The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-03-31

to the city a commercial organization
worthy of the name.
That their efforts have been crown
ed with success was attested by the at
tendance at the first meeting which
has been held in the new club rooms
on the top floor of the Commerce
building. Men who years ago became
disgusted with the prospects afforded
by the old commercial organization
were present. Not as spectators but
imbued with the one idea of making
Topeka a better place in which to live
and transact business and willing and
ready to place their shoulders TO the
wheel and do their share.
Almost the entire top floor of the
commerce building is given over to
the Commercial club quarters and for
three hours the rooms were filled to
capacity. During the evening nearly
three hundred lunches were served by
A. +. Colson, who had charge of the
cafe department, and this figure does
not include those who fed twice or
more for there were several ravenous
appetites appeased.
Those present represented almost
every bushes industry in the city and
a number of Institutions were repre-
sented by two or more members of the
firm. 1t was a representative gather
ing of the owners of the interests of
Topeka. A gathering of men who do
things and who are able and willing
own and awakens to its possibilities.
1t was a good natured gathering of
business men united for the interests
of their home city and their efforts
cannot but bring about the desired re-
suit
Some Came Early.
Members were on hand at Z O'Clock,
over an hour before the meeting was
called TO order by President w. w.
Mills. 1t was past o'clock when the
president raped for order and he did
so then with the full knowledge that
he was interrupting a number of
pleasant chats between business men
who had not been confidential with
each other before in years.
Busy business men who had not
thought of anything but their own
individual interests in years were
present at last nights meeting, imbued
with new life and a desire to get into
the harness for a long pull and a
strong pull for the interests of Topeka
as a city. There was a something in
the air, inspiration perhaps, but a
something at any rate that was good
TO breathe
This something was contagious; the
Topeka spirit, one speaker called it,
but whatever it was it means much
for the future of Topeka and the in
dustries which thrive within its bound
aries. There was no lack Of ginger at
this meeting and it was such a con-
trast to the past meetings of the old
Commercial club which sapped the vi
tality of its members and finally
stranded the organization just at the
time when it was the most needed
The quarters in the Commerce
building are such that every member
of the Commercial club who was In
any way responsible for them must
have heaved a sigh of contentment
Last nights crowd was so large thai
no attempt was made to seat those
present but they stood in a compact
mas and listened to the words of cheer
from the various speakers.
After President w. w. Mills had call
ed the gathering to order he said:
I'm behalf of the board of director
Of your Commercial club l welcome yol
to these new rooms tonight and trus
that the judgment of the directors il
authorizing this change of location vii
meet with your approval. If you do ap