The Mena weekly star., 1909-07-15

IOllOWlnR Will give pretty good idea of what is going on, besides extending, through The Star, an invitation to the Mena Commercial Club, to join in the work:
 "THE NEW CALIFORNIA "
 SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS i"
 "Granniss, Ark, July l2, '09. "To The Mena Star, Mena, Ark
 Dear Sirs:-We note the edi- torial in your issue of the Sth, inst, concerning The New Cal ifornia', and appreclate your words of commendaliou, while very kindly, and moderately critlcising the name suggested.
 On June 2lst we mailed you a copy of a general letter addressed to the Booster and Commercial Clubs of Ashdowu, Mena, De Queen and all other cities and villages in Southwest Arkansas, suggesting that a meeting be called for the the purpose of uniting the efforts of all cities and villages in this section of the state, and forming an organ izatlon, having for it's object the boosting Southwest Arkansas, and suggested that we adopt the term of New California iu order to get our advertising before the people, and have them read same. It is very simple matter to distribute the adver- Using matter for each locality. but to have it in such shape that a mere glance will interest the party Tn whose hands 1t falls is what we want to do, and If the term sug gested is not the proper one, we should select another. We most heartily agree with you that California fruit does not compare with that grown in Southwest Arkansas, having lived in both states, but you must admit that there are many people outside of the state who do not know this, and who would not come to Arkansas to inves- tigate if there was an oppor- tunity to go to California instead. While we have a great deal of pride ID cur own state, and would not rob it in any way of its glory, If we are to get it prop erly before the public at large, we must make the proper effort and the proper display. There should be a fruit, vegetable, berry and grain display from this section of the state that will show to the world tue resources at our command. To do this we must cooperate with each other, and while Ashdown, Mena and DeQueen may think Grauuiss is presumptious in taking the in- itiative, we beg to state that we do not consider ourselves III the same class with them in the way of population, but as fruit, vegetable, berry or grain raising section we are on an equal basis, and feeling this equality, we do not hesitate to invite your Com mercial Club to meet the repre- sentatives of other cities and villages at Granniss Tuesday, July 20, at Hotel De Elberta, to formulate some such organiza- ton as is mentioned above.
 We would be glad indeed If you will extend to the Com mercial Club an invitation to meet us on the date mentioned above.
 "Thanking you, we are,
 "Yours truly,
 'sGranuiss Booster Club.
 IS. l.. Johnson, Secretary"
 The following is the meat of circular referred to above:
 "We have many advantages that should be advertised extensively, and believe if we had a perma- neut organization broad enou gh to take in the whole of south vest ern Arkansas and push it to the front, we would meet with much better success than each sectio working by itself and for its par ticular little section immediately surrounding the location of the club members.
 "There should be advertising matter that would give the ad- vantages as whole and which could be used by each section of country without detriment to the other, supplementiug 1t with To- cal matter that might be thought advisable.
 "We have adopted the phrase, The New California;, to attract the attention of the public, as there is no part of the United States that has been advertised so extensively as has California and its name has come to stand for all that is pleasant and profit able, and could just as well Dc made to apply to Southwest Ar kansas. We should have some general term for this section oi our country that would at once