Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-15


Modern chambers Of commerce are
Business organizations, primarily con-
Cerned with trade and industry They
approach these subjects, however, from
the general viewpoint rather than with
the particular trade emphasis expressed
BY earlier bodies of their type. If they
do not arbitrate mercantile disputes
between individuals. they do encourage
the adoption of general principles and
practices that will make such disputes
unlikely to arise. They recognize that
industrial growth and commercial sta
bility are parts of a very complex de-
sign, and without losing sight of the
parts, they work rather upon the de-
sign as a whole.
If retailers complain that business
Is poor, the modern chamber is not sat-
tsfaed with administering a pin in the
form of a special sales event It studies
the towns trade territory to determine
how 1t can be extended and better cul-
tivated. In cities with an agricultural
background the modern chamber is not
content with devising schemes to lure
farmer trade to town. It recognizes
that trade Is a two-way proposition and
It now works for permanent trade re-
lationships between town and country
by establishing markets in which far
mers may sell thier produce.
Work for Adjusted Rates.
On a wider scale, chambers in the
larger cities look to the basic factors of
commerce and industry. 1t may be that
an adverse rate structure is handicap
ping local enterprise. Through its traf-
&c department the chamber will seek
redress In rate adjustment. Perhaps
an industry desires to increase pro-
duction, or expand through the intro
duction of new lines of merchandise.
The chamber may help that industry to
analy1e its market possibilities. Both
through specific studies and general re-
search the modern chamber serves as
q fact-fnding agency. It's research
functions, I believe, are increasing in
Importance.
Trade and industry complement each
other. The modern chamber of COM
meroe seeks the extension Of trade in
ali its phases through the development
Of industry. This work is carried on in
some instances through volunteer COM
mittee work, in others through more or
less elaborate stats Of specialists. An
entirely proper field of chamber activ-
1ty IN itself, 1t is, nevertheless, one
3raught with considerable danger.
Every business man is familiar with
the factory-grabbing, bonus-giving, tax
RENTING phase of industrial effort that
many chambers went through some
years ago. We learned some salutary
lessons from that experience, and
chambers today are approaching their
industrial work along sounder lines.
There Is, however. an unfortunate tend
ency on the part Of many people still
20 look upon the chamber Of commerce
g. primarily an agency to secure So
called new" industries. Too often its
success Is measured only in terms of
what 1t has done to bring In" manu-
featuring plants-these being expressed
properly in the phrase more smoke
stacks and pay rolls" I think this is a
mistake. L would not minimize the
value Of properly directed industrial
enort; but to predicate the whole ex-
tstence Of chamber Of commerce upon
the race for new industries Is 10 invite
disaster In the loss Of public confidence
and support when the promised and
expected industries do not materialize
as rapidly as anticipated
The chamber Of commerce, through
us general program, performs too useful
. service in the American city to have
atS influence jeopardized by placing
pveremphasis on only one phase Of its
work.
The securing Of industrial growth,
where economically warranted, Is i'm
score Of varieties, there are retail and
wholesale promotion, there are general
development features, there are re-
search and advisory and protective
functions that are indispensable In the
life Of q city and that ought never to
be subordtnated to any other one
activity In chamber of commerce pro-
gram. The emphasis is coming to be
placed, In the better organized cham
FnYR V4sNN #
but on well rounded program con-
strueted with the aim Of serving the
Best general interests Of the city over
o period Of years.
History of Movement.
What Is the history of this move
ment that plays such an important
part IN the everyday business life Of
America? Designed originally as trade
bodies, and functioning for nearly a
century In that field rather strictly,
chambrs Of commerce in the American
evolution came finally to assume a
broader aspect. After a hundred years.
during which they were known only in
. few Of our larger cities, about two
generations ago they suddenly began
. remarkable growth. Shortly after
this expansion started they began to
be looked upon as agencies not of trade
promotion alone but of general COM
muntty development, embracing in their
programs activities designed to promote
the growth of the entire community
along lines that may be summarized
for convenience under three heads:
Commercial. industrial and civic-wtth
emphasis gradually being placed upon
the civic
In effecting this transition, chambers
Of commerce, like most growing insti-
buttons, made some mistakes. Enthu-
slaStic Missionaries, intent upon civic
perfection, not infrequently lost sight
Of the fact that the chamber of COM
merce, in spite of its ventures into
other fields, is first of all a medium
through which the practical Judgment
OF business men Is brought to bear upon
community affairs. Or again, the other
extreme was approached, and under
the delusion that they were doing big
business, chambers of commerce were
now and then converted into mere
boosting and promotive organizations,
whose primary obtec seemed to be the
achievement Of spectacular growth, re-
CARELESS Of economic principles
Such misconceptions were unavoid-
able. and probably occur with no greater
frequency IN the history of the cham
bers OF commerce movement than do
comparable blunders In other fields of
evolution. The chamber Of commerce.
after all, u merely part Of our expert
ment In democracy. The weaknesses
TO which 1t has occasionally fallen VIC
tim, and which are frequently quoted
against it, are q result of the very prin-
ctple upon which the real growth Of
the movement is based refer to the
voluntary nature Of its support and
membership, and the voluntary char
acter Of the work which IL accomplishes
The chamber Of commerce movement
has not been the product of special
creation or anybody's fat. II has been
an evolution, growth--a response to
changing civic and economic demands.