In the anthracite coal, lumber, dairy products and many other industries, associations undertaking to ex ercise such powers have existed in the past, and it is charged that some exist at the present time. In many cases the associations normally have some legal, wise purpose. The objectionable features. were at the most merely incidental and have for the greater part been eliminated. The continued existence and vigor of numberless associations attest the usefulness of such organizations, without these objectionable fea tures.
5. Importance, advantages and disadvantages of trade has been said, in regard to trade associations, that while they "are the least defi nite of the various combinations, they are probably the most important, because their scope is coextensive with the country and with its business." 1 To the busi nesses engaged, their chief advantage is in the secrecy that may surround their undertakings, in the sim plicity of their procedure and in the fact that the3., exist not only for strictly private business purposes, but to help the trade generally. Their weakness lies in the fact that the right to control the constituents in the essential details that would make for the individual profit of the members, is not guaranteed by the law. In short they can advise but cannot control.
6. Example of a national trade The following is a typical description of the work of a trade association—the National Commercial Gas Association. It is taken from a pamphlet issued by the association entitled "What can it do for you ?" The same plan of work can be adopted in any line of business. It will be noticed that the various activi ties are carried on by committees. All of these com mittees act thru the agency of a paid secretary. Gen erally the scope of the work of an association such as this can best be determined by an examination of a list of the committees.
The important factors responsible for the formation of the National Commercial Gas Association were: The need of more cordial relations between gas com panies and manufacturers of gas appliances; The need of a common display of manufacturers' goods, for comparison and study by the commercial gas man ; But above all: The need of a national organization to act as a clear ing-house for the exchange of ideas among the commercial men of the industry.
Prior to the year 1905 there had been little concerted effort to appeal to the public by rendering up-to-date serv ice, or to stimulate the purchase of only efficient and stand ard gas appliances. Some of the larger companies, it is
true, had begun to work on this basis. But these were sporadic efforts, and did not represent a general policy.
The pioneers in the movement saw the necessity of such an organization as the National Commercial Gas Associa tion to act as the center in promoting plans which made for standard practice, to stimulate interest in the coinruercial side of the business, and to help gas companies extend their service greatly by educating gas company employes along broad, up-to-date lines.
With such a large, well-defined policy for bettering con ditions, it is not strange tha.t the Association received sup port from the very beginning from those who understood the possibilities latent in an organization of this kind. It is true, as it is always true of new enterprises, good, bad or indifferent, that there was a certain measure of opposition. This, however, did not prevail, and the Association soon be gan to make its influence felt.
We began with an individual membership of thirteen. We now have 2,700 members, representing more than 450 gas companies and .9,00 manufacturers of appliances. This growth has been a natural one, year by year. Most impor tant of all, a majority of the individuals retain their mem bership year after year.
To increase further the scope of the Association's work, a company membership was added in 1912. It includes at the present time 300 members, 185 of whom are gas com panies, the balance manufacturers of gas appliances.
The Association has held annual conventions and exhibits of gas appliances in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Bos ton, Minneapolis, Denver and Atlanta. Every one of these conventions has been largely attended and, what is even more gratifying, every year sees an increasing interest and a more widely representative attendance.
In order to arouse a further interest in the work of the Association, various companies have formed local sections of the employes who are members of the association. These sections really are local clubs. They hold regular monthly meetings to read and discuss papers, to mingle socially and to see and take part in entertainments. The result has been the establishment of friendly and harmonious relations among members of the various departments of the company.