Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-25
ROTAR|ANS HOLD
OFF FROM POLITICS
John Barrett, Of Pan-American
Union, Tells OF Wide
Flung interests
PLANNING FOR NEW CLUBS

Srsc'r' D'qp0tcb n Ercniro Public Ledger
Atlantic City. June %. Election ot
officers is the big thing facing the clos
ing sessions of tho eleventh annual con .
vcution of the International Associa
tion of Rotary Clubs here today.
Another important part of the pro
gram was the report of the committee
on foreign extension, presented by the
chairman, John Barrett. director gen
eraI of tho Pan. American Union.
Rotary has not been. is not. and
will not be political influence in the
original meaning Of that term, Mr..
Barrett said He added that there
must he the fullest CO. operation in all
the countries where Rotary clubs are
well established in promoting extension
where they are not well established,
with no fnvoritism toward n man on
account of nationality.
Il hold that if Rotary is good for
the world. that If we believe in Rotary
IN Washington. Ottawa, London and
IN Havana" he continued. I'VE be-
lievc in il for every other capital or
commercial center of the wide world -
Chairman Barrett attached great i'm e
portance to the organization of a club
IN Buenos Aires with Jorge Mitre, a
leader in South American journalism
as its head, as we'll rs efforts now being
put forth TO start club in Melbourne
with Thomas SammOns, American con :
sui general as its sponsor. Brazil will
have club in Rio Janerio within a
year. A club Is being planned in San :
tiago and another in Valparaiso, Peru.
The one in Shanghai. China, is grow :
ing. Clubs are to be formed in Car
tagena, Baranquilla and Medellin, CO.
iombia and Guayaquil. Ecuador. The
French capital is to have one of the
strongest Rotary organizations in
Europe. William 2. George, vice consul
In Athens, is to organize Greece.
Many New Clubs Planned
Clubs have been organized also in
India and Haiti aud authority has been
granted for another in Japan. Interest
is evidenced also in Holland. Italy and
South Africa will be invited shortly.
Preliminary steps have been taken to
carry golden rule in business into New
Zealand and Spain.
There is a prosperous club in the
Canal Zone. Switzerland will have
one soon. Chairman Barrett expressed
the opinion that Rotary invasion of
Mexico may prove powerful influ-
ence in the new era of development and
evolution which must soon come to this
large and influential nation
THE committee hopes that in view
of the peculiar. delicate and difficult
responsibility of this movement great
care may be exercised in the selection
of Its member for the future. Every
member should be chosen not so much
on account of his present position. but
with regard TO his knowledge of the
relationship of Rotary to foreign exten-
siOns and his experience of world prob
lens
Nothing could be more unfortunate
than that Rotary should commit some
international political blundcr that
would bring it into contempt before the
eyes of the world"
Chairman Barrett. in announcing his
impending retirement as director gen =
eral of the Pan American Union, 'be-
cause he does not want to 60 from the
Pan American Union to the poor-
house" gave expression to the hope
that he might be able to do more for
Rotary in a private capacity than he
had been able to accomplish officially.
The personal touch is the solvent in
business as in every phase of Rotary.
said the business relations committee
in submitting as part of its report q
code of ten commandments proposed by
B. +. Harris. chairman. of Chicago. a
former president of the American Bank
ers' Association.