Evening star., 1938-10-21
STRONG BUSINESS
FRONT IS ADVISED
Economist Tells Federation
Commercial Leaders Can
Clean Up Government.

Businessmen should band together
and exert mass pressure on governing
bodies in order to obtain their de-
mands. DR.. Franklin Ryan, noted
economist and former consultant for
the Harvard Bureau for Municipal
Research, told the Federation of Busi-
ness Mems Associations last night at
Its meeting in the Hamilton Hotel.
DR.. Ryan said that businessmen
can clean up government and can
accomplish things by banding together
and presenting united front. Arouse
public opinion, awaken the interest of
the citizens and take decided stand
on q definite program-that should
nfluence Congress in granting Dis
trlct demands" he said in answer to
questions by members of the group.
In comparing the present status OF
the District with the old Roman EN-
pire, he said both were ruled by an
absolute sovereign. In the case Of
Rome, it was Caesar; here, it is Con-
gress. he explained.
Cites Potential Good"
Citing Milwaukee. Wis; Cincinnati,
Ohio, and Bridgeport, Conn.,, as ex-
amples of well-governed cities, DR..
Ryan declared that businessmen have
"a greater potentiality for good gov
ernment than any other group" When
businessmen fail in their duty as good
citizens, rackets thrive, he stated. The
interest of the citizens and the inter-
est OF those selected to govern a COM
munity determine how efficient and
well-regulated city can be, he added.
He said good government depends
on good men, and conversely, "spoils
systems make bad governments, he
added
He contended the theory Of licensing
business is incomplete and unsound.
Business should be licensed for regis
tration, not for revenue basically," DR..
Ryan declared.
He said more attention should be
paid to improvements in government
and to solution of the crime problem
rather than to civic Improvements, in
contrasting the large number of homi-
eide cases here last year with the two
murders committed in Milwaukee dur
ing the same period.
Grape Reviews Progress.
Before the election of officers for
the coming year, Theodore S. Grape,
retiring president. spoke briefly on his
tenure of Office during the last two
years.
Praising the groups co-operation he
traced the growth of the federation
until today, when the federation is
truly power in the affairs of the
city and will become the greatest force
for the welfare of the businessmen
that has ever been known in this city"
The group unanimously approved a
resolution for a vote of confidence in
the Metropolitan Police Department.
Fairfax Oyster of the New Center
Market Business Mems Association
was elected president of the organia-
tion. Other officers named were B.
Huston McCeney, Connecticut Avenue
Business Mems Association. first vice
president; R. w. Parry, Brookland-
Woodbridge Business Mems Association,
second vice president; Arthur F. Car
roll, jr., Georgetown Business Men s
Association. secretary, and John De
Marco, Northern Seventh Street Busi-
ness Mems Association, treasurer.
Directors Named.
The following were named to the
board Of directors: Frank McLaugh-
lin and Mr.. Parry. Brookland- Wood
ridge Business Mems Association; JOS
eph Bait and William Mileham, Cen
tral Business Mems Association; Wal
ter Ceresley and Bernard Elman
Cleveland Park Business Mems Asso-
clation; Carl Donch and H. c. Phil
lips, Columbia Heights Business Mems
Association; B. Huston McCeney and
Harry Kronheimer, Connecticut Ave-
nue. Business Mems Association; Mr.
Carroll and John Paul Jones, George
town Business Mems Association;
F. w. Knudson and Mr.. Oyster, New
Center Market Business Mems Asso-
cation; James P. Rogers and Robert
Wilhelm, Northeast Business Mems
Association; Mr.. De Marco and Ber-
tram Wise, Northern Seventh Street
Business Mems Association; M. C.
Schwartz and Benjamin April, Park
view Business Mems Association, and
A. w. Lee and Louis F.. Frick, South
east Business Mems Association.
The federation reaf1irmed its SUD-
port of Mr.. Grape to succeed GEORGE
e. Allen as District Commissioner.