The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-01

For " hich the members may well be
proud No one man is big enough to
build a city by himself; The Com
nerciaI club should include all the men
in the city. With a membership OF
from 100 to 1900 and every one
would pay his dues. we would have
about $4,000 a year. The necessary
running expenses of the club would
il every merchant would pay his pro-
norton towards bringing conventions
here. we could create a fund which
could be used FOR some of the purposes
for which the club was created.
New President Talks.
..The real life of the club is the sec
retary." said President L. s. Ferry.
He is the officer who is here to meet
the members and carry ON the work
ask every one Of you to support Mr..
Kelley in his efforts to build up
greater city. I pledge to you that I
will not only preside over two or three
banquets, but will put my shoulder to
the wheel and do everything I can for
the interests of Topeka"
A number of the members of the
club other than those in official po-
& lions were then asked to speak.
4 think the club has been a great
thing for the city, said J. B. Belts.
''I'I assure you that in my way I'll
boost for the club all that I can" said
L. NJ. Powell
Oldest bOOSLeF 1aikS-
Mr. Kelley then introduced Major T.
]. Anderson as the ''oldest booster in
Topeka" The major in his introduce
tory remarks said that he had been
working in the interests of the city for
the last Is years, and he told of how
it had been his policy to spend his
money right here at home.
THE Commercial club has put To-
Deka On the map of the United States,
and the world" said Major Anderson
4 don't believe that the state house
would be finished today had it not
been for the Commercial club. Among
other things, the club took up the mat
ter of good roads.
'~rhe president of one of the rail-
roads gave a little tip to the editor of
the State Journal, who is here tonight,
that if the business men wanted to
save the Santa Fe shops they would
have to get busy A group of men
got together Immediately and found
that they were actually about to lose
the shops.
Newton was the logical place for
the shops: in fact arrangements had
been made to go there. A telegram
from Chicago gave notice that if we
would buy a certain tract of land. the
shops would remain. There We're 127
buildings on the land and it would
cost $125,OOO. At a meeting of club
members Mr.. MacLennan pledged
$1,000 and Jonathan Thomas another
$1,000 and within a few days the bal
ance of the required amount was
raised
THE Santa Fe pay day means a
whole lot to Topeka. Now the Santa
Fe spends three times as much money
in the city as when it looked as though
the shops would be removed.
We should improve the water ate oo power ,',e
parks and boulevards in Topeka and
Shawnee county. I am willing TO pay my
share OF the expense and do my share of
the work.
Broadway Dingy by Comparison.
Il went to New York few days after
the white way was opened on Kansas
next speaker. II strolled out along
Broadway and was surprised to see how
to the brillancy Of our white way for d
few days before I left Topeka. If it were
not for the brilliant electric signs on
Broadway that great thoroughfare at
night would be dimly lighted, as it is the
lamps are old and decrepid-
II want to tell you that | haven't seen
a street anywhere that looks as nice as
Kansas avenue, and have seen great
many streets in Des Moines and otter
Kansas avenue has them all beaten ten
blocks"
peka in a single handed way SAID
Luther Bailey. MY idea would be to
ave, the Commercial club as the center
E1on S Clark: Mr.. President ana
Fellow Club Members am SAau
to respond to the complimentary SEN
timent suggested by our retiring
secretary. Mr.. Badders, in behalf
of the three honorary secretaries who
were so fortunate as to be associated
with the reorganization of this splendid
commercial organization, which IS the
hope of Topeka and the pride OF its mem
bers.
i regret that my colleagues, Mr.. Adj
ans and Mr. Bone. are absent tonight,
also Mr.. w W. Mills, who, despite his
many other overtaxing duties in cok'nec-
ton with his great mercantile establish
ment finally accepted the presidency at
that time after many had refused it. and
who guided all so safely and Wei
through that reconstruction period.
Il believe the last ten years of Topeka
history have been the best. because dur
ing that time we have dropped that old
habit of knocking on Topeka and instead
we have formed the habit of mentioning
only the good things about Topeka.
which are indeed countless.
I'VE pride ourselves upon being the
diplomatic literary and musical center OF
Kansas and ! want to urge tnat We CUT
tiNate more fully the Commercial clup
habit, that is every man OF topeka Of
business age, whether in business, so !
ciety or the professions. should identity
himself with this club, which is the nat
ural clearing house of all of our COM
mercial activities.
Since Wichita has already been men
toned here tonight. you will permit me
to refer to that city again in comparison
to say that Wichita has two commercial
bodies in one of which l hold nom
resident membership.
They have both a Commercial club OF