The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-12-26
wHY. A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE?

 That question is asked and answered in 8 imirable manner in the annual report of Il osrd Of Directors of the local Chamber which h' lst been distributed to members and can be ha ? others for the asking. Some pertinent para -aphs from that section of the report follow:
 Civilization finds its salvation through working unitedly. And the individual who questions the logic of this assertion in favor of working by and unto himself can best put his reasoning on the more secure path by picturing some such situation as the fol- lowing:
 Assemble in room dozen people who are interested in the same line of business and ask them what shall be done to im- prove their business. Will each not naturally think in terms of building his own individual business?
 But add few others in another line of business and shortly the program of think ing broadens to include activities of mutual benefit to both groups Now supplement these representatives of other lines of en- deayor-professional men, merchants. whole salers, manufacturers, educators, bankers, clerks and Government employees and the plans and projects devised and outlined there have as their goal the benefit of all those present and the groups they represent
 The wider the representation the broader becomes the viewpoint The less self seek ing does it contain To each individual comes the realization that as his community pros pers, so will he prosper and toward a com mon goal each puts his shoulder to the wheel
 The Juneau Chamber of Commerce is the business and professional man and womans agent for expressing his or her opinion on matters affecting the business and civic life of the community. It offers at the same time practical and enlightened method for reaching correct opinion. Through committee meetings, with their dis cussions, assembling of pertinent data and frequent introduction of testimony from ex- perts and specialists invited to appear be- fore them, sound procedure is provided for reaching logical conclusions. The individual working along cannot hope to attain such a high average on sound opinions on im- portant current business and civic problems will be possible when his efforts are assisted by active membership in a civic in- stitution. Thus the Chamber of Commerce and we speak in particular here of the Ju- neau Chamber of Commerce provides local clearing house for the specialization of well thought out community opinion subjects of local, Territorial and National scope.
 One Of the greatest difficulties of public officials, it is true. is to gauge public opin- ion correctly. And public opinion is a potent force in the world today, those bear ing the responsibility of government, if they are alert keep their weather eye on the discussions going on within their commun- ities' Chamber of Commerce where they find sensitive barometers of the business world
 There is little use lamenting the horse once it is out of the barn, and so it is with laws Better to have an eye to proposed legislation before it. becomes a law of the land The local Chambers Legislative Con- nnittee is appointed mainly to watch closely all proposed or impending legislation. Bills are studied pro and con If they are