The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1906-06-27
DOESN'T CUT ANY ICE"


work has started train of thought
which may be OF value to new bodies
of the. kind IN the south. and not
without suggestion TO the older ones.
board of trade or similar organi-
zation intended TO organize and con-
centrate the creative energies OF a
community upon its development and
expansion will be useful just in so
far as its membership regards 1t as
vital factor in the city's life and EN-
ploys 1t as such. An organization In
tended to do the work of board OF
trade and not doing IL is worse for
the city than having no board of
trade. 1t becomes clog upon the
wheels of city's growth.
This is the day of doing. things, a
day in which the city that does not
advance its interests must surely de-
cline in importance. An active, alert
body of business men and manufac-
turers united in board OF trade and
sustaining literally intelligent and
energetic work of its executive Off
GERS Is one OF the most reliable for
ces for a city's growth. IL will not do
for progressive citizens under the
spur of calamity or OF special OPP
portunity merely to meet, adopt
constitution and bylaws. elect
president, secretary and treasurer OF
their board of trade. pay the annual
dues and then give practically no
further thought to the organization
except as their attention may be call
ed to II by an annual meeting and
banquet or some other passing incl
dent. There are not a few boards OF
trade of that character in the coun-
try already They mean principally
the payment of an annual salary to
some officer or another. II. indeed,
they may not have been organized
for the purpose Of creating salaried
position for some one whom the COM
munity must care for. Such board
OF trade can only be a drawback up
on a city. Its management is pretty
certain 10 become a center for the
propagation OF business dry-rot or to
| fall into the hands of thrifty individ-
uals using their positions to advance
personal interests involving even a
/ direct or indirect dividend from
funds set apart for the advertisement
Of a city's advantages. or Willingly
or unwittingly being used for the eul-
tivation of fads or schemes of one
kind and another. and. being regard
ed by the uniformed OF other cities
as a representative OF a city, is likely
to lead business men TO neglect that
city when they are contemplating iu-
vestment of capital in industry for
trade.
On the other hand. there are
boards of trade that are dynamos of
community effort and achievement.
An organization of that class is a
business organization and is conduct
cd Just like any other successful bus
mess. Its active officer. usually the
secretary. is man chosen for his
special aptitude. his knowledge. his
quality as a mixer and his power of
initiative. He mus. be, OF course,
well acquainted with the men OF his
city, with its resources needed for
further accomplishments, and must
be ready at all times to give prompt
and definite information to seekers
for facts about the city with expec-
tation of landing an investor of mon
ey or some individual with fresh
ideas or enterprise promising to add
to the city's equipment for progress.
He must keep in close touch with all
the active members Of the board of
trade in the purpose to be OF service
TO them in their Individual lines,and
in such activities must give reason
to all other qualified men of the com
munity for becoming members OF the
board Local conditions and eircum-
stances will naturally be elements to
be considered, but the secretary, to
be successful must turn conditions
and circumstances to good account
rather than to permit them to con-
| troll him. He must be the victor IN
stead of the victim of circumstances.
He must lead the members Of the
board of trade TO treat 1t as great
clearinghouse of information and
inspiration for themselves, and, In
thus showing forth their faith, to in
duce equally aggressive men from OF"
err parts of the country TO cast in
their lot with them.