Putnam patriot., 1910-04-01
The City Can Be Made Better.

various parts of the city, 10 discover such spots and things of an unsightly character, as exist, and report them 10 the Secretary of the Business Mems Association, with any suggestions they may have to offer, for that body to take such steps as it may deem advisable to have the objectionable things remedied. The Business Mems Association is formed to do. whatever will improve the city, add to it's attractiveness, in crease it's prosperity, or do anything that will benefit its citizens, that 1t can, that does not devolye on the rega- lar constituted authorities. Therefore, with funds and the combined influence of the business meA and other citizens, it carries with 1t power and influence to accomplish it's purposes that no in- dividual or any unorganixed body of individuals is capable ef doing. When our National government speaks It does so with an authority that is back ed up with organized power 10 make its will res pected, as no unorganized body of its citizens hastthe right or power to command. The same Is true Of the State government within it's jufisdie- tion.
 So in more eiimiled sense, do Busi- ness Mems Associations, Chambers of Commerce, and other like organized bodies to accomplish certain purposes, have an influence and power 10 car " out their purposes that no morgan ized body can hope to do.
 When the Putnam Business Mems Association is perfectly organized, it's will is the will of it's citizens on all mat tefs it has assumed to undertake. Not anything it has no right to assume.
 To illustrate. For many years we have tried to get our citizens to under stand that this city was as much enti- tied to public building as any other place of it's size and needs, but that they must make . combined effort to get what 1t was entitled to, otherwise neither the government nor Congress- men are going to appeal to them to make their wants known. They have too many other towns and cities press ing their demands fer public buildings to turn aside from them to bestow cost ly gifts on places where the people act as though stolidly indifferent whether they get anything or not
 By the voluntary effort of Congress man Higgins, who prabably knew our needs and what this city was entitled to, he put in claim, without solicita- tion, for an appropriation for post office building. He knew, of course, 1t would delight our people If they didn't appear alive to their privileges and op- portunities. More than that, he knew that this extreme section of the State was the Gibraltar of the Republican party of the State, and he conscien. tiously spake good word to favor his constituents so long overlooked.
 What has our city done to show It's appreciation of his kindly services? Noi 'thank yen' Not a sign, not word. That isn't the way human nature likes to be treated. It's our bad habit of not expressing our feelings of appreciation or asking for what we want when we are entitled to any favor.
 Our experience in trying to secure one of the two State Trade Schools was happy deviation from our seemingly zens got fairly aroused with glad anti cipation, and it was joyous hope that filled their hearts, and although disap- pointed, the benediction that came to them remained to elevate their aspira- tions.
 If we had the ablest men ever lit- ted for the United States Senate, few among our public leaders would think we had right to present their claims, much less 10 urge them, if the trading leaders of the party had decided the matter in their own interest.
 We mention elsewhere, in an item in this issue, that the Fisheries and Game Commissioners had overlooked this part of the State in the distribution of some rare foreign partridges to stock it's woods. A public-spirited citizen of this town made application to the Com missioner for consignment of the birds for Putnam woods, and they followed right along. "What's everybodv's bu- siness is nobode's business,n therefore we need a special organization like the Business Association to look after gen. eral matters of interest to the town and city, like the above. When any one hears of any like matter 1t is better to have the Associations attend to 1t than to undertake t personally.
 But to come to our starting point. We would like to have the Association interested in putting the city in tidy condition. The first Business Mems Association was organized to get rid of an unsightly and unhealthy frog pond alongside the railroad track and Kin ney's lumber yard, and it aroused great interest until 1t was accomplished. In various parts Of the city we have un- pleasant and ugly sights that ought to be got rid of. They hurt the reputa- ton of the city and keep down the var lue of property much beyond their lo- caiity. IL would Dc gratifying to all citizens Co have these offensive sights