The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-03-19

Mr.. r. A. Dean OF the Holdrege Com.
mercial club said that this association
ought TO be at work through the
months OF the year as well as once u
year, Along this line the thought has
come home often to me that the rs.
| ISOLATION Of commercial clubs ought
| to be so organized as to become a
| clearing house in twofold way.
| First, as a central point In which the
| business needs and opportunities Of
every city and town represented by a
commercial organization. could be
centercd and classified for public in
formation and dissemination, so that
there would be Il central office in an
accessible city whore information If
this character could be found by all
inquirCrs at home and abroad over
the nation. A bureau of business in.
formation for those seeking locations
or investments, carrying with It a gen
Cral advertising of the cities and
towns of this state and incidentally of
the state itself. Second, this associa.
zion should be organized as a clearing
house of public opionion on the part
of the commercial clubs of the state
on public questions strictly affecting
business A clearing house in which
could be gathered a referendum oX.
preston on business propositions AT.
feCting all clubs, their membership
and their localities generally. Express
siOns that could be put in the hands
of public officials, state and national,
for their information and guidance.
! Strictly business legislation, state or
national, of interest to all localities
and individuals could be advanced or
checked by and assembling of public
opinion that could be of the highest
value in the line of information for
the guidance of those who may not
know. 1t is not necessary to cite
illustrations in this line; they will
suggest themselves to each one of
you. The value of the business
opinion of business men on many
questions of common interest it would
be difficult to measure. To establish
this association on a basis for work
along such lines of enlarged under
takings is as big with labor as it is
big with possibilities. The problem
! is more what would be done than what
could be done Would the clubs of the
state be willing to pay into fund to
]
| pensate a man in charge of The same?
! 1t would require a man possessing
both the confidence of the clubs and
with the ability to do things and,
| above all, possessing fairness and
| judgment. SO along with an appre-
citation of the possibilities for larger
work | feel as though every member
of this association ought to ask the
question Of himself. Ought this as
ISOLATION to be contented with its
present standard of work so precar-
Gus that one individual officer at his
| own private expense of time and
money, stands between its COntinu-
anCe or its lapsing from even an an
nual session; or ought it to enter into
a more definite organization with
| fixed and practical work that will
make every club directly responsible
for its perpetuity and for a larger use
fulness. If the question is too large
for immediate settlement cannot this
annual meeting head off in plans
which shall take shape and be worked
out in the near future?
Gentlemen, in the three years that
| have served as the president of this
association, the work has been
pleasant the associations highly en-.
joyable and the friendships found
delightful. Do not think because
have talked plainly of conditions as
they have arisen in the past and will
in the future, that there is a thought
of complaint on my part. You each
and all have come to this association
at the personal sacrifice of business
that you may take home something
not just for yourselves but for the
good of your community. My only
request is that as your president
have not been able to do more to
show the appreciation | have of the
kindness of representatives of the
commercial clubs of the state, in
honoring me as they have done in the
past three years | believe at this
meeting We have a program as keen
and invigorating as a March wind in
Nebraska and that We will take home
with us thoughts and ideas that will
stir us to broader activity in our eff
forts for the common good.