The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-09-02
A QUESTION
OF BOOSTING
T. II. LYMAN III THE TRADEsMAN
DISCUSSES WHAT 10 A BOOST
ERA GOOD POINT FOR ALL
TRAVELLING MEN TO KNoW--A
KNoTTY PRoeLEM.

and non-progreSsive city
A very lxnotty problem. this, to an
swer. 1t is not answered at moments
thought. and fear it would puzzle the
brains Of King solomon, were here
now, says Il. III. Hyman in The Trades
man.
Let us take the first, and dissect
selfish, conservative old Mr.. Fossil,
with moss on his back an inch deep,
who cares only for self. who has no
feeling for his brother man In this
world He liz generally a man who
does not believe in progress, and one
way to convert him is to get very close
to him. How can this be done, you
askf by practicing little deceit,
which / would rather not do, but which
Is necessary In carrying out this point.
You will find that he has some hobby;
1t may be In telling about his city and
how 1t should be run, or whether 1t
should be advertised. Don't cross
him. Kindly side with him, for an
ounce OF persuasion is worth more than
pound Of compulsion. 1t may be that
he has q piece of property that he
would like to sell to some factory for
site, and have the chance to build
houses for It's employees. After he has
made the deal he goes around blowing
his horn about 1t until he gets others
to thinking about the matter. and you
soon discover that he has done a good
work for your organization and may
be induced to join little later for
mercenary motives, that he may sell
another piece Of land. / have found
that the best way to convert this class
of citizen is to show him how To swell
his pocketbook. The only way to reach
some mems hearts Is through their
pocketbooks.
Having had the personal experience
of handling this kind Of citizens we
are discussing, / do not feel that IL is
out of place to give my experience, as
you may profit by same. The flrst
thing that / did was to get In close
contact with them by catering to
their whims and fancies. One was all
ways telling how much money the
city was wasting and how It could be
saved; another had pet piece of land
| that he was raising the price of every
day; another was a miser who did
no. want to eat because II cost, and
didn't see how the association was to
help him anyway. But another had
| the hatred of a rattlesnake for a
| "squatter," as he termed the man who
was a newcomer and not born in his
native state: he had no love, or even
kind word for the ''squatter,s to help
him in getting started in business.
Take stock in the factory he was
starting2 No. sir: not he. l made
warm personal friends OF all these;
not merely plain friends but siding
with them and then catering to their
whims; did some everlasting favors,
which put them under lasting obliga-
| lions to me. These four men are to-
day members Of the organization Of
which / am secretary. and have made
good members too. as my best workers
have taken particular pains to put
them on some prominent committees,
and they feel their importance.
Now, for the other half of this sub
ect, t'the booster, as I consider him.
The question arises:
Whist Is q 5ocstsr2
i He is the man who helps along like
4 the booster station OF an electric sys-
II
1 electric fluid from the powerhouse to
i its destination by lifting 1t along. The
booster OF today lends q helping hand
1 wherever he can or q word OF encour-
agement and praise, and In helping
4 others. he himself Is likewise helped
Il The time and trouble to investigate
for himself the many and varied ad-
vantages over other cities that his
city possesses, and In doing this ht
n quickly and necessarily reaches the
conclusion that this city Is place Of
great Importance.
II The booster believes IN his home
city first, last and aIl the time. ane
will not turn a receptive ear to any
word OF criticism. unless It be for thu
purpose of answering with figures and
facts and arguments defending his
home city and drawing attention {,
her many features Of superiority.
III The secretary OF a business bod,
who is pushing for supremacy for hi
city must be booster. and am sur
that I am looking into the faces o
| many many who appreciate tn
strength OF this position, knowing ful
| well that 1t fl only necessary 20 pre-
sent In truthful. straightforward
4 conservative, and yet aggressive man
ner. the many advantages that his cit
has 81 comparison with others Of tn
great cities of the United States.
The true booster Ia not boastei
but speaks forth the words OF trsatl
and soberness. end speaks them fror
the housetops OF life. The true booste
will undertake to build up his city b
doing things by concerted effort, an
not BY heaping abuse or needless criti
clsn upon the people or other cities
While loving his own city, he rejoice
likewise In the success and advance
nent Of the other cities and other SEQ
tons. The true booster loves his fel
iowmen- fears, honors and tries
serve his God.
One man can DO one thing, two me
| can do two things, but 200 booster
can do anything they start to do.
why should the booster not booi
his city7 why should he not be PEI
nitted 10 tell the truth In such cor
vinclng and earnest manner -
cause other people to know that
in telling the truth, and be impresse
BIZ the words that he speaks Tk
true booster hears some croaker ~
thar his city hasn't this factory (
tha4 rood point. THE booster heal
some envious person claim that
shall not be able 70 show this Or ths
80 well - some Other city.
THE Town Bocstsr
arep9ses: mo: but We have the CRANE
est harb0r ID the Atlantic coast Il
aavoAAt navy yard lii the county 40