The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-15
Topeka Merchants to Systema-
tiZe Their Contributions.
Now a Prey to Many Fake Ad-
VertiSing Schemes.
TO ONE COMMITTEE.
Control All the Money for Ad-
Vertizing in Programmes.
Plan Suggested by Tom Richard
son Is Adopted.

The incessant begging from the
business men on Kansas avenue, by
people of all sorts, and many of them
for worthy purposes, has become a sort
of nuisance, according to the talk of
the interested parties who attended the
Commercial club meeting last night
They desire to eliminate a big share of it
If possible. To do this resolution was
offered that each merchant on the ave
nue., who is also a member of the club.
should contribute according to his
means to an advertising fund to be in
charge of Secretary Anderson. Then
when people who want advertisements
Tor different sorts of programmes go to
the merchants, they can refer them to
Major Anderson.
In the same resolution is a para
graph asking that each member of the
club contribute more money annually,
according to his means. The expenses
of the club are getting heavier, and the
exchequer must be more plentifully sup
piled.
Both of these ideas were popular. The
resolution, which follows, carried with
out dissenting opinion:
Your entertainment committee has
given earnest attention to the question
of meeting the expenses of the score or
more conventions and public gatherings
that are secured for the city annually.
is not sufficient to meet the expenses
and we have been compelled to secure
special subscriptions These su9scrip-
tions all come from practically the same
people year after year and the burden
has become quite heavy
We have given careful attention to
the plan recommended by Mr.. Tom
Richardson, manager of the Portland,
Oregon, Commercial club, who has had
more practical experience in the man.
agement of business mems organiza-
nv nTh in he n
try. We have adopted his plan in part
and recommend that the minimum dues
of 81 per month remain at that figure.
for the reason that there are many per
sons who cannot afford to pay more,
but who are active workers and want
to do their full share in promoting the
material interests of the city, and that
those who have large business or pro
perty interests. and others who may
feel able, be asked to contribute larger
sum.
The matter of promiscuous advertis-
ing outside of the regular newspapers
has become a serious burden to the
business men of this city and in many
instances amounts to graft These
appeals are constantly made in behalf
of churches, church organizations.
lodges and charitable organizations, all
worthy of support, but direct donations
whenever the cause appeals to the indi-
vidual are much more in the line Of
economy. The various schemes for no.
tel registers, ink stands, desks, seats,
the business men pay for them.
We believe that the business men
should discontinue this class of adver-
tising and contribute according to
their means to an advertising fund. 1t
will save them hundreds of dollars dur
ing the year, and the money contribu-
ted to the club can be used for legiti-
mate and efficient advertising of the
city. its resources and attractions. We
therefore recommend that the secretary
be authorized to canvass the city for
hCr n IN n fn he a =
THE entertainment and advertising
fund" the subscriptions to be paid
quarterly. semi-annually or annually at
the option of the subscriber, and that
the money so raised be disbursed upon
the recommendation of the entertain
ment and advertising committees. We
further recommend that the following
form of subscription be used for raising
this fund
The undersigned hereby agree to pay
the amount subscribed to the enter
tainment and advertising fund of the
Commercial club for the year 1905, pay
able quarterly, semi-annually, or annu-
ally at our discretion. The
money so contributed to be used only
for entertainment and advertising pur-
poses. to be disbursed upon the recon-
mendatiOn of the entertainment and ad-
vertising committees of the club, it be-
ing distinctly understood that this sub
scriptiOn covers all our contributions
for entertainment and advertising pur-
poses during the year and that we are
any outside advertising whatever
As the entertainment fund is now ex-
hausted and the following meetings are
scheduled: State Teachers association,
December 2Sth to 30th; State Improved
Live Stock Breeders associa ton, State
Swine Breeders association, State Vet
Urinary association, and State Board of
agriculture and State Poultry aSsocia-
tiOn, all between January 9Th and 18th,
inauguration ceremonies January 9Th,
State Editorial association January 18th
TO 18th, we recommend that the secre-
tary be instructed to proceed at once
to thoroughly canvass the city, and re-
port at the annual meeting of the club,
January 11th.
Being absent, Frank Foster sent a
letter to the effect that he had prepared
a city ordinance for the councils con-
sideration which provided for the use
of the Auditorium by the Commercial
club for public purposes, at the actual
cost of lighting and heating. The reg
ular price is SIS per night Mr.. Foster
stated that the real outlay is only in
the neighborhood of $40 He urged the
ordinance on the grounds that the club
fosters quite q number of enterprises,
such as the pipe organ, and similar
matters for the public good, and still
has to pay the regular price of $25 per
night. The ordinance was endorsed and
will be presented to the council by a
committee from the club.
Upon the motion of A. A. GODDARD, a
committee of nine will be appointed to
confer with Governor-elect Hoch and
the incoming state officers with regard
to the Inauguration ceremonies. The
committee will be named within few
days.
It was decided to hold an annual ban
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