The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-01-14
GEO. B. SELDEN,
new PRESIDENT.
Greets Board of Trade with
Sensible Suggestions for
New Year
Favors Manufacturing and Agricultural
Development, and Sane Colonization
Efforts.

Ou thlo, my lultldl dppSdIdnCe III lHe
chair as your presiding officer, may !
take the time TO thank you for the honor
conferred most aSsuredly do conSid-
er that conspicuous honor comes to
any citizen when he may be chosen to
do public service. Especially do | con
slider this true when the honor is that OF
president of the Palatka board of trade.
| thank you gentlemen from my heart
for the honor conferred in my election
as your president. | wish especially at
this time TO show my appreciation of the
kind words of your retiring president
when placing my name before you, and
also include in the appreciation the
words of the gentleman who seconded
my nomination, the Hon. S. ]. Hilburn.
Can ii be possible that have done so
much for this organization as these gen
tlemen seem to think? ! of course real
ize that have been allowed to be in at
your conferences, and in this way may
have been of service to the organization,
but not TO the extent set forth by these
kind friends.
Ii would have been my pleasure, | may
say my preference, 10 have continued as
lay member of this organization, 10 do
my work from the floor and to serve on
your committees. Ii seems that this is
not to be, You, gentlemen, have placed
me where now sit. You are response
Bile for my acts, as well as your own.
See TO it, therefore, that you perform
your duty; watch me, be critical of my
suggestions, weigh all matters judicially
This body of men comprising the Palat
ka board of trade, taken as unit, wheth-
er of personal qualities possessed, or of
average ability TO work out problems, TO
do things, in other words, stands the
equal of any like organization, whether
in our immediate vicinity, or remote
from us. On this point | feel myself
qualified TO speak. Now, gentlemen,
possessing these qualifications, may
ask what you propose to do with your
talent? Is il your intention TO hide ii un-
der your own buShel of selfish personal
aggrandizement entirely, or will you lend
some degree of this talent TO the Palatka
board of trade for the general uplift and
development of the community in which
we liver lappeal to all members of the
Palatka board of trade to work out to a
finish every subject that may come be-
fore il, then TO sta-d by the majority de-
ciSion, and to eight for the successful
fruition. In unity will at all times lie
our success.
Many of you at our recent very sue
ceSSful banquet listened to the report of
your retiring president May he success
outlined in that report, the accomplish
mentS enumerated, ever be green
memory with you. Do you fully recog-
nize the significance of the things done
dsring the several terms of office of Mr..
Howell A. Davis, one of the best, if in
deed not the best presiding officer the
organization ever had. To step into
such shoes may well make any man hes
itate. hope he may continue his active
co cooperation. | shall need him. 1t
would seem that little is left for US TO do,
so much having been done before. do
believe, however, that we shall find new
fields opening up for our endeavor 1t
would seem TO me 10 be our first duty TO
safeguard our past acts. We should re-
view as time goes on the accomplish
mentS that have become realities, and
are being developed by authorized agents
and servants of the people, and that have
been the suggestions OF the board.
There may be some way by which we
may be able 10 assist these organized
agencies. If so, let us do it in manner
as may be suggested by this board. Many
matters have from time TO time been un-
der discussion by the board that have not
as yet become realities. Some of these
matters are of considerable importance
while others may be of minor import
auce. Our secretary can inform us from
time TO time regarding such unfinished
business as may exist. 1t should be our
duty to dispose of all such matters as rap
idly as possible
1t should be one of the paramount du-
ties of this board to hold up the hands of
all recognized authority when and wher-
ever we can do so consistently. If, at
any time, we feel that it may be proper
TO make friendly suggestions TO recog-
nized authority for their consideration,
we most certainly should, it seems TO
me, do so. We may be individually
tempted to criticiSe at times those who
may be trying to carry out public trust
as they see it. Rhope we shall temper
our criticisms with kindness and conSid-
Grafton.
My recommendations 10 you of Spe-
cific nature for your early consideration
will not be many. | believe We should
leave most things for future conSidera-
ton. do, however, wish TO suggest to
you three very great and important
questions at this time. One, the devel,
opment of our manufactures; the other,
the development of our agricultural areas
and exploitation of sane colonization
propositions. The other, the encour-
agement of any sane and safe method for
the general uplift and upbuild OF our city
whether il be streets, public buildings
and parks, or the better and more Sani-
tary housings of our people. In particu-
lar | wish to suggest that the first of these
three important measures should come
up for the very earliest considera-
ton possible ! am going 10 ask that
you give me special, rather than a
standing committee, to do this particular
work. can later give you moS& defin-
ite information relative 10 the plan, etc.
May look for your cooperation? The
other two suggestions, together with
any others which from time to time may
come up leave to your own Initiative
hope the suggestion for good and sane
work will come 10 you rapidly and be
suggested to the board for consideration.
II will be my duty, for the most part, TO
preside over your deliberations, and not
10 suggest legislation TO you from the
chair.
wish TO call your attention to the
slogan OF the Palatka board of trader
Exploit the Palatka board of trade aud
not yourself. Never 60 about with a
chip on your shoulder. Be power for
good in our city and county, for good
government, for good order, for good
and efficient public servants, for good
and clean city, for good citizenship.
II we follow this slogan, may we moi