The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-07-31
SATURDAY. JULY 81, 1909.
THE COMMERCIAL CLUB
QUESTION

This evening at the federal court
room in Brownsville will be held a
meeting of the members of the Low
sr Rio Grande Valley Commercial
Club. to decide finally whether the
club shall be continued or disbanded.
The club is in financial straits, with
cut means to meet its Indebtedness.
Members are in arrears to the sum
Of 81, 500. This has brought it face
20 face with the question whether it
shall continue to exist or not. What
ever the decision it cannot be doubt
ed, of course, that, if the members
should decide to disband, they will
at least make a strong effort to liqui-
date the debts of the club before it
loses its official existence. That those
who are still members will at least
recognize their debts can hardly be
doubted Still, from the very fact
that they have been slow in paying
dues, and apparently do not take an
interest in the club shows there must
be something wrong. Either they
feel that they cannot afford to con-
tribute to its support longer, or do
not feel that the club fully subserves
the end for which it was organized.
As to the latter consideration, The
Herald feels that it is time to say
a few words. It cannot be doubted
that the club has done a great deal
Of good for the entire Lower Rio
Grande Valley It has assuredly
served well and truly the end for
which it has been supposed to exist
It has advertised impartially the re-
sources of every corner and nook of
this great valley. Under the able
management of Secretary MagiIl, it
mas been a strong factor in promot-
Rg the development of the valley,
lad has filed a most useful niche in
fhe affairs of this entire section. And
yet, it does not appear to hold the
members together with that strong
bond which is necessary in order to
perpetuate the club and maintain its
usefulness.
It is not difficult to see why this
IS so. When the club was first es-
tabIished, this great valley had not
reached the stage of development
which it has now attained. The many
hourishing little towns that now dot
the valley were then merely town
sites. or not even dreamt of in some
Instances. The valley was then a
limit in its requirements. The thing
most wanted was to induce investors
and homeseekers to come and locate
here and develop the country. Since
then, the towns have grown up. The
'tonnunity of interests throughout
the valley does not seem to exist in
he same degree as it did then
several have alredy organized de-
vslopren clubs of their own, TO
which they feel that they must devote
,heir efforts rather than to a general
organization like the Lower Rio
Grande valley Commercial Club
yhey perhaps feel that they cannot
afford 10 contribrte to both, and
naturally the bcme organization is
kfisSr first consideration.
In this The Herald cannot say the
valley people are wrong While
there IS need of such an Organization
As the Lover Rio Grande Valley Com
mercial Club, yet the individual towns
also need local organizations OF the
same kind. If they cannot support
both. their first duty is at home
,srownsvilIe itself should have de-
ve,opment club. The towns best in
ferests can no longer be properly
eerved without such an organization
# Is. in fact, one Of the greatest needs
~ the Town today. While the pres
-. elnb has done much for the town.