The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1910-11-17
MEETING A
BIG SUCCESS
Capt. I'll. S. Norton of Gary
Calls Clubs to Order at
Anderson.
Especial to THE TIMES. }

Especial to THE TIMEs)
Anderson, Ind, Nov. 17.-Lake
County men were the prime movers
in the third annual convention of the
Indiana Federated Commercial Clubs
which was called to order at 2:3C
yesterday afternoon by Capt. H. S
Norton of Gary president of the
association.
Gary sent the largest delegation to
the convention with fourteen dele
gates, who, under the leadership OF
A. d. Schafer, established a Gary
headquarters in the parlor of the
Doxey Hotel. Visitors were invited
to call at the headquarters and learn
Of the opportunities afforded by the
new city on Lake Michigan.
JOHNSTON READS PAPER
The feature of the afternoon session
was the paper read by Z. F. Johnston,
secretary of the Hammond Commercial
club on Dead Weight In City De-
velopment" Mr. Johnston did not
hcStbdtS lO Cdlt q SpdQo a SPADE and his
remarks elicted considerable applause.
In his address of welcome Mayor
Frank P. Foster, after heartily well
coming the delegates to Anderson, took
occasion to place himself in a position
as being unalterably opposed to the
commission form of government, which
is favored by large majority of the
delegates, and which was later to be
discussed at the banquet tonight by
James G. Berryhill of Des Moines, la.
the originator of the commission form
of government now in force in his
home city.
AGAINST COMMISSION.
Mr.. Foster said in part:
While I believe that local and in
dividual efforts may be trusted to alter
the form of municipal government /
feel that in the MAIN even the most
helpful and enduring results may be
reached through diligent labor to en-
force the laws we find ready made than
to go unbounded into the creation OF
new ones.
"A few cities under an awakened
public sentiment may have obtained a
good administration, but that is not a
conclusive argument that al cities OF
the country should undertake the same
experiment 1t is not improbable that
the municipalities which have reached
under what is denominated the com
mission form Of government. could have
done equally well with a single exc
cutive had they expended the same
zeal In looking for the man that thew
did in finding three or more, as the
case may be. At any rate, to meet the
advocates of a plural executive 1t is
sufficient to point to the fact that there
are cities with a single executive which
show achievements no less gratifying
than these which so earnestly proclaim
the new form"
WHAT JOHNSON SAID.
The paper read by Z. f. Johnston wa g
as follows:
An examination into the history of
every old city and town in the country
would probably develop the fact that
each particular town city exists in
it's present location on account of some
natural advantage which that particu-
lar locality offered. Very few Of our
early >eities had anything artificial in
their beginning and people were in
clined TO follow along the lines of lea ast
resistance.
Things have materially changed.
however. in the last few years and we
sometimes see now town struggling
for existence. in a locality as devoid
of natural reasons for a town as the
great desert of vegetation
These towns exist as the result of
human agencies and artificial means of
development. The most successful
cities and towns, however, are those
which are able to present to prospect
i've citizens the greatest natural ia
cilities for manufacturing and the
most pleasant conditions for home
building.
1t is the desire OF every patriotic citi-
zen of every municipality in the United
States that his particular city or town
may develop in every good sense Of
the word. While this desire for growth
exists in the heart of all, the desire to
assist the growth is not so universal
Every town can improve its condf-
tions even If a few of its more pro-
spectfve citizens organize with this end
In view and keep everlastingiy at work