The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-07-06

crnor OF Utah. acting upon n suggestion
Of r'f''cl Charles "a 4. Quigey Schuyler v hn shen
and Charles N. Strcvell. issued an invita-
ton to one hundred business men for
meeting To discuss plans for the organiza-
ton OF n Commercial CLUB, and ] may
properly state here that no adequate rec
Ouieley, ShcIp and Strevell for their far
slghledncss and their efforts. These men
laid broad and deep the foundations OF
helped 10 rear the structure they were It's
sponsors and intelligent creators, The
first and preliminary meeting was held at
January II. 1902 Governor Wells acting
as chairman. Mr., Charles Reed as secre-
tary and committee was appointed To
draft II constitution which was done and
reported to another gathering OF citizens
January ia 22, 1902. at a subsequent meet
Ing the following members were elected
to serve as the board Of governors:
c. Curcr, Frank \. Druehl, Edward ".
Center. W. A, Nclden TO seTye two years.
4f0fi srt : q campbe, mps HeSfy NJ bn~ooGey. % MSS
schuyler V Shclp; 10 serve three yeer>,
John j. Daly, Joseph 4. Silver e. y.
strcvell, Curtis + Mason ana John ii.
Dooly,
Tribute to Harris.
The articles Of incorporation were duly
filed and the board OF governors e!ocrad
az the first officers OF the new institu-
ton: President. William 4. Nelden; vice
PRESIDENT John g. Cutler. secretary
Schuyler V Shelp; treasurer, John +.
Dooly. Thus was the new institution
launched. and so well was it commanded
that 1t SteereG clear Of the rocks and val
iantly DuHctcd the waves that at times
threatened It's extinction. AZ an early
day the board of governors brought TO
their assistance one who has since served
with pre-eminent ability, No mar cal
mention the Commercial club and Us
work, II he he fair and just man. with
out giving recognition to the services OF
Fisher Harris. Modest faithful, always
patient. always possessing tact Fisher
Harris in serving the interests Of the
club has written his name indcllbly upon
the history OF this state His place VIII
be among those who have helped to ad-
vance the commonwealth. II an unklnd
fate had not taken from MIN the power
to express In audible tones the thoughts
that crowd his active brain he would
stand, as in ali justice he should, whore
stand now. speaking OF the past and
OF the future OF this organization; and
mere, without his consent, desire 20
present some thoughts which he kindly
furnished me for this occasion. giving
him full credit for the same. for he can
not speak to you. yet / give 10 you his
words This Is what he wrote:
There are one or two phases Of the
work of the Commercial club not COM
monty noted by the casual observer. that
you may want TO cmbody I'm your ora
tlon.
I'm the first place, the club has never
confined its public activities to Salt Lake
City and the state OF Utah, but it has
also taken an intelligent and frequently
effective interest in every movement af-
fsctlng that wide extent Of western
tary To our markets.
This policy has not been altogether
unSelfSh bat was based upon the eco
nonic principle so cloquently expressed
by our old and valued friend when hc
said, In effect:
YOU may destroy the cities and the
nation will stiIl flourish; but destroy the
farms and grass viii grow in the cities
streets
ing prosperity Of a community depends
upon the prosperity OF the country that
lies about il and is tributary to It's mar
lsets the club has taken an active part
in every step In the development OF min
ing, irrigation. dry farming, sheep and
cattle raising. agriculture and general
business In the intermountain west
The board of governors understands
that YOU cannot add a dollar of wealth
or family OF population 20 the vast
area of rapidly developing country sur
rounding this city for five hundred miles
IN every direction, without adding to our
volume of business and increasing the
sum total of our bank clearances.
The club has frequently departed from
the worn and beaten tracks Of the old
fashioned chambers of commerce and In
stead OF compiling statistics and clrcu
lating gaudy and meretricious booklets,
the contents of which few read and none
believe, 1t has devoted much of its time
to the encouragement OF literature. sell
ence, art and education
Some Criticisms.
II understand OF course that there
never was a chamber OF commerce. board
OF trade. commercial club other public
body. that received or perhaps deserved
the unqualified Commendation OF every
Individual in n community and there
never Will be, so long as men are human
and of various minds. l can see no rea-
son why this club should hope 10 es
cape the universal fate, but / can see
| jnnumerable reasons why IL should strive
not TO deserve It,
THE criticisms OF this particular COM
mercial club. for which I am writing this
brief. are about as follows:
81 You pay too much attention to the
social features of the club.
''2. You do not pay enough attention
to the social features Of the club,
SO You are not active enough in your
attention to your civic duties
81, You are too active In your work
and interfere in many things that you
haXe no 3b business di Ito to pndeTtake an,t,,
for the community,
sc. The club has never done me any
good
not who has never supported the
club, either morally. or financially, has
a clear right TO criticise its work. II
would seem that the decent thing for such
| a to do would be 70 come into the
fold and take part In the deliberations
and conclusions of the organization and
help TO put il in what he considers the
right path OF usefulness BY taking this
course he places himself in a position
! 10 speak with authority concerning Wnat
the clubs policies and activities should
be, and 10 aid in directing them.
81 also. question the right OF the man
VINO is ignorant Of the work the club
record. 1t is plainly his duty to inform
himself before he speaks.
| Il am speaking now OF the man whose
opinions OF value and whose innu-
ence is OF consequence and not OF the
man who makes II a habit to damn eV-
erythng In his own home town and 10
compare ii unfavorably with other cities:
| | have no time 10 devote to that kind OF
man.
| THE club can very we'll afford to ss-
| more criticism that is obviously ignorant.
selfish or malicious, but It cannot afford
| 10 ignore criticism that Is honest and
wholesome. 1t always has and always
will invite and welcome the latter kind
OF criticism from whatever source 1t may
come
Percentage Is Small,
THE percentage of adverse criticism
Of the Commercial club, Salt Lake CITY,