USA > Wisconsin > Milwaukee County > Milwaukee > History of Milwaukee, city and county, Volume I > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78
"In 1887 a strong protest was made against freight rate discrimination. It was charged that the railroads favored Chicago and exacted unfair rates from the Milwaukee shippers.
"In the year 1894 the association secured the defeat of the plan of the rail- roads to increase exeess baggage charges, and also seenred a reduction on freiglit rates and collected many claims for over charges.
"The necessity of watching the question of shipping facilities and rates became more apparent from year to year. A permanent committee on trans- portation was finally created and is maintained to this day."
The Reconstruction Period .- In 1907 the association, then under the lead- ership of William N. Fitzgerald, secured the services of William George Bruce as secretary-manager. The headquarters of the organization were then located in the University Building. The executive staff had up to this time consisted of a secretary and a stenographer.
Under the new regime the dnes were increased from $10 a year to $25 and the membership increased from 900 to 1,200. A few years later a general membership campaign was undertaken and the list of members increased to 3,000.
The organization, which still went under the name of Merchants and Manufacturers moved its headquarters to the Germania Building, now known as the Brumder Building, located at the corner of Wells and Water streets. Later the headquarters were transferred to the First Wisconsin National Bank Building, then a few years ago the present home in the Milwaukee Athlet'e Club Building was occupied.
The arrangement whereby the organization secured the second floor of the Milwaukee Athletic Club located at the corner of Broadway and Mason Street proved an advantageous one for both bodies. The members of the Association of Commerce had become the principal financial backers of the Athletic Chib, but a merger of the two was not deemed expedient owing to their wide divergence in purpose.
The association, however, sought certain facilities which the club was able to supply. On the other hand the club sought patronage. The jointure whereby the association became a tenant of the building and the club re-
L
SHTK
-
F
THE MILWAUKEE ATHLETIC CLUB BUILDING, ALSO HOME OF THE MILWAUKEE ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCE
391
THE MILWAUKEE ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCE
mained the landlord, each retaining its own particular character and function, was carried into effeet. The association located its offices on the second floor fronting on Mason Street, secured the use of an assembly hall, and dining privileges. The noon luncheon meetings are held in the assembly hall, while private dining rooms are reserved for special committee luncheon meetings whenever desired. This arrangement has been deemed practical and has been emulated in other eities between commercial bodies and social clubs.
The offices of the Association of Commerce are arranged to secure the highest effieieney in performing the business of such a body. The various de- partments are readily accessible by the business public. A large and com- modions directors' room is provided which serves also advantageously for various kinds of conferences and gatherings.
During the period beginning with 1907 the Merchants and Manufacturers Association absorbed the Retail Merchants Association which had been in existence for several years. The Citizens Business League, which has con- cerned itself mainly with seenring conventions and with city publicity was also amalgamated with the association. The league had been originally brought into life by the hotel men and brought to a high stage of efficiency by Richard B. Watrous. A charities endorsement bureau which had been conducted by E. C. Mattison as a private enterprise was absorbed by the association.
When the drive for the larger membership was completed the organiza- tion changed its name from the Merchants and Manufacturers Association to Milwaukee Association of Commerce. This change was largely due to the fact that the older name was somewhat restricted. There had now come into the organization many members who could not be classed either as merchants or manufacturers. Besides, the word "commerce" in its broader interpretation seemed better suited to the aims and purposes of the association.
Here it should be added that the so-called commerce bodies throughout the United States have widened their scope from purely business promotional purposes and ineluded efforts in eivie advancement as well. The Association of Commerce had also broadened its scope and function whereby it concerned itself with both the economic and civie welfare of the community, on the established theory that the two are intimately interwoven and that primarily a eity must be a good place to live in before it can become a good place in which to prosper in a material sense.
