The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-21
AS to Raising Funds.

For a city which ranks in proportion
to population among the richest NUM-
Qualities in the United States, $4,000
cannot be considered VERT formidable
{ sum. When set down against the wealth
OF Richmond there is no escaping the
fact that it looks distinctly paltry. To
make a great effort over raising it,
great str.,i,lins to the accompaniment OF
series OF frantic tleas. is not wholly
consistent with our dignity. That Rich
nlond is able TO raise such an amount
and raise It readily, requires no arsu-
ment. That she is willing to do 50 for
cause as obviously in her interest as
this one, Is equally evident. Yet 1t is
many months since the Chamber OF
Commerce initiated its canvass for $780,
$50, and the canvass Is still very far
from completed
We have recently been treated In this
eity 10 an object lesson of great i'm
portance. We have witnessed the rous-
Ing success of a small body OF men who
. knew what they wanted. and were de-
ternined TO have It. We .4a"e seen them
icin hands unselnshly In an unselfisf en-
terprise; have seen them labor vigilanuy
resolutely and aggressvely, and have
seen them triumph There were no
wanting those. including one of the loca.
newspapers. to criticize the methods b3
which this fine victory was accomplished
They were .hurrah methods we were
told not dignined and not conservative
Talk of this sort has less than no weigh
with those who understand that the cyf
Z of business is to results, and not to thu
manual of parlor etiquette. II itsis no
dgnlfeL to be alive, then this city en-
phatically does not want to DO dign!iied
II It is not conservative to roll up one
shirt-slceves and pull with might ant
main for the common good, then til
sooner we see the end OF conservatism,
tho better for all of us. If 1t Is "hurrah
procedure to attempt difficult thing an
accomplish 1t strikingly, then let US 6
in with all ouy hearts for hurrah Pre-
ccdures. "A dezen such hurrahs would b
the making OF Richmond.
If in the present canvass We are cor
fronted with choice between a woode
dignity and a successful aggrcssivcncs
there cannot he q moments hesitntio
in tho minds of those who have show
themselves to be the real opponents
Rjchmond's progress. But the choic
happily. is not between dignity and SUI
cess. The boot, indeed, IS quite upo
the other leel 1t Is far moro benent
Richmond's dignity 10 attempt to raise
tri1ing gum and fail to do it. than
pitch in and raise 1t by the hurrahest
nllegedly hurrah methods.
Those who are in charge Of the Chan
Der OF Commerce campaign need n
feel the slightest reluctance about cml
lating the system, the determination al
the invinciblo energy of the Y. NJ. c.
committees. They need not anticipate
doing so, the disapprobation of the col
inunity on the ground that, though 81
cessful. they are not "conscrvativel
successful. Most Of US are quite rea
to exchange a little purely ornamcn
pseudo conservatism for q share of pli
but solid results. The point before I
chamber officials is simply this: to ra
the money. They are In no danger
acquiring the disapprovai of the city, {
cept In the event OF their announc
after months Of letharsic and inchecl
endeavor, that they have failed to do
And in that case, no doubt. they wo
faff ba,t. ft11lv sn rua1