Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1909-02-04
HYPOCRlTES IN
BOOSTER" CLUB
Commercial Club Should Convert
HKnockera" Within las Ranks TO
Have Proper influence


by itself is one that every loyal citizen
should claim with pride. However
when it is associated with a certain
coterie of individuals who are known to
be using it as a cloak for systematl--
cally knocking every business inter
est whose influence does not con-
tribute to further their particular ENDS,
it becomes an obnoxious term to the
man who has the real spirit OF
booster.
It was the board Of directors of the
Commercial Club that adopted this
term Booster and had large ban
ner with the inscription owe are all
Boosters prominently displayed at
the banquet couple of months ago.
1t was remarked, though, that it
would have been more in keeping with
the spirit of the occasion If the COM
mittee had provided Ladysmith cigars
instead of imported brands.
The true spirit of boosting does not
appear to be the one which actuates
some who are shouting the loudest
about all being boosters. For instance
one of the officers of the Commercial
Club is said to get his clothing made
free of charge by Minneapolis tailor
ing firm because of his ability to secure
trade for said firm Since his advent
in Ladysmith about a year ago he is
said to have diverted the patronage OF
nearly the whole of the Booster
Club away from our two local tailors
to the Minneapolis firm. How is that
for Booster Mol.
Booster No.2 is said to have occupied
nearly half the time of the first meet
ing of the board of directors in"knock-
ing'' the Rusk County Training School.
Why? Because the principal of that
thriving institution, Prof. R. Il. Burns,
is a man who is fearless in standing up
for his moral convictions. Mr.. Burns
served last year as secretary of the
Commercial Club.
More than one of these Booster"
have gone out of their way to "knock" "
the CONGREGATIONAL Church, because of
the activity Of Rev. Thomas Barker,
the pastor, in endeavoring to elevate
the morals of the community in what
he deemed a practical way. Rev. Bar
ker is not the Congregational Church,
nor is the Congregational Church Rev.
Barker. In the endeavor to discredit
Mr.. Barker in the eyes OF the COM
munitv some of these Boosters have
manufactured scandalous lies and
coyertly started them travelling from
mouth to mouth. The official organ
of the Boosters" has published libel
Gus matter against Mr.. Barker, with
out anv provocation. This pernicious
activity against the Congregationalists
has been carried to the extent OF
knocking" entertainments given for
the improvement of the church proper
ty.
Another prominent Booster some
time ago made the threat to put the
News-Budget out of business because
he failed in his coercive effort to con-
troll it politically. He has succeeded in
persuading two of our largest adver-
tisers-now members of the board of
directors-to withdraw their patronage.
Previous to making the threat he had
been covertly knocking" and had per-
suaded a few of his satellites to stop
their subscriptions. However the
News-Budget has never felt the effect
of the blow. but instead has continued
to gain in value as an advertising me-
dunn, and during the past month has
added new names to its list of readers
at the rate of one day..
Another member of the board of
directors has for years systematically
given his orders for stationery and gro
ceries to travelling statesmen.
Now we appreciate the fact that the
publication of these conditions is not
speaking good word for Ladysmith,
vet it should result in ultimate good.
How are we to better conditions ex-
cept by letting citizens know what the
conditions are. If the Commercial
Club is to be used as mere politica
organization for the purpose of boost
ing the interests of a particular few
to the detriment of others whose in
terests in the welfare of our city are a!
great or greater than those of the
hypocritical Boosters, the soone
we come to a realization of the truth
the better.
Happily these pseudo-boosters are il
the minority-as they are in ever!
community, but by their nefariou
methods they have been able to hood
wink the people into continuing then
in power. They have shrewdly affiliate
with them men who are believed to b.
honestly striving to boost the bust
ness interests of the entire community
which is all that gives these cover
knockers" any standing at all.
The success which the Commerce.
Club has had in securing new enter
prises for Ladysmith does not warran
a certain few in claiming all the homo
due to success, even though because 0
their official position they may seem t
be entitled to it. The good seed sow
by previous administrations may b
hearing fruit. They certainly shoul