During the period mentioned the association established a traffic bureau. with a competent transportation man in charge which rendered a valuable service to the shippers. A convention bureau was also created and the effi -. cieney of that body was demonstrated in the increased number of conven- tions secured since then for the city each year. The establishment of a eredit bureau was also deemed an achievement. This bureau provided thousands of eredit ratings to the local retail merchants and has since become an indis- pensable ageney in securing stability and regularity in retail eredit trans- actions.
The endorsement bureau, too, rendered a valuable service not only in eliminating wasteful and fraudulent charity solicitations but also in aiding
-
MBELS
-
BROWN
GRAND AVENUE WEST FROM BRIDGE
393
THE MILWAUKEE ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCE
worthy charity institutions towards more adequate support. The scope of the bureau has in recent years been enlarged in that the subject of advertis- ing solicitations receive attention. On the whole the bureau has saved the community thousands of dollars annually in protecting it against unworthy solicitations.
In 1918 the association began to concern itself with foreign trade promo- tion. While no regular bureau was created committees served each year in disseminating foreign trade information. The committee also issued a Spanish edition of Civies and Commerce, the association's house organ, in which a complete list of the manufacturers of the city prodneing exportable articles, is given. This publication was widely circulated in Spanish-speaking conn- tries.
The association has always given careful attention to legislative matters. A committee representative of the various industrial and commercial inter- ests has during each session of the State Legislature examined the bills and joint resolutions that have come under consideration. The watchful eare given here has also been extended to measures affecting the professional and educational interests.
The position of the organization has frequently been misunderstood and misinterpreted. While the policy of its legislative committee has been to proteet the business interests of the state against oppressive regulatory laws, it has also supported measures designed to promote the social, educational and civie welfare of the state. It has always supported the educational en- deavors of the eity and state in a loyal manner.
In local school matters the association has always taken a progressive attitude. Among the things worthy of mention is its leadership in establish- ing the trade schoool idea and securing the legislation therefor. It also secured the abolition of the vertical system of penmanship in the public schools a few years ago.
The Annual Merchants' Trips .- The first trade excursion was taken in 1878, covering a week beginning with June 17th, when a body of 108 Mil- waukeeans, mainly business men, visited a number of Wisconsin and Minne- sota cities. The party also included Gen. E. W. Ilineks, of the Soldiers Home, Judge James G. Jenkins, Mayor John Black, Postmaster Henry C. Payne, Judge J. A. Mallory, Gen. C. S. Hamilton and Rev. Dr. John Fulton. Among the prominent business men of that day who went on the trip to spread the eity's fame were T. A. Chapman, S. S. Merrill, Edward P. Allis, Henry L. Palmer, Benj. M. Weil, Charles G. Starek, H. N. Hempstead, Edward Ascher- mann, Bernard Goldsmith, W. S. Candee, Henry Niedecken and many others.
They were accompanied by Bach's band. Speeches, extolling the merits of Milwaukee as a trade center and as a promising American metropolis were made in every town visited. Doctor Fulton was the most popular orator of the first trip.
Some years later the merchants' trips became an ammal affair. Over five hundred cities, towns and villages have since been visited, thousands of peo- ple have been told of the beauties and the natural advantages of Milwaukee, and of its manufacturing and commercial interests. Millions of souvenirs
394
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
and pieces of advertising matter have been distributed throughout the west- ern and northern territory.
For the period beginning with the year 1900 Franklin P. Blumenfeld served as the genius and guiding spirit of these trade extension journeys. Another business man who won distinction as a promoter of the jobbers' and wholesalers' interests was John L. Klingler whose energetic leadership was generally recognized.
The thorough manner in which these remarkable trade extension trips have been established, the plan of operation and their purpose may be noted by the following study prepared by the association.
