Birmingham state herald., 1896-03-01
BUSINESS AND SOCIETY Are Typifed in the Clubs of
 Birmingham. THE COMMERCIAL BODY Is a Compact Organization Southern and Others Are Swell-The Objects of
 Each in Outline.
COMM MERCIAl BODY

The Commercial club was organized for strictly business purposes, yet it's social feature has not been neglected. The handsome club rooms on Twenty first street have witnessed many notable social gatherings. On these occasions the members have been brought in closer touch with one another and the esprit du corps of the organization has been strengthened Men who lay aside in the evening the sharp business instincts of the aay, and mingle with each other socially pull together better when the time of trial comes. The club has en- tertained notable visitors and impressed them with the hospitality of the citizens of Birmingham. The charitable ladies of the city often use the club rooms for their meetings, and find in the club valuable ally in their good work. The leading magazines and newspapers are found on file, and the club rooms are the rallying point for visitors to the city, especially those who desire information concerning Birmingham and the Bir- mingham district. Mr. w. J. Boles, the enterprising secretary, is always at his post ready and willing to entertain visi- tors, and otherwise subserve the inter ests iof the club andits members. He has
 
 accurate data regarding the industrial and commercial interests of Birmingham. A recent visitor to the club rooms was the special agent of the Manufacturers Record, who obtained from the secretary information which would have cost him much time and trouble to have gathered piecemeal This desire of the club to entertain strangers is one of the strong est reasons for it's existence. Every pub lic-spirited citizen of Birmingham feels that there is an obligation resting upon him to do his share toward entertaining the visitors who come to Birmingham Tn the pursuit of information, and he joins the Commercial club and pays his month ly dues as an evidence that he recognizes this obligation. Birmingham has been advertised more widely than any city in the south, and it is but natural thae strangers should be attracted hither from the four corners of the earth. The future of Birmingham depends in large degree upon the manner in which she treats strangers. The first question asked by the stranger is, "have you any central organization maintained for the good of the town?" He is told that the Com mercial club Is such an organization, and that it's motto is All for Birmingham, and nothing for self" He knows at once that he has not fallen upon town where the motto Is, "every man for himself, and the devil take the hindmost." He knows that this is not a "dog eat dog" town. He knows that the principle, patron1ze home industries" is the ruling principle of the business men. He IS thus en- couraged to make an investment or start an industry. He realizes the fact that II he can get home trade and patronage ne can live without foreign business. If he sees that the industries already estao- lished are in a fiourishing condition ne knows that they get home patronage ana he is encouraged to make an investment
 T +1... 1,te 6nn nf for the good of the town is sentimentai consideration, and will have but little weight with hard-headed. money-making, pushing business men. There is no sentl. ment in it. It is strictly business. 1T the principle fin union there IS strength
 is rigidly followed the return will come in hard dollars and cents. But even ad- hitting that it is sentiment 1t Is aston ishing how much Business men are gov erned by sentiment. wall street IS re garded as the most matter-of-fact com mercial center in this country, yet the brolxers are peculiarly susceptible to sen- timental considerations. The fear or war will send stocks down. and the nope of a prosperous crop year will send them up. ~ . a other writers have recently painted Tn glowing colors the ideal republic, the All truria where a man lives for others and not for himself, the Arcadia where the brutal competition of the present bus- mess methods is unknown. We read these beautiful descriptions and cast the book aside with sigh, saying these schemes are charming, but altogether Utopian.H Yet here in busy Birming- hamiis found the germ of this very idea. It isl embodied in the Commercial club. The club is the ideal Altruria in minia- tu,e. All work together for the good of all. It nis the specialization of civic
 nEn 1en 1tx,sr 1trc ,ncSs an a compose the membership are actuated by al common purpose. The president of the club. MT. Rufus N. Rhodes, was elected to that position because he is de- voted to Birmingham and has allowed neither heat nor cold, friend or foe, flat tering Offers of high official position, or any other consideration, to swerve him from that devotion. He is the personi- fication of love for Birmingham, as Rich ard. the Lion hearted, was the personifi- catidn Of the spirit of chivalry in the days of the crusaders. It is no less as- tonishing than gratifying this hold the Commercial club has upon the hearts of the men of Birmingham q always pay my dues to the Commercial club if 1t is the last dollar have" said member That remark had the ring of true metal He loved the Commercial club because he loved Birmingham. The Commercial club was to him the embodiment of civic pride. He looked upon it as the Parisian looks upon the Arch of Triumph. To him the Commercial club was the arch around which. the old guard rallies when the battle rages fercests To him the Com mercial club was the bulwark which shielded our commercial and industrial