San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-10-22
HOME INDUSTRY.
CLOSE OF THE SERIES OF POPULAR
EXHIBITIONS.
A Midwinter Fair Will be the Next Pub
lie Enterprise Inaugurated by
The Business Mems Club.

| OF the san Antonio business
Mems club, which was inaugu-
rated by them under the indefat-
igable and well directed efforts
of Secretary L. G. Irvine, at. the
beginning of the fall season,
came to grand climax last night
in the final exhibition of the sea
son at Beethoven MaennorchOr
hall, on South Alamo street.
This hall was selected as being
the largest in the city, and yet
when the crowds of ladies and
gentlemen began pouring into
this hall last night and the 3
800 chairs which had been pro-
vided were all occupied, aisles,
doorways and even ante rooms
being filled, it became apparent
to the management that if the
movement increases in popular
ity in the future as it has during
the present season, the meetings
will have to be transferred next
year out to the big exposition
building at the Riverside park
flair grounds, or the building
moved into the city.
The attendance was phenOme-
nally large, all classes of citizens
being represented and all seem
ing to take a deep interest in the
proceedings. The hall was well
lighted and ventilated, the wealth
er was perfect and everyone pres
ent was in a mood to give the
closing exhibit a good send-Off.
President j. n. Brown, of the
Business Mems club, presided,
opening the meeting by a speech
of welcome to all present. He
then introduced Rabbi Fl. Elkin,
of Temple Beth Ell, who made a
good speech showing the benefits
to be derived by every citizen by
the strict observance of the rule
to patronize only home indus
tries.
Judge j. A. Buckler followed
Rev. Elkin, and declared the
home industry movement would
restore prosperity to our city, and
if broadened to the surrounding
territory, would bring plenty to
all.
Secretary Irvine, of the Bust
ness Mems club, was the last
speaker. He made forcible ar
| gument, showing how the home
industry meeting had begun,
had grown and the benefits de-
rived and deriving. He stated,
however, that help would be
needed in the future to maintain
the Business Mems organization
and the home industry move
ment. He said:
"The question now is what
shall we do with this campaign.
These meetings have grown so
large and so popular that we can
not hope to continue to accomo-
date the masses that will attend
them. Neither can new features
be added to keep up the interest
properly. All that stands in the
way of complete success is this
doubt of the merits of home
goods, which doubt is accelerated
by the advice of some dealers a.
gainst the local goods. What is
needed is an actual demonstra-
ton of the virtue of the goods in
all the uses to which they are
put. This could be accomplished
| in a midwinter exposition, which
would afford opportunity to give
everyone samples in all forms and
prove by prize contests and 9th
erwise all the claims set up for
home goods. All the retail mer-
chants and other interests could
ioin in it and by appealing to the
country communities and the peo-
pie generally great success can
be brought out of the movement
"The speeches to which you
have listened tonight and at the
former meetings held in this in
terest have had as their purpose
one object above all others.
Whether they have dwelt on sta
tistics or reflections; whether
they have been prophetic or re-
minfscent, through all one un-
ceasing purpose runs, and that
purpose has been and is the crea-
ton of public spirit, the unifica-
ton of effort, the harmonizing of
interests in one united effort
along the lines of the general