The purpose and value of the annual trade trips and their management may be analyzed as follows: The larger commercial centers of the Middle West have in recent years engaged to a considerable extent in so-called trade excursions or merchants' trips. The jobbers and wholesalers of Milwaukee were among the first to engage in such trips and for a time no eity sent out a larger number of trade promoters or managed such trips with greater success. Tlere it should also be said that these excursions were undertaken only by the class of cities to which Milwaukee belongs. The larger eities, such as Chicago, and the smaller cities such as Des Moines, Sionx City, Aberdeen, etc., did not engage in them until within recent years.
Thus, it may be said that their valne, or at least their popularity. is estab- lished. ' But, it may also be well to analyze more closely just wherein and to what extent the trade excursions are beneficial to the business houses that engage in them and to the city that promotes them. The benefits or ad- vantages derived from them may be summarized as follows:
First : They promote the spirit of friendship among those who participate in merebants' trips. Business men are afforded an opportunity to become more intimately acquainted with their competitors, learn to appreciate one another as man against man, with the tendeney to substitute wholesome com petition for unfriendly rivalry.
Second: The members or managers of a business firm who participate in such trips have an opportunity.
(a) To meet their customers in person, which is usually appreciated and tends to strengthen the business relations existing between the firms and their customers.
(b) These trips are apt to prompt immediate orders or pave the way for future orders. Frequently a sufficient number of orders is secured by busi- ness men, the profits upon which cover the cost of several trips.
(() The visiting merchant is afforded an opportunity to see his eustomer in his home environments and under conditions which furnish an answer to the questions: "Is this a careful business man ? Has he a good store, centrally located? Does he keep his stock in good condition?" In the adjustment of credits it is important to know something about the customer's methods of doing business and the reputation he has at home.
Third : Affording an opportunity to those who have no trade in the region visited, to study its business possibilities. It has frequently developed that business houses have found it to their advantage to place salesmen in a field
395
THE MILWAUKEE ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCE
after visiting the same, that had before such visit seemed unpromising. Thus. many new trade accounts have followed as the result of these merchants' trips.
Fourth: A distinctive gain is made for the city that engages in these trade trips. If the firms and individuals engaging in them did not derive an immediate benefit there is still an advertising value which goes to the city. It adds a prestige to such city which could be gained in no other way.
From the Standpoint of the Cities Visited .- Experience has taught that the expressions of good will and friendship showered upon the Milwaukeeans all along the routes traveled have been of the most sincere and cordial character The personal expressions as well as the numerous speeches made, taken in their entirety, have revealed the elements of genuine hospitality, geniality and good- fellowship. While the attitude of the smaller centers of population is not entirely unselfish in character there is usually a reciprocal spirit which forms an important stimulus to strengthened business relations.
The basis for the friendly attitude on the part of the smaller town is nsnaHy found in the following :
First: A local pride in the thought that an important merchants' exeur sion train honors the town with a visit. Such events are comparatively rare.
Second: A satisfaction in being afforded an opportunity to point out the home town's achievements and possessions. Whether the local commercial or industrial or institutional interests are large or small the resident citizen is always proud to dwell upon them.
Third: The authorities usually recognize the fact that hospitality is a virtue which applies to communit'es as well as to individuals and that hos- pitality manifested on occasions of this kind denotes also the enterprise and publie spirit of a people.
Fourth: That trade relations between the larger and smaller cities are reciprocal ; that the products of the farm which maintain the small city mist find their ultimate outlet for consumption in the larger centers of population : that the manufactured article of the large city is in turn essential to the life, activities and comforts of the farm and the small city.
Fifth : That, in other states the element of friendship is always strength- ened by the men who claim their birth place in Wisconsin; and in this stalo by the men who have relatives and friends in Milwaukee or who at some time in their lives res ded in this eity. Thus, the social element becomes a factor in the courtesies which are extended to the visiting merchants.
Attitude of the Visiting Merchants .- The responses usually made by the executive officers and members of the Association of Commerce may be summed up in the following thoughts and expressions :
First: Thai commerce knows no limitations; that state lines are created for purposes of government only; that an interstate commerce is consistent with the American idea and conducive to the welfare and prosperity of the whole country ; that we are one people, under one flag, with one and the same destiny.
