The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-15

d1fferent from st. Paul in respect to
population. wealth and other condf-
TONS What has been accomplished
in Topeka since the food is marvel
GUS. 1 regret to say have seen very
little of Mr.. Dickey In the CONNER
cial club rooms during the last three
years. I have worked just as hard in
the Commercial club for Topeka as
think he is putting something new
before the club in the paper he has
just read. I want to say to you, gen.
tlemen. that these things have all
last ten years
Club Was Not Asleep.
"One single item that we accom-
plished was worth a good deal to To-
peka-the location Of the great Santa
FNe repair shops. which the chief en-
g1neer wanted to take to Argentine.
This one thing was worth hundred
such as Mr.. Dickey wants. It's all
right for the manufacturers to carry
out their plans If they want to. They
can do so If they will come here and
work for them, but they won't come.
They will stay away and leave it for
the secretary to do the work.
This club has not been asleep by
any means and know from my own
experience the one thing that will do
more for Topeka than any other-it
Is to boom her to the skies. Topeka
must be made the slogan of this club.
The one way to keep her going for
ward Is to boost her just as hard as
you can and all the time. If the prop
osition to employ a rate clerk Is go
ing to create a division among us it
should be eliminated. This club IS
made up OF all sorts Of men and no
one special class I'm for the manu-
facturers and I'm for booming To-
peka- Just hold that one idea in
your mind
Mr.. Dickey, in his paper which
aroused SO much criticism and de-
bate for and against, said in part:
Mr.. Dickey's Plan.
''The plan would suggest would
be the organization of manufacture
ers' bureau or business mems league.
In this association, try to get every
manufacturing industry in Topeka in
be held once each month or oftener
and an effort made to have some
special topic for discussion at each
meeting. A board Of directors
should be elected from among the
members and 1t should be the aim in
selecting this board to choose the very
best business men we have. The per-
sonnet of the board will determine
largely the success of the bureau.
eff some company decided to locate,
the matter should be thoroughly in
vestigated as to the merits of the goods
to be manufactured and what the
chances were for the success of the
venture; and If. upon full investiga-
ton, the board recommended the ap-
plicant it should then be our duty to
lend every possible aid to locate them
here. This bureau should also either
buy or get option on a tract of land
suitable for manufacturing purposes.
If we could be In position to offer
good manufacturing sites at reas ona BILE
prices, we could interest manufacture
ing industries much easier. 1 do not
believe in free locations. No good re-
liable company expects something for
nothing. If it Is necessary for US to
furnish some good manufacturing
company a site IN order to locate them
here, we should raise the money here
at home, buy the site and take that
amount of stock in the business"
In discussing the rate expert propo-
sition, Mr.. Dickey said: THE same
system would be splendid policy to
apply to our express companies as
well. If there fs any real holdup for
the business men Of this city, 1t is by
pose it is possible for this rate bureau
or the Commercial club to accom-
plish great deal in reference to rates,
but the same classification features
exist as with our railroad shipments.
tt should be compulsory with the ex-
press companies to either bill goods at
lowest tariff rates, or furnish the pub
lie with such information as will en-
able them to mark their goods in such
a manner as will call for the correct
express charges. When you find you
have been charged an excessive price
for an express shipment and call the
attention Of the company to the fact
they come back at you with the state
marked and they invariably, to be on
the safe side, give you the highest
tariff they can apply. I presume this
defense is justif1able. at least to their
way of thinking, but 1t is not fair
proposition to the manufacturer or
business man. It is quite possible that
a thoroughly posted man in charge OF
the rate bureau might afford US some
relief along this line. also.
"A factory, or any business man, at
times receives rush order. and If this
follow-up system was in use by our
club, with cards furnished by the
shipper, 1t would at times, at least. ex-
pedtte our shipments. and would also
advise our customers that we have q
club that is awake and looking after
the interests Of its members.
Organization Is Needed.
81 am positive, il we can get the
manufacturers properly interested and
organized, we can within the next two
years interest enough capital in the
manufacturing business here to give
EN- ployment to all who want to work
and add much to the assessed value of
the city. In my opinion the Topeka
Commercial club has not given the at
tention to these matters that 1t should
The members themselves have not
taken the proper interest and as a re-
suit the standing of this club. which
should be wide awake and doing things
for Topeka, does not have, even among
its own members. the influence ana
hearty support it should. This club
must either wake up and get busy or
there will be another organization
formed that will offer inducements for
our business men, and men who have
capital to invest. who want to see To-
peka grow, and see the leading men in
a position where they can exert some
influence whep outside capital is look
ing over this city with a view to locat-
ing. I will admit I have been quite
lukewarm myself along this line, but