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Show 1 DEFENDS PUN OF I WORK WITH CIVIC CLUB t WW i - Washington Man Gives Answer to.Ques-I to.Ques-I tion, "Why is a Commercial Body?" I What it May Accomplish.' Outlines Broad Scope of Activity; Tells What Other Cities do. m Robert Remington of Washington, B d. C. Is making an extended Visit H in the West. Ho Is a civic expert, M having had considerable oxporlenco H and acquaintance with a numbor of m the best commercial organizations In H this country and Canada. H "Why should a city havo a oommer- H clil organization Ilko a chamber of ..H commerce or commercial club?" ho -m was asked. H "Be causo," repllod Mr. Iteming H ton," If it lives up to its duties it will H be tho most potent force in tho com- H munlty for progress. Its duties are H to do anything and everything neces- H nary for and Incident to the upbuild- H log of tho city and Its environs. Its 'H duty Is not only to make a city grow H hut also to make it a better, a moro H sanitary" a prettier, and a more enjoy- H able place In which to live. H Hat Big Field H "Its province or field of work reach- 1 cs out Into every branch and takes H cognlzanco of every phase of the city H life. The commercial Interests, H wholesale, retail and manufacturing; H the professional Interests, the govern H ment of tho city, county and state, H the social side of the city's life whero It touches tho question of public morals mor-als and health. AH theso and In truth every channel of activity comes under Itn practical e)o. "Tho commercial organization has ft llrst duty In that It must lirliu: all tho elements of tho cntiro community, commun-ity, country ns woll as city, together Into one compact body, working for tho uplift of the community. It must teach tho Individuals composing theso dements tho lesson of achievement through cooperation. It must arouse the citizenry from tho ola timo lethargy leth-argy to a quickened interest and always al-ways and everywhere preach tho gospel gos-pel of sane, safe, and sound develop ment, unselfishness, public spirited-ness spirited-ness and civic prldo. Its motto must be, If it's good for tho community then let's have It. What helps the city as a wholo has a like beneficial effect upon every one within Its boundaries. boun-daries. All Should Join "Not only tho business and professional profes-sional men mako good membors, but also tho young men, tho clerks In tho stores, tho women both in tho houso and In tho ofllco or store, nnd tho childron In tho schools. It Is tho duty of tho commercial organization to so spread Its propaganda of development devel-opment as to obtain tho oftlclont ntd of all these forces. Many organizations organiza-tions securo much of their force and power from their women's auxlllar les. In campaigns for sanitation and beauty their help is Incalculable "The commercial organization line a duty toward tho city government which it cannot afford to overlook. It should interest Itself In tho affairs af-fairs of city government. Tho civic body has this right because Its members mem-bers are tho heavy taxpayers, Its business men make tho city habitable. habit-able. No city could run without them. They aro vital, nnd so, being vital, they have a first moral right to speak in tho control and management of the city affairs. Omaha, for exam- Pie, has a municipal affairs commit-) I teo In the commercial club which meets on tho saruo day ns tho city council. They consider all proposed measures pending nnd gtvo their recommendations re-commendations concerning them. Value of Publicity "Tho commercial organization should Interest Itself In educational matters. Upon tho schools of tho community depend the future ability and activity of tho city's people. Tho civic body can and Bhould exert Its most wholesome tnltucnce for tho continual development of tho school s) stem. "Sound publicity .should bo given tho clty'g adantagos and ocrythlng possible should bo riono to ullmlnato nil forms of detrimental publicity. It 13 tho commercial organization's duty to endeavor In all right ways to attract new readouts and hew busl ness, nnd to assist In their location In all legttlmato mi)s. Good for State "Tho commercial organization I should Interest Itself In tho welfare and development of tho Biirrouudlng country, tho Btate and tho nation. If I such an organization Is good for tliu j city, why should It not bo good for tho stnto and for tho nation? Tomib, 1 West Virginia, Idaho, Michigan, North I and South Carolina, Georgia, Ken tucky aud practically ull tho states In the Union have organized their slate bodies. The movement has spread to tho nation Itself, and the Chamber of Commerco of tho United States of America Is tho result. "I have found In my Investigations In most cities a great many well Informed In-formed men who look upon tho commercial com-mercial organization merely as a booster club. I do not llko tnat word-, particularly when applied to tho city's civic body. Hut a more erroneous Impression Im-pression could hardly bo had of tho properly working commercial organ Izatlon. "When tho organization's duty ft fulfilled thero Is no moro forceful power In tho city for good. That dut', as said above, Is to do any and all things necessary and InclJent to tho upbuilding of tho city, county, stnto and nation In nil chniinota of commercial and social activity, and this duty Bhould bo performed upon an impartial, unselfish, non-political basis, and In n wlso nnd safe manner." |