The Washington herald., 1919-01-15
COL. R. N. HARPER
ELECTED PRESIDENT:
SINCLAIR DEFEATED
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

man I nominate was. among other
things. appointed by the President of
the United States to the responsible
position of chairman of the inaugural
committee: he has served as chair
man of the Confederate Veterans Re-
union and of the Union Veterans Re-
union, and he is now chairman of the
welcome committee which will ar
range for the homecoming reception
by the District of the President and
the brave soldiers"
Advocating Col Harper as a candi-
date in spite of the fact that the col
onel signed the nomination of Mr..
Sinclair three weeks ago. at that time
intending not to run for president,
William II. Saunders said: our ores
ident has seen proper to change his
mind when he has seen proper 10
change it"
Nominated by Capers.
Ross p. Andrews brought forth the
first burst of real applause from the
chamber when he said: "Col. Harper
has been drafted. I may even say he
is a conscript"
Col. Harpe- was meS StiOned for office
for the first time Monday noon at a
meeting of the construction commit
tee of the chamber. Yesterday after
noon the statement appeared in a local
newspaper that Col. Harper would not
be candidate. But the popular de-
mand, most particularly of the busi-
ness men of the chamber, drafted
him. demanding that he enter the
running
Henry H. Classic, a lawyer, uphold
ing Mr.. Sinclair's third term candi-
! dacy said: rs he going to be a king
with a hereditary crown prince Just
| because he works for the chamber for
three years? Mr.. Sinclair is draft No
l. Are we any the less in the busi-
ness because he do not sell some,
! thing? We all live by business"
Col. Winfield Jones, in a few well
cOsen words. withdrew his nomination
in favor of Col. Harper.
Discussion of candidates was pre.
! ceded by the annual address of the
! president of the chamber, A. Leftwicb
Sinclair ,and the reports of the secre-
tary and treasurer
The report of the president, sign
ed A. Leftwich Sinclair follows:
For us the year that has lust
I elapsed has been one of unpro.
. 1ONlNlly anu dDnOrmAl
achievements. We have been called
upon, Iseeatedly. by the government
and the community for service
never before rendered by the Cham
Der of Commerce. This necessitated
great labor.
Since its organization, in Nav
1907, the Chamber of Commerce has
accomplished much for the District
With the active cooperation and
united effort of it's members, it will
accomplish more in the future
without cooperation and united ef-
| fort, without shoulder to- shoulder
standing together. without ever.
lasting teamwork, there is moi
much that we can do.
1T has been said that a chamber
of commerce is a Thought factory
You can readily realize how true
that is, and how quickly the COM
munity spirit finds better opportun-
ity for expansion where there is or
ganized thought and organized eff
fort. The community spirit gives
the city its reputation and the repu-
tation of a city goes far to make
that city what 1t is.
Employment for Soldiers.
'T hope that our committee on re-
construction, already appointed. will
enter upon its task without DELAY,
Among the things which should be
promptly provided for are: The Sc
curing of suitable employment for the
soldiers of the District upon their re-
turn from France; the reduction of
the cost of living; adequate and
cheaper transportation, and efficiency
in our public schools.
While the question of providing
for efficiency in the public schools
comes last in this enumeration of re-
construction problems, it is, by no
means, the least in Importance. There
is no more urgent problem before the
people of the District than that now
presented by the public schools. The