Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-07-07


BIB of sqnolchIns the knockers has
HI been goign steadily forward and
while the job Is yet far from
complete. the knocking contingency
has been made To sit up and take no
tice ana the Boosters Club is on its
feet as n popular movement. or
course the nessimists and hammer
handlers are still in evidence, for
they ARE too set In their ways To
be cured. sllenced or driven out in Il
weeks time. but the boosting move.
ment is hearing fruit and Newport
News Is gaining from II substantial
and material benefit.
That the Boosters Club Is rccog-
ni2ed by people who have the interest
of the city and section mt heart Is
proven by the list of members pub.
lished this morning. Some persons,
to the credit of the city he 1t said
TINT they are few and far between.
have stood upon what they imagined
to be their dignity and scolred ut the
idea, declining to- enroll their names
with the boosters When such PEG
pie ms Mr.. Walter a. Post, general
manager of the Newport News ship.
building and Dry Dock Company.
Mayor Samuel II. buxton, the cash
iers of the city's banks. leading busl
ness ana professional mon. city OIL
GERS and IN fact. people prominent
in all walks of life. have gladly placed
their names in the booster book and
given hearty nnd cordial promises of
support for the movement, II Is pc
culiar TO say the least, that anyone
In The city should feel himself SO i'm.
poriant and digniied as to be above
having his name appear on the list.
Poh Bahs and Knockers.
Unfortunately there are few of
these Pooh lsahs TO be found In
every community, and the very fact
that they do occupy positions of
more or less prominence makes them
dangerous To II certain extent. They
should he classcd with the knockers,
even though further evidence against
them is lacking, but in nearly all
such instances It would be easy to
make ont n case of chronic knockitis.
He who is not booster must be II
knOckcr, ana ms knockers are going
to he in bad order around here IN the
future. Il will bchoove anybody who
happens to be sitting on the fence To
climb down on the booster side as
quickly MS possible.
COruldlly ReCclVcO.
Tho manner in which its idea of
putting the knockers down ana out
has been received is gratifying 10. the
Daily Press. From people whose
opinion Is valued by the paper, only
the most favorable comments have
been heard Several we'll known cit
liens have taken occasion to address
letters to the editor, expressing their
,ft.,, q 81.
was Mayor Buxton, who is and has
always been In the front rank of
boosters, and the mayors letter, with
those of Mr. y. l.. Farrar. secretary
of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr..
A. Y Moore and Mr.. a. l.. Powell are
reproduced In these columns today.
The Division of Exploitation of the
jamestown Exposition has also made
il q point to communicate with the
Daily Press. mentioning the fact that
the booster movement has been
watched with interest ut the liXposi-
tion, and Offering to contribute III
every possible way to the success OF
the effort.
Prime Object of Club.
The prime object of the boosters
Club. rs set forth I'm these columns
last Sunday Is to lic-up the tongues
of pesslmsts and grumblcrs who are
forever. with or without reason, say
ing unfavorabc things about the
jamestown Exposition. Tldewater
Virginia or Newport News. If this
can be done. and the result of n
weeks trial indicates that the move
ment can be successful to crafty
ing degree, then the boosters Club
will have accomplished great and
real service for the Exposition, city
and section.
That the Exposition and Tidowatcr
have suffered on account of the
knockers Is only too well known.
Travelling men passing through the
section have been heard to remark
that they had been very favorably
impressed until they heard some of
The local people talking. This is a
sad commentary upon the civic pride
ana common sense Of Tidewater peo
pie. Such Il state OF AFFAIRS should
not exist and if the nurpoScs oi the