Evening star., 1924-10-12

activities and decisions to the mem
bers of his particular trade. The
Secretary Of Commerce, for example,
can spend an hour discussing a policy
of his department with a representa-
tive of such a trade organization, and
the views. opinions and conclusions
of that department are relayed 70 the
thousands who are most interested
without delay. So 1t is a question of
efficiency. No Government official can
talk with all the people interested in
a particular subject, so the trade as
sociation representatives are the con-
tact men.
Reason for Legal Aides
Most of these are lawyers-why?
Not only must they know the line OF
trade they represent, its problems and
the views of those in the trade, but
they must be competent to interpret
such problems and views to the Gov
ernment representatives and to the
representatives of other associations.
They must have a capacity and train
ing to grasp the problems and ability
to represent it properly.
Then. after passing over these trade
associations, we come to more gen
eral organizations like the National
Association Of Manufacturers and the
Chamber of Commerce Of the United
States. They interest themselves in
the same way in governmental activ-
tiles and public questions, but on
problems of common interest to busi-
ness men generally. There is a
friendly rivalry between the two ma
tional organizations just mentioned.
Their structure is different and they
work differently.
The National Association OF Manu- =
facturers is composed of individual
manufacturers. The problems with
which the association deals are those
common to manufacturers. of equal
interest to the manufacturer of To-
comotives and of baby wagons, of
shoes, ships or sealing wax. That
puts them primarily into such pub
lie questions as legislation and the
broad general governmental policy.
Chambers Wide scope.
The Chamber of Commerce of the
United States, on the other hand, is
made UP of chambers of commerce
and many trade associations through
out the country, and such member as
sociations are made up of manufac-
turers, merchants, lawyers, large and
small business men of every sort So
the national chamber has a broader
base than the National Association OF
Manufacturers, and in consequence its
work is not SO specialized.
Then to get the complete picture
you must not forget the farm or
ganizations, such as the National
Grange and the American Farm Bu-
reau Federation, which have found it
necessary during recent years to
bring representatives to Washington
and maintain the organization here.
Nor must you overlook the sudden
interest of women in public questions
developed since the nineteenth amend
ment to the Constitution, which has
caused some 25 or so large women's
organizations to establish Offices in
Washington.
AS an outgrowth of that develop
ment which finds large numbers of
representatives of different organiza-
| tions located in Washington having
some interest in common problems
there has been developed a luncheon
club composed of Washington rep
resentatives, which meets regularly
Mondays. This Monday Luncheon
Club has been running now for four
years and of this club Nathan L.
Williams, associate counsel of the
National Association of Manufactur-
ers, is chairman.
For Exchange of Views.
That club has just two functions
ID to improve acquaintanceship of
those men, one with another: and ca
to afford an opportunity for the clear
ing Of information believed to be of
interest to some or all of them. 1t is
the loosest possible kind of organi-
Zation-haS no formal organization
whatever, with neither constitution
nor bylaws, never takes a vote or
passes resolution. There is no com
pulson on any member and each
takes away from the common pot
whatever he wants to do with as he
pleaSes.
Some so of the leading representa-
tives of American business in the
| Capital belong to this club. They in
vite members of the cabinet, heads
of Government bureaus, members OF
diplomatic corps representing foreign
governments, distinguished visitors
! to the Nations Capital and prominent
business men TO these luncheons from
time to time to speak or listen to the
discussion, and to contribute what
ever each may think might be of in
terest.
All this new era of lobbying in
| the National Capital is a natural out
growth of the complex situation and
the growing intricacy of business
They are ambassadors of American
business located in the Nations Cap
ital, and just like any other diplo-
matte representative are subject to
recall if they do not conduct them
selves with capacity, discretion and