The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-01-26
COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATIONS.
Tom Richardson Discusses Their Or
Eaniyution and Nunnpemcnt.

Austin, Texas, January 25.--The sd
dress OF Tom Richardson, secretary Of the
Houston Business Lague, before tae
State Commercial association at Austin
today was as follows
In discussing commercial organlzp-
tions wish i, to be understood taat |
only include those which We no otGer
financial support than is rived from
membership dues, and my experience has
taught me that unlf 3rm dues are unsat-
isfactory
For instance if you will pardon me for
urging our Houston Business League IS
an example, our dues are from 81 o $l5
per month. and from this source we get
fixed charges amounting TO over $1,000
per year.
Any reputa BILE business man or citizen
OF Houston can become a member q the
Houston Business League by he pay
ment of 81 per month, but 1t would GER
tain be unfair to siess the profession
al man, salaried man or small business
man the same amount as is paid by bust
ness men, property holders ard others
mounting 10 thousands Of dollars
To be successful. the progressive COM
morciai orzan cation must have active
Officers and directors and such st3uliag
and special committees as are found nee.
essary to assist in the deve opment of
the city and section Of which 1t is the
center.
II is safe not to be in hurry in in
dorsing advertising schemes watch are
not confined to the local papers. When
commercial organization is behind
convention. fair, carnival or public
event Of any kind. 1t is bad taste md
worse policy to sell an official programme
ana then expect the local papers to boom
The event free of charge
twenty years Of experience in this
character of work has taught me that
more good comes from co-operation with
the local and State press than from all
other sources combined
In perfecting commercial organization
II IS dangerous to promise too much
Too many meetings are often more
disastrous than none at all md every
meeting called should be made success
~ Is popular to abuse the mossb.ck
element, but be sure you are right hafora
you take this course. for the man Won
can not use today will be av4iIaSle IN.
morrow
Keep your membership dues intact IN
meet salaries. rent and actual incidental
office expenses
Wnenever there is special event
Have no one else he,ides your s7,aried |
ohicer collect dues, for his calls unou
'he members or the organ zation FAR
noney should be for those specjsI svents |
IN which he has no pecuniary interest
Keep your organization out Of noIitics
except In such Instances where the cit,, /
would be materially injured II yon AZ |
mol participate. 'ou 'iu
experience hiss taught me- thar ,ho
SErreI1ry 0f w NV
snou'd avoid too much publicity Ne .on
strengthen himself and the interas 0Sl
represents by giving the credit l., o.b ~
publication. Ns LOT
All bills should be paid month";, a.,
should first be approved bv an .,S st."
ing committee named by the nresigen.
1dlaFles ana every other item OF sY-
psnse shoud pass through the hands ~
sn's auui ing committee. Checks shonid
ne signed by the president and secrato.,.
only after such approval. S'''y
rs commercial erga7iz lion srou, +.
wears II Will find It pref BILE n ,,sr,, ~
teucn With bodies Of a similar cb,r,...u
70 not De in a hurry to recon-, 49,,
WHO cat schemes OF any character ~
weaRens commerciil orzani,s,ian -
SCENE sensational. It don't paw n :,
toe. conservative, but conservatism Is
better than recklessness
Now to close tbs brief talk. the great
e e'a, sooa tna' can be done by CONNER
"a pody IS to get It's community tb.r
oughly organized and do lts ~, NOR
towards centeripg publlc o9iniSa , niIs
such projects as will be Of universal s suoa
to a community. Sa' good
mere is no expense incurred nv ~,
business men ana properly boId.r, ,ne
oity which psys Setter returns tb.n
money they put into an effective ne
mercial organization. ''"s COM I