce, agriculture and finance. A program was adopted with the development of foreign trade as the primary objective, and for the development of domestic trade along north and south lines, both wa ter and rail, relieving congestion on east and west trade lines. The slogan of the organization was declared to be "American bottoms for American freights."
 Chicago Plan Endorsed. I The Chicago plan or ofganlzaClon submitted by Harry H. Merrick. presi- dent of the Chicago Association 'o1 Commerce, was indorsed by the con 'vention.
 The first annual meeting of the or. ganization will be held in Chicage April 24 in connection with the Ma tional Foreign Trade Council conven tion. !. The government was urged in : resolution adopted by the convention to asign vessels to give adequate ser yice between Gulf ports and the mar