The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-03-27

AT last the Chamber of Commerce ha:
been organized.
The organization Thursday night il
the elimination of the efforts of severa
citizens who have been untiring in thei1
cxertions to promote this enterprise tt
| success.
In this good work the press contribut-
ed its fullest share towards the stimula
ton, and in the arousing of the public
spirit to this most satisfactory result.
This reference to the press is scarcely
| necessary since the press is ever active
in doing its full duty in boosting public
undertakings The press is well salts
fed with the results attained. So are
the citizens who have planned anc
worked steadily to this end, and so are
all progressive people.
And now with Chamber of Com
merce managed efficiently, all things
within reason and worth having may bt
within the reach of Shreveport
The meeting held in the court house
Thursday night was thoroughly repre-
sentative of the various interests. Il
was enthusiastic in the highest degree.
The meeting was called to order BY
Mr.. j. B. Ards of Ards & Co., who has
been leader in this movement. His
face beamed with smiles. He was ii
happy mood and he had the right to be-
the crowd was there and it was splen,
did gathering.
The chairman of the meeting ther
was named, Hon. L. E. Thomas, presi.
dent of the Continental Bank and Trust
Company.
For secretary Robert R. Emery, rea1
estate agent, was chosen. Chairman
Thomas handled the meeting skilIfully
and said the right things at the right
time. Secretary Emery noted the re-
cords as veteran.
The first speaker, Hon. G. W. Jack
Won the attention of the meeting at the
beginning of his address and held it to
the end. Preceding the explanation Of
the purpose of the Chamber of Com
merce Mr.. Jack referred to-
"The good old school days of the long
ago,
When reading and writing and 'rithme-
tic,
Were learned to the tune of a hickory
stick"
in the good old days of the Blue Back
Speller and McGuffeys Reader, we
learned the lesson we will never forget,
of the old man apd the seven fagots.
Stricken with age, the father sent for
his seven sons and, presenting to them
seven fagots wrapped and bound togeth-
er with twine, asked them to break them
in two. When bound together they could
not be broken, but when separated it
was easy to break them one by one. The
story was forceful and impressive, as it
demonstrated that in union there is
strength and power.
In the unifcation of the Progressive
League, the Board of Trade, the Traffic
Association and kindred organizations,
would be strengthened and
ready for every emergency.
In their turns w. E. Glassell, E. K.
Smith, J. Homer Jordan, Samuel Drey-
fuss and J. B. Ards were called and
each in brief but pointed talks present
ed their views in practicable sense and
the situation and what could be accom-
plished by the consolidation of various
in Shreveport.
The closing speech was by Hon. E. H.
Randolph. He referred to the natural
advantages of Shreveport, including gas
and oil and the wonderful fertility of
the soil, and yet with all these, progress
1ad been slow. He also directed his re
marks to the embargo raised by the
Texas Commission against Shreveport,
and expressed the hope that these bar
-iers would be removed by the action of |
Attorney General Guion with his assist
ant, Col. R. G. P1eahant He then sum
narized the reasons and some of the
:auses for such conditions which can and
must be overcome by a determined spirit
# progress. His speech was on the order
# bugle call sounding the rally to
ace and overwhelm the enemy, which
n this instance is inaction, apparently,
N the part of those who by virtue of
heir property and other interests should
e among the first and the most liberal
n their contributions for the support of
he Chamber of Commerce.