Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-29
BELCHER FORESEES
ARLINGTON AS CITY
Chamber of Commerce Gath
ering CounseIed on Steps
for Greatness.
sre,ssl nisnstch to The star.


CLARENDON, Va. January 2s.--
Characterizing Arlington County as
an embryo city, Robert w. Belcher,
assistant secretary of the United
States Chamber Of Commerce, the
principal speaker at the annual meet
ing Of the Arlington County Chamber
Of Commerce, last night declared that
the exercise of proper vision ana the
urge of individual responsibility must
be the leading factors.
Arlington County has unlimited pos
sibilities and the Chamber or COM
merce has a unique opportunity TO
perform a great public service, Mr..
Belcher declared. Arlington County
is soon 10 undergo many radical
changes, he said. and the people VIII
look to the chamber and other busl-
ness and civic organizations TO map
out and determine what is best for It.
Regardless of the type of development
desired. whether chiefly residential or
industrial or both, he said it is the
duty of the chamber to start at the
bottom and make a careful study OF
all problems to insure an orderly ue-
velopment.
Mr.. Belcher advised the chamber to
be cautious in laying out its program
of activities. Don't make your pro
grams too elaborate, he said. SIDE
step things you cannot hope 10 ac-
complish, because If you fail in them
you will lose support OF the people
Pick out standing things that otfer
reasonable chance of success and con-
nentrate on them"
Evidence of Opportunity.
Plans for regional development OF
Washington which embrace Arlington
County. Mr.. Belcher said, are the best
evidence that the county has great
opportunity. The people of Arlington
County are, indeed, fortunate TO be a
party to this great movement, ana
should feel complimented that It's
sponsors are looking to them for adj
vice and counsel.
Mr.. Belcher paid a high tribute to
American business standards. The
impression prevails, he said, in some
quarters that there is no romance IN
business. and it is but a scramble Tor
wealth To discredit this he called at
tent on to the millions of dollars that
Save been spent by business to make
possible the many scientific achieve
ments which have increased the hap
piness of life. He assured his audience
that the United States Chamber Of
Commerce was sincerely interested in
the Arlington body, and stood ready to
render any assistance possible.
The meeting was held in the cafe
terra of the Washington and Lee High
School, and was preceded by delight
full banquet service by the domestic
science department of the school.
President c. Fl. Ahalt, who presided,
praised the spirit and enthusiasm of
the membership of the organization,
which, he said, had grown in a little
over a year from small group of men
to 201. He gave an encouraging re-
port on the chambers activities to
raise a budget of $4,000, stating that
approximately nine-tenths of the
amount had been pledged.
Mildorf Wits, the newly appoint
ed secretary manager, was intro
duced, receiving an enthusiastic re-
ception, following which he gave a
brief outline of his activities in
chamber of commerce work and an
insight into his hopes for a progress
sive and effective campaign by the
local chamber for the Improvement
of Arlington County.
Chamber Is Congratulated.
Christopher j. Metz of Manassas,
Va, congratulated the chamber. for
the progress it had made in arous-
ing the interest of the people in civic
affairs, which he said was apparent
by the size of the attendance at the
banquet and the enthusiasm dis
played.
An amendment to the bylaws was
adopted changing the method of
electing directors. The original
article provided for a board of not
less than IL, that could be increased
by unanimous vote of the board or
by majority vote of the chamber in
general session. Under the amend
ment the board will consist of Is
members. three-year terms. 8 two
year terms and one-year terms.
The election for members of the
hoard resulted as follows: Three-year
terms, Clarence r. Ahalt, William p,
Ames, Harmon e. Green, NJ. E.
Church and Ashton G. Jones: two
year terms, K. A. Krumbach, w. r.
Boyer, w. S. Hoge, jr.; c. A. S. Sim
clair and r. V. Swope; one-year
terms, c. Eugene Doyle, E. l.. Kirk
patrick, w. u. Varney, T. E. Sebrell
and c. w. Fitch.
Entertainment features included
chorus singing under leadership of
Harold M. Brown. with Mrs. j.
Eorney Donaldson at the piano: songs
by Misses Anna Mendell and Marian
Moreland, with ukelele accompani.
ment by Marshall Cook, and songs
by Miss Elizabeth Ellis and Mr..
Brown, with Mrs. Donaldson as the
accompanist. Invocation was by w.