The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-23
COMMERCIAL CLUBFORMED
The rIost Important Project for To-
peI<a in Years,
HAKES A GOOD START LAST NIGHT.

Should Soon Grow Into the Leading
Organization of Its Kind in Kansas.
Eighteen men bravsd the storm last
night to be present at the meeting to or
ganize a commercial club. "Those who
came tonight may be depended upon"
said J. P Davis. Men who will face
this storm to be present at a meeting of
this kind have the best interests of the
city at heart and they can be trusted"
The meeting was held in parIor B at
the National and while the organization
was not completed it was given a start,
and when the club meets again next
Tuesday evening the details will be
finally arranged aud the roll completed.
There is no longer any doubt about
the success of the movement to have a
business organization in Topeka. F. o.
Popenoe said in explaining the Objects:
Topeka is the only city of its size in the
country which has no commercial organ
ization. Good must come from such an
organization and it will prove a success"
]. P. Davis, who was elected chair
man of the meeting, said: "We must
try to get men for members who are
broad guaged enough to consider the in
terest of the city rather than their own
individual business, and when we get
such men the organization must be a
suCCoSS. WOuiu prefer 10 see the
organization made for business purposes
only. OF course when we meet together
we must become better acquainted and
something will be accom- plished in a
social way, bnt that must not be a fea-
ture of the club"
A committee consisting of F. o. Pope
noe, j. p Davis, Warren NJ. Crosby, :. s.
OFT, Z. s. Elliott was appointed at the
former meeting to draft articles of or
Hanizafina nd r o nj, Tod fr,
the gentlemen present last night
There was no opposition until the
clause was reached providing that the
membership fee should be $l2 aud the
annual dues $25.
Lieutenant Governor Troutman said
that 1t had been the experience of the
old board of trade that the collection of
the dues of 81 dollar a month was a task
of no small proportions. He thought that
the provision making tho payments
semi-aunual should be changed to
make them quarterly and he thought that
the dues should not be collected when
the member joins the organization. be-
cause it would make tho first payment
too heavy. He moved to change the dues
TO $40 per annum, payable quarterly.
j P. Davis said: SIT is going to cost
something to keep up this organization.
We shall have to have rooms aud there
will be numerous other expenses to start
with. / do not want to see the club run
short of money on the start and think
the fee should be larger, if anything. l
move to make the membership foe SIP
aud the annual dues $24, payable quar-
terly in advance"
The question of whether a member
should pay only for International quarter
in which he is admitted to embership
was next brought up by Mr.. Troutman.
John r. Mulvane thought that no at
tention should be paid to fractional quar-
tiers and that the member should pay for
the whole quarter in which he is ad-
Enitted to mem bership.
THAT does not seem to be quite fair"
said J. p. Davis.
you know the story Of the man who
was admitted to the vineyard at the
eleventh hour" replied Mr.. Mulvane.
It was then agreed that the member
should pay for the balance of the time ia
the quarter in which he is admitted to
mem bershiP. The quarterly dues are
to be payable on the nrst days of Febru-
airy, May, August and November.
After the bylaws had been read Mr..
Samuel 7. Howe raised the point that
there should be some provision limiting
the powers of the directors to incur in
debtedness. 81 understand that some of
the members of the old board of trade
were sued under the double liability
said he, "and l do not want to
see that happen in this organization.
There should be a clause forbiddiug the
directors from mourning any debt when
there are not sufficient funds in the treas
ury to pay it."
is nothiug'tha will kill an organization
like this quicker than to go in debt, aud
it would be fatal mistake if the direc-
tors are allowed to incur Indebtedness
when there is no money in sight"
John r. Mulvane: "The directors
should bs limited in the expenditure of
funds to the amounts appropriated for
any particular purpose"
c. 8 Elliott: 'Who has the right to ap-
propriate money!
Mr.. Troutman: "The board of dirsc-
tors"
The amendment was then adopted pro-
viding that no one is authorized to con-
tract debts when there are no funds
which have been appropriated for that
particular purpose.
Mr. Troutman thought it would not be
wise to elect directors until there wss a
larger attendance and he wanted the
committee continued to secure the sigma
lures of members 10 be reported at
to be called by the committee
Mr.. Popenoe objected: This com
mittee has worked hard" said he, ''and
feel as if We should be relieved. In my
opinion it is a mistake to try to get too
large membership. In Chicago there
are only thirty members and it is not
necessary to have a large mem bership in
Topeka. If we get the right men it will
not be necessary to have great mum Der.
The mbers should come to us. We
should not be compelled to go to men to
induce them to become members"
ut is my opinion" said Mr.. Trout
man, shat when a man has the interests
of the city at heart enough to pay the
mem bership fee and the dues he will
make a good mem Der and should be adj
mitted. l am in favor of throwing down
the bars aud admitting all who will pay"
Il L. b, 4; L.