Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1911-02-10
STAUNTON BOOSTERS FORM
CHAMBER, OF COMMERCE
Mass Meeting One of the Greatest Held Here
in Years
County Building Would Not Hold the Crowd, and Meet
Was Also Thronged. Everybody Enthusiastic
Over the New Organization and Its Possibilities
for Good to the City and County.

Se@3H>>S-~S e~~-J
fu, sher the interests aud purposes OF
this chambsr of commerce.
"And it is further suggested that
at the call of ths president joint
meeting of the Board of Director,
and of the various committees be
ht la as soon as possible.
The meeting was called tc order by
Jad ge Heltiwho told of the work a
thu preliminary committee, and OF the
movement to form the Chamber OF
Commerce. The first thing necess ary
he said, was to have q pres iding
officer, and MIR. L. w. H. Peyton,
nominated Thomas D. Ransom for
that office. The meeting unanimously
elected him. Harold E. west and r.
D. Halslip we're appointed secre-
tariss.
Captain Ransom made q short ad-
dress in which he told what the
people who inaugurated the move
ment hoped to accomplish by means
of the Chamber of Commerce. They
had no axes to grind, ne said. They
wela moved by the want among the
business men of the town of central
organization to look aIter the mater
ial interests of the city and county.
sit is for you" he said, ito decide
whether we are to go on. II VS. are
to 90 on with this work We want to
enlist every man here in it. Fol We
are boosters-not boomers. A booster
is a man who is willing to lend a
han l, to help somebody or something
to 20 forward while boomer is
man who would stimulate things
a1ti ticially, usually to his own ad'
vantage. (applause.)
Hs emphasized the iaot that there
was nothing cut and dried about the
nrograu. Ia thu new organization,
he sand, the county was was to be
represented on the board Of directors.
and he hoped it would take an
active part in the work of the organ
izatltn. "You cannot divorce the
interests of the county and the
oounty town. "He said" any man
who would array one againstl the
other is a traitor to both"
Staunton and Augusta county he
said had many advantages and were
entitled to be leaders in the move
| nsnt going on in. the Soath. We
want to do larger things. he said,
i and better things. We want this city
to be the Queen of the Valley in
reality and Augusta the banner county
of the state. as she is the largest. he
spoke Of. the many desirable things
about Stsunton. He denied the state
msnt that there is no public spirit in
Staunton. The people, he said, are
a little slow to move, that is all, and
| all they need is some radiating centre
Of th cir acti yities. which wo7li ne
supplied by. the Chamber OF Con-
nerce.
MI. Charles Catlett made an inter-
sstin1 talk in which he outlined
soma of the desirable things that
could pe accomplished by the new
| organization. He said there was
plenty of good material here and that
; 5tsunton men conld do as much for
their home town, as they could for
other communities and industries to
! which they had been called. He gave
number of notable examples Of high
places won by Staunton men He
urged among other things the
identifying of the town. The town
is already beautiful, he said. 1t can
bs made more so for beaaty is an
asset Hhe croWdin the hall became SO
great while Mr.. Catlett was speak
ing. that it, was decided to adjourn
| to the courthouse and his address was
intsrrupte1 vii > the crowd moved
to the other bnilding. When the
nesting reasse nbled he continued his
address, which was much to the
point. and was greatly appreciated.
The principal address, of the even
ing was made by Mr.. W. T. Dabney,
business manager of the Richmond
Chamber of Commerce. He was in.
troducsd by Mayor Wayt who maze a
happy speech, in presenting him to
his audience. MIR. Dabney said
among other things:
"a more prosperous city is brought
about by practical planning, combined
energy, backed by sufficient financial
assistance, OH cooperative basis.
Concentration of effort in a well or.
ganized, non political non-partisan,
com nercial association, is the most
economical method IN the upbuildine
of city.
"All commercial bodies are useful.
Some are more productive thar
others, especially is this trus of those
ha sing sufficient funds to properly
operate. Ssch AN institution should
employ at least ons officer who il
capable to keep the interest in youl
, association active. Business mel
Ihoiding positions Of honor in youl
organization cannot make the sacri
foe of time necessary to keep up the
interest. Such was possible in former
years when competition in business
was not SO active and monev making
less difficult. Your salaried officer
J should be capable of advancing ideas
for improvement, and carrying ou1
the result of your deliberations, hi