The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-01-25
ausINEss MEN oReANIzE.

; last night Their report and recon
mendations viii be adopted at tbs
meeting next Frida' night. so thai
they virtually have the organization
in their own hands: and upon that de
pends the success II the movement
ICapt Smith really made the best sug
gestion that was made when he said
that upon the integrity and ability
of the officers and upon the confidence
of the public in them. depended entire
lly the success or failure Of this move
ment. which means so much for Co
IIumbia. II will be an honor to the
mau who is made President, because
lii win reflect the confidence the peo-
pie have in him; at the same time, 1t
will mean a sacrifice to him, for it will
take much OF his time and thought.
But Just as Senator Greenlaw against
his will and taste and inclination and
business interests consented to serve
and is serving the people for the gen.
eral good so must the men who are
chosen for the Offices of this business
mems association yield to the public
demand and public need for their ser
vice. II the men whom the people
want and who can est serve the peo-
pie lay down and refuse to serve, the
movement had just az well stop where
it is. for all its future effort will be
abortive.
The membership should be made as
large as possible, az that every man
in. this community may feel that he Is
doing something for his community.
We do not subscribe to the argument
advanced by one of the speakers last
night, that some men are not able to
contribute anything to the movement,
end for that reason there should be
no membership dues. Free things
are not appreciated A man who joins
without money or price, does not feel
that he is a member Of anything that
counts for anything But if he pays
something every month or every quar-
ter, however, little, he feels that he
is contributing his mite and doing
all he can, and he takes all the more
interest in it for the sacrifice he
makes. And the man who is not will
ing to help, and to sacrifice that he
nay help, will not be felt If he is in
the association. or missed if he is
out of it. This purposes to be a bus
mess organization, and not senti
mental mutual admiration society.
The idea, we think, to bring before
the people. is that they are not fos-
tering this enterprise or that, but that
according to theiI. means they will be
asked to take stock in Columbia. In
mion there is strength. The spirit of
union or cooperation, Of united eff
fort should prevail. A canvass of the
town should be made and every man !,
in it, young and old should be given an
to become members. No
fnw individuals can or will build up
Columbia: the people must do it. Pub
lie spirit must do it, That spirit must
De cultivated urged and insisted upon,
Until man will feel ashamed not to
be doing his part, according to his
means and his ability. whether that
1e little or much.
1t is a mistaken idea that the cap
talists can do it all. Capitalists are
loaded to the guards with
heir own private ir.estments. They
ave opportunities for money making
which keeps all their capital invested.
nd they need not be expected to with
raw largely from private investments
o invest for the public good. They !.
will to some extent, but not to any
reat extent. The money like this .
novement, must come from men Of
modest means, who have their for
unes to make, and want to cast their
IT with Columbia. Not in It's houses .
nd lots and lands, Dut In ColumDla n
self. Men who are not looking so 7
luch for interest bearing investments, y
s they are for trade bearing invest ,
rents, and the dividends that trade .
rings to them. The idea is not to r
uild up our fortunes directly, but in
irectly. We all get our living out of
olumbia; and the idea is, to put more
ito Columbia. so that we may get T
lore out OF It. II man has a bust o
ess. the more It grows, the more he cl
nts into It, II he is progressive, en- b
,rprising men. Now lets consider II
lat Columbia is our factory; Colum 81
Ia is our house of business; Column in