Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-11-18
JOHN G. WILLIAMS
On the Work Of the Realtor
"T WONDER how many people realize t

ct WONDER how many people realize the
i great value to community of a board
Of organized realtors?' asks John G.. VIII
liams, president elect of the Philadelphia
Real Estate Board.
THE very word. reator. to those who
are acquainted with its significance, ex.
presses business integrity Of the highest
standard; progressive thought applied to the
interests Of property owners and OF the
community and a material development
making for the greater welfare and happi-
ness Of the people.
I'm his every day affairs the realtor is
working toward these ends. He is com.
munity developer, property protector and
his business is distinct civic asset. The
only real estate men who are permitted to
call themselves realtors are those who be-
long to local Real Estate Boards which are
affiliated with the National Association of
Real Estate Boards.
The word realtor was coined by
Minneapolis member of this National Asso-
citation, and the right of that association
TO limit its use to it's members has been
upheld by court decision brought, as test
case in the City of Minneapolis. Webster
defines the word as follows:
- 'Realtor: a real estate broker who is
member of local board having member
ship in the National Association of Real
Estate Boards, an organization Incorporated
in 1908 for the advancement of the interests
of real estate brokers and the protection
of the public from unprincipled agents or
brokers'.
Governed by Code of Ethics
1T can be readily understood, therefore,
that the realtor is a real estate man who
has brought his business up to the plane
Of q profession. His every business action
is governed by q code of ethics no viola
ton of which is excused. In other words,
in order to maintain his membership in a
real estate board he must maintain the
boards ethical standards of business.
''It can be seen, therefore, that the type
of men who band themselves together to
elevate the real estate profession naturally
would be imbued with the highest commu :
nifty ideals and that their cvCryda" business
experience and knowledge would enable them
to carry out such ideals in a practical
manner.
at is for this reason that you will always
find the realtor aligned on the side Of
dom or never is he found advocating reforms
or improvements which are merely visionary.
Home ownership, building and loan as
sociations, ample mortgage money for the
construction and purchase Of homes, good
streets, practical sanitary measures and a
host of other necessities for the increased
welfare and happiness of the people Of the
community are always being advocated by
the realtors. The very business activities
Of the realtor make for these improvements.
earnest booster of the building and loan
association. Philadelphia always has had
more of these wonderful associations than
any other community of the world. There
are at the present time more than 2000 OF
them in this city. The 1920 statistics OF
| the State Banking Commissioner show that
last year there were 21S3 such associations
! in Philadelphia with total assets of more
| than $500, 900, 900 The State had 3O2f
| associations at that time with total assetE
| of close to $3.50, 900 900.
Philadelphia Leads World
"Not only has Philadelphia the largest
! number Of such associations with greater
assets than any city in the world, but theiI
| plan Of assistance to home owners has beer
| developed to Il point where it is Of fal
greater benefit than the plans Of the build.
| ing and loan associations Of any other com.
| munity.
| 'VThe possibilities for hclpfulness of thes,
| associations have been realized here 10 9
| far greater extent than they have elsewhere
and one of the big educational movement,
which the Philadelphia Real Estate BoarC
will conduct during the coming year viii
be the education of other communities
| through their Real Estate Boards, TO the
full possibilities Of their building and loar
associations for co operation In helping tn,
homo owner.
"So set Of men is more earnest and
active in promoting the increase in number