The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-21
HALF YEAR
OF PROGRESS
Semi CONNER
/, .cial Club Meeting.
VICE PRESIDENT ELECTED
Dr.. F. {. Stevenson Elected to Sue
coed T. G. Chaffee.
President Bali I'm His Address Calls
Attention to The Importsnt
Movement Of Government
BY Communication.

To consider the work and progress
accomplished by the Commercial Club
and the city Of Montgomery during the
past six months. the members of the
club met last night in a semi-annuai
business session. Reports of the Sec
rotary G.. s. Viewer. Of President Ball,
and Of various standing committees
were read. evidencing, as President
Ball termed 1t, a half-year Of "substan-
tial progress" in both club and city.
Little routine business was taken up
beyond the election Of vice-president
to succeed F. p. Chaffee, who resign
ed upon leaving for Birmingham. a
few weeks ago. DR.. r. c.. Stevenson
was elected though he protested when
he was placed In nomination, naming
another. G.. A. Thomas.
Four directors were elected, though
1t required three ballots to fill out
the slate, SO close was the vote upon
the eight nominees. The directors
newly-elected are s. ]. Cassels, j. T..
Gflmer. r. D.. Quisenberry, ana e. G..
Branch. and the election Is significan.
In that II demonstrates the advent of
the younger men into active work for
the development of the city.
The reports embodied tidings of pro-
gross. That of Secretary Viewer re-
yealed a detailed history of the events
In which Montgomery figured since
January 22, the day of the last annual
meeting. From that time. when an
invitation was issued to President
Taft, by the Club. to visit the city,
through the departure of Secretary
Dave. the Rose Marching Party's trip,
the boat question agitation, the se-
curing of new Industries Including the
9. q W. cigar factory, to date, the
events affecting Montgomery and the
Commercial Club were detailed.
That free publicity had been obtain
ed for Montgomery through many sour
ces was revealed by the report. The
recommendations OF MIR. Viewer were
that means be devised whereby the
large tracts Of land about Montgomery
be divided into small sections and that
white farmers be secured to settle up
on the small tracts: that the guaranty,
fund, for securing manufacturing en-
terprises. be instituted: that fund be
raised to assist In taking care of the
regular expenses Of the club, and that
o first class collector be placed In
charge of the collections of dues; that
/ young mans auxiliary be established
In connection with the. club, because
the enthusiasm Of the younger men Is
needed. The entire report breathed OPP
tiniism and encouragement. He COM
mended the spirit of the Montgomery
ElHHb anu W4bbE ROWGF SQuiRdHy ia
erecting the big new sign. The report
Of Treasurer Meertief showed at total
of collections of s2.67s. 80 for the six
months, and expenses of s2,e3e. "a.
President Balls report more general
In nature than the specific documents
pf the other two officers. spoke Of the
progress OF the city during the past
progress. He stressed the educational
progress. as embodied in the new high
school. with its heightened curriculum,
and with the new practical feature of
manual training. and in the Woman's
College. which Is to be opened here in
October. He showed that applications
have been received to indicate that the
attendance would be about 200 for tha
first session here, and that the new
buildings, beyond Ooverdale, would
undoubtedlx be completed before this
opening of the 1910 session.
Mr.. Ball told of the efforts of the
Commercial Club toward the consum-
nation of the plans for the college.
Puzzled at the delay in the completion
of the plans, the Commercial Club hac
addressed letter to the commission.
he told which had been productive OF
almost immediate results In the com
p1etion of the plans. Before the dis
patch of the letter. he told. 1t was an
open secret that their existed differep-
ces within the Commission, that threat
ened to delay the attainment of the
opening.
Government by Commission.
He dwelt upon Government by Com
mission, the latest move of the citi
zens of Alabama, which bids fair to
become adopted in Montgomery. OF
the movement he said:
'"The most important movement now
at hand Is that of the city government
by commission. The Legislature In
extra session will probably pass a bill
allowing most towns and cities to de-