The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-23
Civic Enthusiasm Touch
es Highest Point in
City's History.
MEMBERS PLEDGE
BIGGER REVENUE
Work of Chamber to Be In
creased-Conunittee of One
Hundred to Get 500 New
Boosters-Speakers Favor
Better Housing for
Working People.

The simon-pure Richmond spirit
took hold of $50 business and profess
sional men at the Jefferson Hotel au-
ditorium last night and transformed .
body Of men averaging well into the
forties into a surging crowd q
youngsters pledged to do and die for
the city on the James.
Gray haired men. who had seen the
city rise from its ashes. falter through
the ReadJuster period and blossom
day. declared that never In their ex-
perience did they witness such dis
play or enthusiasm. Hard-headed
business men. accustomed at all times
to discount emotion. solemnly assured
the audience that in all the city's his
tory there was never gathered at ono
time SO large and representative
cial men.
The occasion was the big Chamber
Of Commerce dinner. and every tablo
was full. The big auditorium held
every table and chair that 1t could
hold, and every chair was taken Not
even the cold drizzle out OF Doors
could keep the membership away. A
half hour before the dining room
doors opened the approaches were
crowded. and nobody made move
homewards until the last speaker had
had his say at 1880 o'clock.
Pledge Increase Of @8yooe.
Besides giving voice to spirit OK
cooperation which viii never ade-
H.. .poA In
cents. the meeting did 1t least one
concrete thing which may be ex-s
pressed in decimals- In response to .
stirring appeal by Business Manager
Dabney It pledged on the spot. through
individuals. firms and corporations. in-
creases in dues which viii boost tie
chambers annual income from $4,000
to $4,000.
The speech which brought it was ON
all sides acknowledged TO have been
the most potent and convincing adj
dress ever delivered before the msn-
berskip. It brought the gathering 70
its feet. and for fifteen minutes thres
secretaries wrote at record epeed to
take down the names Of members who
pledged increases in their annual as
sessment ranging from so to 400 per
cent
The appeal was based on che simple
statement that the Chamber OF Com
merce stood handicapped In Its Work
by reason Of the fact that its annual
revenues circumscribed its activities
within narrow limits. To keep ND
with the demands made upon It by
the growing city an immediate ms
crease in its revenues had to be pro-
vided. and 1t came.
To Get SO New MEMBER.
0xxAf
Manager Dabney. only partly removes
the handicap To conduct q eAmpeaSI
commensurate with Richmond's growth
and possibilities. he said. at least
SIS. 600 annual increase - needed. most
OF which is already In sight 4 COM
siderable portion OF the chambers
membership was absent and VIII con-
tribute .,s quota Of the tncreaSe -
soon as it is approached
In addition to the Voluntary m
creases in assessments announced lAsx
night and to be secured later. me
chamber proposes - secure TURNER
large increases n its annual feveoue
BY q membership campaign 70
launched at once. with the purpose %
adding to its rolls At least 500 new
names.
Tn furtherance of this plan . spa
..,aI committee OF Zoe members waS
designated and will meet at o'clock
,hi. afternoon in the Chamber u Com.
merce 10 work out details II -
,,s,,.d 70 secure soc new memcesS
w;,hIn three DAYS after the csmn0sgN
.. hseun and 10 ore WHO was present
a, last nights celebration doubts tne
ability Of the committee to do u
O~r,~s~v WltAo0t PARALLEL.
TIE concrete results of last n:entU
dinner. stated thus badly IN colo W.
indicate ,nly family the spirit -
r,v.. .-.ie which made the eataer
one without parallel IN the e'Hs
.,,I hi.,orv. Speaker after speak
- -enarked urcn IFS reoresentstvS
...-,r,sr and declared 10 20 De u
-, remarkable demonstration tiny
rad ever witnessed
p-ssse-n, T. 81 Carrinston bexan u
.,s.rhrnaktrs with BRIEF reNteW
~. Gamblers activity IN tne past -
suggested some OF the Hnes 49,
Va 49,. Immediate improvements uoo0
.n,,.mrls,ion all OF when 49,
e,o.sh. OFT in more detail later ~
the evening by Mr.. Dssaey
Mr. carrins,on ecmmsh'sn1 &C., -
,x.ed between the chamber Aao
,-ysx Council expressing the oeyet 49,
tire two bodies viii be oroueSS
even cloeer relationship " u
sure. He, spoke Of the ased g -
nex,n~ new territory for weykom
mems homes. and Of ire aecesoWy -
better rs.frcsd a-conmcdattsN
Ia some way" he sstd- 80 -
have better srrsnEem.nu ~.
Atlantic Coast Line train whsce -
the South tn the evening -
for 70 ~ indeed an tnsoeDseaote -
stop that reaches one wbo - oO9oU =
az o'cicck IN the mss1.ae