The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-05-28
Respectfully,
WALTER F. BATES"

WALTER F. BATES"
Several weeks ago Mr.. Bates sub
mitted to the Commercial club the
plans of the St. Louis National Pros
perity association, which association
asked the cooperation of the Rich
mOnd Commercial club. In the St
Louis circulars submitted by Mr.
Bates it is stated that the National
Prosperity Association was organized
in an effort to boost the business in
terests of the nation. fill the work
mems dinner pail again and to keep
up the high standard of wages main
tanned before the panic. The condi-
ton of the country was painted in
glowing cOlors, stating that the bad
times" were not real but imaginary
Further legislation against the rail-
roads and other large corporations
should cease, according to the Gircu-
lars of the association.
After these circulars had been sub
mitted to the Commercial club a com
mittee was appointed to investigate
the advisability of the club partici-
pating in the movement. Mr. Bates
was appointed chairman of this COM
mittee. He asked each member of the
committee to submit to him in writing
his personal opinion of the moveme MT
With the letter he addressed yester-
day TO President Mccarthy We're the
opinions of the committee members
Every member of the committee fav-
Ored the rejection of the plan. some
feeling that it was not sincere. or a
movement inspired by the railroads
and the large corporations.
Is Not Practical.
The idea is all right but the execu-
tion is not practical" writes George
H. Eggemeyer. When all is said
nothing has been accomplished You
can create a breeze to force a wind
mill but all the argument on earth
would not create thirst if the horse
wouldn't drink. Men can and do
create bOoms, but booms are short
lived and are not prosperity. The
object or aim of this National Prosper
ity Association would be TO make ev-
eryone disbelieve himself, fool your
self while you are trying to fool 9th
erS"
William H. Campbell writes: Il see
no reason why any action by the Com
mercial club or any other set of men
would help this matter along. With
good crops this year, which we have
every reason to believe We shall have
it will certainly bring about better
times. The continual agitation kept
up by the papers and others about
hard times does not help the matter"
Clarence Gennett writes: The busi-
ness conditions of our country today
are decidedly better than they have
been so far this year. and l believe
that any movements which refer to
the past conditions would not be pro-
ductive of good results. and I also
think that the movement outlined in
the circulars is somewhat impractical
and not entirely above suspicion.
Would recommend that the CONNER
Cial club take no steps in this matter
whatsoever"
J. B. Gordon gives the following as
his views: Il do not believe the pro-
position TO be a practical one. grant
ing its sincerity. and from information
from which l have acquired through
the medium of the public press. be-
lieve the St. Louis Prosperity Associa-
tion to be a stool-pigeon of the rail-
roads of the country, designed and or
ganized for the purpose of nullifying
the reform legislation Of the last ses-
sion of congress-"
Indorses Sentiment.
Adam H. Bartel indorses the senti-
ment of the movement but does not
believe it to be practical. The labor
er, the farmer. the manufacturer gen.
orally and the merchant have not lost
confidence and are each doing his
part and with good results already. TO
make business conditions better"
CONTINUED on Page Two)