Second: That the progressive merchant of the large city believes in the integrity, mission and purposes of the smaller units of population; that the
F
1113
FF
EF
LEEE
ECELE
FEEEE
EE
F
EC
EEE
nitwalker.
39
WELLS OFFICE BUILDING Corner Wisconsin and Milwaukee streets
397
THE MILWAUKEE ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCE
smallest village alike with the greatest metropol's performs a function in the economic, civie, educational and moral welfare of the nation.
Third: That, while the price list, quality of goods, taste and personal preferenee are leading factors in trade, the element of personal contaet and friendship cannot be ignored or overlooked.
Fourth : That honesty and integrity are a permanent and self-aecrning asset in business and that the Milwaukee merchants come with honorable motives, with clean hands and elean intentions.
Fifth: That commercial and industrial Milwaukee means to compete aggressively with other markets; to apply enterprise, energy and industry in developing its possibilities.
Sixth: To tell the world what Milwaukee is, what it has, and what it stands for; to tell of its natural advantages, its geographical location; its commercial and industrial achievements, its hopes, its aspirations and its future.
Administration and Management .- The trade excursions heretofore under- taken by the Milwaukee Association of Commerce have been uniformly sne- eessful in the ends and purposes which they have aimed to serve, namely to promote and strengthen the business relations between Milwaukee and the outside world. They have also been conducted upon a self-sustaining basis. The expense has been almost wholly borne by those who participated in them.
In order, however, that the greatest degree of service be attained in point of participation, in the selection of an itinerary, in securing a reasonable rate of per capita eost, in securing an efficient train service, in prompting a cordial reception and in attaining favorable publicity in the towns to be visited, the merchants' trips are planned with discriminate care months in advance and with a supervisory care on the part of the executive officers and the board of directors. More especially must this be done if the trips are to be made self-sustaining in point of eost.
The committees entrusted with the immediate and detail arrangements are apt to become engrossed in certain phases of the trip and lose sight of the larger problems involved and the ultimate outcome of the financial end of the project. Thus, action which shall be timely enough so as to make the veto power of the board effective and praetieal both as to the itinerary and the cost involved, should be recommended. The following suggestions have been observed :
First: That, all trips are planned with a view of making them self-sus- taining in point of eost.
Seeond: That the jobbers' committee plan its itinerary during the month of January of each year for the trade excursion to be undertaken during the month of June following, and that a list of probable participants be prepared and acceptances be secured as early as possible.
Third: That the jobbers' committee present to the board of directors at their meeting held in February a report on the next merchants' trip, the itinerary and date for same, the number of prospective participants, the ar- rangements for transportation, specifying cost for mileage, meals and sleep-
VIEW OF MILWAUKEE, LOOKING SOUTHWEST FROM THE OLD COURTHOUSE
壹灣海專
T
15
399
THE MILWAUKEE ASSOCIATION OF COMMERCE
ing car service, accompanied by estimates as to the total receipts and expendi- tures involved.
Relation between Civics and Commerce .- In fixing the status of the modern commerce body in its relation to local government and to the economic progress of the community, William George Bruce has defined its seope, which defini- tion has been accepted throughout the United States. It embodies the follow- ing :
"1. All conditions making for the health and comfort and the educational and moral progress of the people, in themselves wield a wholesome influence upon the material advancement of the community. Industry and commerce gain in efficiency and in ethical standards. Community power, prestige and prosperity find their best impulse in a constituency that is morally and physi- cally sound.
"2. The commercial organization must assume an advisory and coopera- tive attitude towards the local governmental factors. It must primarily recognize the powers, duties and prerogatives conferred by law upon those entrusted with the legislative and administrative branches of government. It must speak only from the standpoint of the private citizen who aets in a collective capacity, who is concerned in wise expenditure of puble funds, in the introduction of laudable innovation, and in the upholding of acceptable standards.
