The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-02-03
Boom Meeting as Held
 Last Night.
NEED NEW LIFE FOR CLUB
President Ball Would Seek the
 Young Men.
HAe speech ef President Bsll oae ef Csmmsa sesss Tsik snd e. shs CluDs
 Gsea.

The altruism of ten score men, all working and planning and scheming 9or Montgomery, with the dynamic force that comes of their aggresate bhsh- els of grey matter. found voice at the meeting of the Commercial Club last night.
 It was just gathering of the faith Sui. for discussion of what should be done, and how. What for Muntgomery. and what for the influence and power of khe Commercial Club. And the grey matter had free play. and proved itself capable.
 The keynote Of the discussion was . call for young men. for the infection of new life into the c1uh--not that it needs new life now but the need will come soon. As President Ball said.
 We do not, want an old man's club. . We want the old man, biitsif we have no young men, the day will come when we viii have no men.
 There was another proposition raised which also caught lip a breath of gen- eral reeponee---that of a "Campaign Of Educasionl&. The idea was first pro- pounded hy g. c. Starie, who asked for : f'campai&n of educatfon," of tHtlinR the people what the Commercial Club meant and did. andNto eliminate any GFadge or ill-feeling. ifs any exists, which the Club might have aroused. For the club, as he said, issWorlxing for the city and the people. and any dis- cordant impulse would destroy much of its eftsctfveness.
 There were ro reports or business at the meeting last night. t being the i1t- ftfai session of President Fred g. Balls adrninigerAtion And the floor was given over to the stgood of the or- der" and all formaiity dispensed with.
 President Ball staEted the evening Of talks. by his inaugural speech It was not ssricly 2 speech. but common talk that was fraugfit with plain force. He followed out the Idea of the need of, young men, ana de&niled in . general way the duties of the mem. bers. He spoke as follows:
 lsr. Balls Aaaress
 "Gentiemen:
 "The principal purpose Of this meet ing is to consider ways of Increasing the influence of this club. say influ- ence because 1t has no power in the sense of compelling the edopti0n of It's suggestions. Thts iniiuence comes from the voluntary efforts or It's members, and depends. therefore. upon their num- bers and individual efforts. These cole fectiveiy. are the basis of the clubs efEz- ctency. By increasing the numbers of members. or the amount of work done by each. the influence and valuekof the club win De enhanced. Behind it all must Dc infelligenk direction: and II may safely congfatufhke the club upon It's selections Of directors who do not hesia tate to lay astde their own affairs to serve the public welfare both wisely
 sThe club is dediuated to she promo- tion of the commerciaI and industrial interests of this city, county, and State. and the social intercourse of It's mem bers. For many years lk has been the most potent Influence in the develop ment of the city and county. and has contributed largely to the growth of she state; During the past year. nov ". secretary. tt has turned the eyes of the world upon the South and its unlimited opportunfties and spread its Influence over the nation. Such club Is worth maintaining and improving. There is 10 limit to its influence.
 DmNwe Esm4hmeanems
 ''Thef efwonderful strides made by this city, without any strenuous eff0rt. are tokens If its pessibilities. Ye every member of this club could have ffac- tion of the inspiration and enthnsiasn of its Dave the growth and develop ment would be marvellous. Montgorn- cry mas within it's borders all the eles ments necessary to make 1t the peer of any Southern city. What we need Is to realize our powers and possibilities, to have confidence ln ourselves, and to be loyal and patriotic enough to press forward to the prize. A
 Good citizenship is not selhshnesA Its foundation Is that patriotism which sacrifices personal interests to the gem eral welfare. The greatest prosperity and happineHg cannot exist wl1ere ev- cry man helps himself and no one else. Above all things Montgomery needs to create and foster civic pride, a pat riotic Montgomery spirit This very unselfshness brings Indirect rewards in more ways than are usually recog- nized
 "But. speaking more directly of the