The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1903-06-05
Youth IN CIVIC BODIES.

Yesterday the Advertiser had some
thing to say Of Chambers of Commerce.
hut there is a supplemental text in
Merchants Associations.
Civic bodies grow old and ultra con-
servative. Now the extreme radlcai
and the extreme conservative are ooth
I'm he deprecated. The radical is like
the moth that flies into the flame and Is
burned: but the conservative is like the
horse which refuses to bulge from his
burning stable. Both come 10 the same
end. And speaking Of horses there can
mot he a more sedate, obstinate, stand
still collection OF them than appears IN
any civic body which has grown OLD
without introducing new blood into It's
membership; and this is true whether
the organization calls itself a Chamber
Of Commerce or a Merchants Associa-
ton or a Good Government Club or
anything else.
The Advertiser believes that such as
sociations of business men would pront
NV a bylaw providing for retirement
at the age OF fifty. This would be the
means. undoubtedly, of losing some good
men, but the advantage of keeping the
membership young could not be other
wise than important. In default OF
such a rule cities have fallen into the
habit, when Chambers of Commerce
pass beyond the age Of usefulness, OF
organizing associations of young and
energetic business men who take up the
work for which Chambers of Commerce
were formed and carry it on TO an
issue. And that accounts for Mer-
chants Associations of both San Fran
cisco and Honolulu. Being not too
radical. pretty nearly all. the good
which has come from civic bodies there
and here during the past few wears
has accrued from these Associations
alone.
1t is not because they are better citi-
Gems than the old fellows. not at all.
Their superiority is one of youth with
its energy, its enthusiasms, its love OF
change. its hopes of betterment, its
lively, alert interest in the affairs Of the
day. The graybeards have made their
money, they have come TO love the ola
scenes and the old ways; they abhor
changes and innovations and are sus-
picious of new men. Left to them
town would soon quiet down so that
one could enjoy nap in the afternoon;
IT would not hum any after they had
begun to feel sleepy. But if a place is
to progress, to realize its opportuni-
ties, it must not be left to them. 1t
must be taken hold of by men in their
prime.
When the Forty-niners were young
they made San Francisco buzz; when
they grew old and got rich they kept
it almost at a standstiI for twenty
years. During the last five years they
have begun to die off or retire and
younger men have got hold Of things
with the result that San Francisco is
taking a new squirt. One reason why
the Southern California and Sound
cities are doing so well is that the inn
migration WHICH LllSu w va
that of young men, and these young
men are. running them now. When the
boys get on in years those places Will
slow down and stay so until another
generation of youngsters takes hold.
The hope of Honolulu now is in its
progressive, energetic, young and vigor-
Gus Merchants Association. That body
has impaired life to the tourist move
ment; its agent is busy on the Coast
looking for concessions; it's intent is to
build Hawaii up. Meanwhile let us
hope that the Chamber of Commerce
will be able to sleep comfortably
through it all and enjoy the rest Its
long service has earned.
OUR TRADE WITH CHINA.