The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-27
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED
COMMERCIAL CLUB ME- -.s>ts TALK
THEM OVER AZ "sE ..SGR.v
New Officers and Directors of the Club
Entertain InformaIIy-.son,e of
the Topics discussed.

The smoker given by the new officers
and directors of the Commercial Club last
night to the club members proved to be a
more successful event that any of those
concerned in it had anticipated. The name
smoker" was not given to the affair by
these at it's head, but it's similarity to these
events which are presumed to come exclu-
sively within the domains OF bicycle clubs
led to the adoption of the word, and it
seemed to properly define the affair. There
was not formality enough to give 1t the
dignity of a reception, though it was such
IN every sense of the word None but club
members was there
The affair was had on the seventh floor.
RESPONSES nad been received from $50 men,
Ders signifying their intention of attending
anu IL was reasonably supposed that two
nultIreu would be on hand; but there were
nearly twice this number. 1t seemed that
almost the entire active membership was
mere. They filled the assembly room, the
ulnlng room, the billiard room and the cor
rloor, spending an hour in making and re-
hewlng acquaintance and in social cor.ver-
satlon In the assembly room there were
cigars, and in the dining room a buffet
lunch and two mammoth punch bowls
Inc object of the smoker was certainly
accomplished. 1t was intended to bring
ABOUT closer relationship and freer ac-
qualntance among the members of the
club. There have been few such events
ana the new officers and directors decided
70 make an effort to bring the members to-
getner In strictly informal way in order
t r,1uh better club spirit and more enthusiasm
, ,niga be inspired. The idea was IN the
minds or the men who started the independ-
ent ticket movement before the recent
election of the new board of directors 1t
was promised Immediately after the cleo
ton. The manner in which ali members
came together and met in such a cordial
go9,d ftellowshinp left no room for a sus-
plclon tnat there was anything like diScord
among the members on account of the con-
test IN the recent election.
oI,,i. M. larry, the new president of the
clup calleu Tor order in the assembly room
AFTER the hour had been spent in CONVERSE
tlon. lie said there was no need for him to
welcome those present. They knew how
the evening had been thus far spent He
assured his hearers that the policy of the
cup during the time he should be presi-
qs II, would be progressive and aggressive
lie introduced as the first speaker John w
Kern.
JOHN w. kERN'S REMARKS.
The Bald-headed Glee Club had just fin
ished several rousing patriotic songs when
Mr.. Kern was introduced He referred to
the songs by saying that they had aroused
him to the pitch that he was ready to join
church or Join the army and march to Cuba
against Spain or any old place. Mr.. Kern,
speaking, as he said, as citizen, believed
the citizens of Indianapolis were under
greater obligations to the Commercial Club
eAidil bllcy udQ ever Deen TO any similar Or
ganization. But he said the problem now
was how to increase the usefulness of the
cluD. There were many serious municipal
questions to be met and solved, and an in
telligent discussion and solution of them
was IN the province and a duty of the Conn
mercial Club. No city government can sue
coed unless it has the moral support of the
citizens, and it is well for the ideas of the
citizens to be made known to the city off,
Gals through such organizations as the
Commercial Club. Such course must go
long way toward stiffening the backbones
or the city officials. Mr.. Kern discussed
briefly some of the momentous problems
with which the city officials are wrestling.
The park question he believed the Board of
Works would be able to solve. He believed
1t had power to carry out the plans orig
inally made by the defunct Board of Park
Commissioners.
In connection with the street-railroad
question, he thought it might well be con-
sidered that of municipal ownership-a
question which deserved the best thought
of the best minds of the country. Mr.. Kern
said that If the contention of the city in
the street car muddle is right (and he
would do his best to prove it correct in the
courts), in year from now the city will be-
free to make a new street-railroad con-
tract. BY that time the people ought to be
able to decide just what kind of deal
should be made. The gas and electric light
ing problems were referred to Mr.. Kern. He
hoped the Commercial Club, a representa-
tive body of citizens, would be free to ex-
press itself on all these and aid the city
officials in solving them for the best inter-
est of the people.