The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1907-06-01
OF THE
PRESIDENT
OF THE BUSINESS MEMS
LEAGUE
Detailed Statement of Retiring
President T. C.. Holmes, Of the Do
ings of the League During the Past
Year, Showing . Creditable Work

the Business Mems League require
the president to render an account
yearly to its members; and / come
before you tonight in the perfor-
nance of that duty.
In view of the fact that the spirit
of Greenville is TO look forward and
prepare for the brilliant future,
rather than content ourselves with
reference to the past,I shall endeavor
to make my efforts consistent, and
make only brief report of the work
done by our organization during the
past years. and make some sugges-
tions for the future.
The efforts of the present Board
of Directors of the Business Mems
League have been towards making
it an organization of action rather
than words, and l feel that they will
bear me out in any suggestion that
will enable our successors to carry
injustice to the gentlemen composing
the various committees. to fail to
mention the fact that there are many
ways, and many fields of develop
ments through which the usefulness
of Our organization could be in
creased, were it possible four your
board of directors 10 sdev ote more
time to this work, and it s therefore,
my humble suggestion and si,'ceie
hope that the tins will come when
this organization cau have the SER
vices and benefit Of an experience.
secretary. and one VEG has been in
other campaigns Of .t-j making. 1t
is also to be noped that the bright
future will producc -oi rs a number
OF retired capitalists. but live ones,
who will have the ,'osirc to seize the
opportunity, to pay theic debt o. graf
titude to he community in which
their wealth was made. by accest ng
the presidency of this organization.
and thereby lending influence and
prestige to its movement Thy could
fuse into it the same Intelligence and
persistent efforts that enabled them
to make their millions They could
not only give to us thc greatest o.
ganization in the country, but they
could, by adopting their policy in
the business world. make city un-
surpassed in the south and a stand
ing monument to their love and 10y
ality of the great city of the Delta
Greenville has for a number Of
years, had some kind of an organiza-
ton The Board of Trade was sue
ceeded by the Business Mems Leag-
tie. The latter organization did not
have any rules or regulations of any
definite membership The first thing
that your present officers did upon
coming into office was to put your
League on a substantial and business
like basis, and with that end in view
they secured a charter from the
State. and we are now operating ur1-
der same.
On March 23rd 1906, the present
Board of Directors and Officers we're
elected, and they Immediately set to
work to increase the membership,
and secure steady and substantial
income, for the purpose of maintain
ing current expenses. A membership
committee was formed, and it did
faithful work, and through their eff
forts, 100 members were secured
Membership fee aas placed at $500,
and dues at SI.oo per month Had
the dues been kept up, the League
could have done valiant service for
the city. il the way of advertising,
ard getting ont pamphlets and liter
ature. with al effort Of divertine cap
ital and manufacturing plants to, this
poirt. The lack ef erthus:am ard in
terest on the pars OF great many,
has always bscp the stumbling block
to persistent and energetic effor,
or the part Of the officers
My predecessor. Mr.. Chas. Halter,
IN his annual report to the League.
spoke on this matter as follows:
The principal hiliicrance at this
time towards tie very effectual ac-
compl. l.sllncnt of this organization,
seems TO be laefs of interest on the
part Of the members outside Of fh
directors That is the trouble to-.
da.-
The Business Mems League fur
lii>Ises ? raea, and ehann,i through
which mates of general :sr: artarsc.
CO The ,sls.in 1iity can be hanIied::
through wili-zs public sentiment tan
BE- nodded. III ots,l which ;nfornaa-
lion to the public can be furnished:
through, whicl, unbiased views
on matters If Importance can
be voiced through which civic
pride can be developed; through
which grievances can be made.
through which foreign parties