"3. A commercial organization must confine its efforts to principles an 1 policies involved in local government rather than to persons and parties. h cannot consistently engage in any activity which can be construed into a partisanship between candidates and political parties. Here is the danger line. Political parties have their adherents; candidates have their friends. Both adherents and friends may be members of the commercial organization. To exert partisanship here means to invade the field of practical polities and th. domain of opposing political parties and organizations. Among these, divi- sion and contest are the order of the day. Such invasion, therefore, leads to a sea of disruption and sends the commercial ships upon the rocks where it will surely be wrecked and destroyed. The member of a commercial organization may, in his individual capacity, support or oppose men and parties. That is his privilege and his duty as a citizen. But, the commercial organization, as such, cannot engage in political campaigns without exposing itself to the danger of disruption and extinction. Nor is it wise for the executive officers of an organization, the president or secretary, to publicly champion the canse of candidates or parties.
"4. The line of demarkation between civic activities and political activ- ities, drawn by commercial bodies, must lie somewhere between ante-election campaigning and post-election cooperation, between selfish partisanship and unselfish non-partisanship, between party preferment and community progress and welfare. Where the partisan efforts of the political organization end, or ought to end, namely, on election day, the efforts of the non-partisan com- mercial organization ought to begin. The local administration, in attempting to carry out laudable measures and in seeking to conduct public affairs with economy and efficiency, is entitled to the support of every loyal citizen. Per-
400
HISTORY OF MILWAUKEE
sonal and party preferences must yield where the welfare of an entire com- munity is involved. What applies to the duties of the individual citizen applies, in a larger degree, to the collective citizen, as exemplified in the modern commercial organization. It must stand in a helpful attitude towards the public servant, and the government he represents, focus publie attention in the direction of desirable ends and purposes, crystallize public opinion in their behalf, and support policies in municipal housekeeping that are sound and acceptable, and oppose those that are unsound and unwise.
"5. Among the civic promotional labors coming legitimately within the province of commercial bodies, are those relating to the educational, sanitary, welfare and recreational conditions of the community. A commercial organ- ization must not attempt, as is frequently done, to duplicate a service already well performed by the local government. Such activity is likely to prove meddlesome and a waste of time and energy. Local conditions must determine where effort is most needed. In some communities the educational factors are lax, in others the sanitary conditions are weak, the traffic regulations are antiquated, ete., requiring a wholesome publie sentiment towards correction and strengthening.
"6. The line of demarkation between commercial and civie affairs places payroll and profit on one side, and physical and moral wellbeing of the com- minity on the other. On the assumption that all the nobler ends and pur- poses of life are predicated upon material progress of a people, it logically follows that profit and payroll must lay the foundation for that civie and social progress which is to follow. Or better still, economie and civie progress must go hand in hand.
"7. The exact extent to which commercial success and progress is de- pendent upon good government cannot be definitely fixed in dollar marks or in financial statements. Commerce must have a clear roadway in which to perform all its legitimate functions. Good government means to afford that freedom of action and that protection to life and property which enables the merchant, the manufacturer, the mechanic and the professional man to per- form his part of the world's work.
"8. A progressive government, be it national, state or local, invites the experience and judgment of a thoughtful and honorable constitueney on pend- ing measures, policies and departures. A modern commercial organization stands ready to serve as the medium through which the judgment and the eonelusions of the citizenship are gathered, collated and submitted to the government.
"9. It is the duty of the commercial organization. that aims to serve the eivie welfare of the community, to submit such faets, figures and arguments. as are not already at the command of the public authorities. for or against pending policies and measures. An attitude of open protest can be engaged in only when palpable or gross misgovernment is in prospect, and as a last resort.
"10. The modern commercial organization does not hesitate to express itself for or against local, state and national legislation, involving the eco- nomie or vivie progress of the several units mentioned. But, many con-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.