Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20
COMMERCE BODY Z.
TO DINE THURSDAY
NaT|ower Dinner Will Be
Twentieth Birthday Party
=. for Organization.

COMPLETION of two decades of actlV
,tv as civic body dedicated TO the
uphuilding of this city WI Ae ceie-
hrated by the Washington Chamber
Of Commerce at a banquet meeting
Thursday evening at the Mayfower
Hotel.
Planned distinctly as an anniversary
occasion. the meeting Will ne oeNoteu
largely to "reminiscences of accomplish
noents Of the chamber in the 20 years
of it's career.
Frank ". MondelI former floor
leader Of the House Of Representa-.
tives. and more recently director OF
the War Finance Corporation. VIII ne
the principal speaker at the dinner
The District Commissioners, many
members Of Congress and others high
In official circles will he guests DR.
William Mather Lewis, president or
George Washington University, will
off1ciate as master of ceremonies. with
President Ieese presiding.
Many Features Planned.
Warren {. Kendall. chairman Of the
committee directing general arfane
ments, has obtained many entertain
ing features. Mile. Marguerite
Weighed Partisan dancer, will pre-
sent several characteristic numbers.
The Red Arrow quartet from Pllts-
burgh will give several selections.
Members Of the chamber cite as one
of the most important services OF the
organization the continuous efforts
made to attract conventions to Wash
ington. work carried on by the
chamber as a special activity before
establishment of the convention hui
reau.
Pounding Of the Wa shington Audi
torium. chamber officials point out,
originated in the Chamber of Com
merce through efforts Of Robert y.
Harper and was sponsored and fur
thered by that organization until the
forming of a separate body became
necessary TO effect the actual accom-.
plishment Of the project.
The record of the chambers efforts
also includes support of such institu-
lions and projects as the Police and
Fire Departments, public schools. rep
resentation for the high-pressure
water system. extension of the park
system, better streets, better lighting
and finer public buildings. Increased
pay and shorter hours for the Police
and Fire Departments and higher pay
for school teachers also We're backed
by the chamber.
Activities Started In 1907.
The Washington Chamber Of Com.
merce was organized April II, 1891
when a joint committee of the job
bers and Shippers Association and
the Business Mems Association met
at the American Security Trust
Co. and adopted a resolution favoring
a merger of these Two bodies. TWO
weeks later the organizations voted
To unite. and a special COMMITTEES on
organization was chosen. II com
prsed the following: James +. Oyster.
Charles J. Bell. Monroe Luchs, B. W.
Guy, B. r. Saul, Jackson II. Ralston,
A. D. Albert, Charles w. Linkins,
William F. Guide and r. A. Chester.
Members of the two bodies met May
6, 1907, in the old Arlington Hotel,
now the site of the Veterans Bureau,
and adopted a constitution prepared
by Mr. Ralsten and the committee.
The governing laws of other COM
merce bodies had been studied, and
the constitution finally evolved was
formulated to include the best pro-
visions from all. The preamble is
almost identical with that of the
Cleveland Chamber of Commerce.
Thus came into existence the actual
organization which thenceforth was
to function as the Washington Cham
Der of Commerce.
Robert y. Harper was chosen first
president. Other officers elected were:
James +. Oyyster. first vice presi-
dent, and Charles j. Bell. second vice
president. The organizing committee
had visited President Roosevelt and
received his Endorsement. He was
elected the first honorary member OF
the chamber. which he accepted. In
October, 1907. Thomas Grant was
selected secretary. lie remained until
October. 1918, when he was succeeded
by Arthur r.. Seymour, who died in
1926. Dorsey W. Hyde, jr., is the in
cumbent.