Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-07-31
SHALL COMMERCIAL
CLUB CONTINUE
OR QUIT
PRESIDENT SPlTZ SAYS
REVIVAL Is NECESSARY
Rental Asked by New Owners
of the Building Beyond Re-
sources of Club; Meeting
Tuesday Night Marks Crisis
in Affairs of Organization,

shall the commercial club of Al
buquerque continue the honorable, ef-
ficient, result-getting career OF the
years during which it was a marked
force in the development of Albuquer-
que and New Mexico, or shall it quit"
This is the question which Berthold
spitz, the recently elected president of
the club is asking himself and which
he proposes to ask the members of
the club at a meeting which he has
called for next Tuesday night in the
club rooms. Mr.. Spitz wants every
member of the club TO be at the meet
ing, and in addition every man h is
Interested in the Commercial club as a
development organization. He has
Just returned from New York and an
eastern business trip and has waded
deep into the clubs business in the
two days since his return. The condi-
ton he finds is not only unsatisfac-
tory, but it is so d~iscouraging that he
does not feel that the club can con-
time any longer in its present course.
The club has been in a state of par
tial stagnation for some time past.
The club proper has never owned
the club building, which has been the
property Of a building association, a
holding corporation from which the
club has ented the building. The
rent paid has beer $500 a year. Re
Gently the building passed from he
hands Of The building association IN
der a judgment and foreclosure to
| the holders Of the second mortgage on
| the property. The new owners have
asked Tor a rental which the officers
of the club feel cannot be paid es-
pccially in the present condition Of
the organization which is not on n
proper basis either as to membership
or finances.
The rental asked Tor the building
is far more than we can afford to
pay said Mi. Spitz yesterday, land
We have so informed the present hold
ers OF the property. There must be
a different proposition or arrange
mcnt or we must give up the building
''rhere is more to the situation than
this, however. The club has not SUI
ricient membership. Its income Is
too small and above all else there Is
not the interest in the organization
which there must be If it is to be OF
any use AT all to the community. Per-
sonally. | do not care to remain at the
head of an organization which is dcad
or in a dying condition. 1t Is up u
the members of the club and the peo-
Die Of Albuquerque to say whether OIL
not the organization Shal go on II
Is present manner. am IN oI
a reduced membership fee. Thc pres
cnt fee seems to me to be too large
believe with a reduced membership
fee and "A revival of the old time splri
which once made this organization 81
t|cctivc. that we can place 1t on th'
old-timc rc~sult-gctting basis, But TN
spirit must be revived. we wan
! nombers who win work. who vii
AXE an interest in the organizatlo'
md who viii he personally interestc'
In its success or failure. u TIM
has come when indifference VIII ITO
, leo any longer. Every member oil IN
1ub whether he be a regular or al
,ssociate member should have som
Voice in directing the affairs of IN
nrronization. should have a vote Il
meetings and a choice for officers an
directors We should get together %
his matter and make the clup a NV
rorec again. 1Nere is just n way
do II. That is to increase the men
~h,rsbin and to make every menu,
live one. This is the purpose OF III
meeting Tuesday night; TO So
whether or not We can bring aho'
mis- result. If we can, the eluo Al
" ,ontlnne to be an effective force f.
!, Nbuaueraue. II We cannot it is tin
10 quit" ,
Mr.. Spitz's views are endorsed /
-. many of the members OF the cIap' "'
bv the business men almost u"Ah
mouslv. They want To So" the 'l'
revived and put ON a proper Worhti
basis. The meeting Tuesday niS
- win he probably the most Imperial
," In the history of the club since I
ORGANIZATION. since it Will deterlml
vh,t is to become of this institute
which has taken the lead IN almo
every public movement tor the a.
I,anrement of Albuquerque ana u
territory up 10 the past few years al
an which the city has depended
isrr, measure for the great bulh
r., its public work.