Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-01-27
THE BOOSTER CLUB.

The movement to organize a com
mercial club in Dallas is an importan
step in the right direction. No tow1
or community can grow as it should
grow without organized effort on the
part of its residents. A striking fea'
ture of the recent census is found ii
the fact that the Oregon towns thai
have made the greatest growth in the
last ten years are those in which active
commercial bodies, or booster" clubs
have been maintained.
The usefulness and influence of a
commercial club in Dallas will depend
upon the manner in which 1t is man.
aged. Boards of trade, commercial
clubs, and other organizations of a
similar nature are as rule, short
lived, especially in the smaller cities
and towns Born amid great enthusi-
asm, they are soon neglected, and after
dragging along for a brief and uncer-
tain season, they are permitted to die
a natural death. If the proposed CON-
mercial club is to be made to prosper
and to bring about the results desired
by its promoters, there must be ear
nest, active work by every member,
and especially by the men who shall
be chosen to manage its affairs. The
only thing that will prevent interest
from tagging in an Organization of this
-klnd-is hard work, and lots of it. Ex-
perience has taught that the best re-
suits are accomplished by forming
numerous committees and putting ev-
cry committee to work. This places
each member of the club in a position
where he feels a personal responsible
ity for the success of the work appor-
toned to his particular committee,
and assures interest and activity in all
branches of endeavor.
The Observer believes that, in order
to secure the best results, the club
should employ one live booster to. give
its affairs as much of his time as shall
be found necessary in carrying out its
aims and purposes. The salary need
not necessarily be large, but 1t should
be sufficient to induce some capable,
energetic young man to take charge of
the affairs of the club and administer
them in an effective and buslness-like
manner. One of the greatest handi-
caps to Dallas growth in the past has
been that the lead In all important
public movements has had to be volun-
tarily assumed by some public-spirited
citizen who was willing to sacrifice
his personal interests, for the time be-
ing, for the good of the town. Such
sacrifices have always been cheerfully
made, but they are not necessary, and
it is not right to ask that they be
made. The business men of Dallas
are as publlc-splrited as those of any
other town, but they have their own
affairs to demand the greater part of
their time and attention, and as self
preservation is the first law of nature,
private business receives first consid-
Grafton and the public interest is neg
lected.
No state In the Union offers greater
advantages and opportunities to the
homeseeker and investor than does the
state of oregon, and oregon has no
more favored locality than the country
Immediately tributary to Dallas, The
attention of homeseekers everywhere
is now focused upon Oregon, and we
should use every endeavor to induce as
many of them as possible to come TO
Polk County. This result can best be
accomplished by organizing and main
tanning a live, energetic commercial
club.