The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-20
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. MOTIFS
why the Sumter Chamber of Com.
herce is Interested i'm All Manner
or Civic ImprOvements-City Trees
Sidewalks, Streets, Yards, Etc.


is SO deeply interested in the city
government and generally in civic
Improvement. In fact it has onlv
been within the last few years that
American commercial organizations
have viewed this subject in its proper
| light.
1t is significant that since thew
nave taken up this subject that thew
nave increased rapidly in numbers
and their influence has spread
throughout the entire land. Many of
these organizations have promoted
the "Spotless Town Day, when the
entire city has undergone a cleaning.
back and front yards alike. Mayors
have issued proclamations and the
schools and stores were closed and
every man, woman and child in town
went to work to scrub that town
cleal. Photographs of filthy back
yards were taken and put on slides
and shown to the public. There are
number Of these yards in Sumter
that would not show up wei. in a
! photograph. 1t is now recognized by
all commercial and Industrial forces
that city must be clean and attrac-
tive before it can grow. Industries
Will come to and the necessary labor
will live in those cities only that
show a proper civic pride, cleanli-
ness. well paved streets, paved side
walks, attractive home and trees.
schools and churches, public libraries,
: public parks and public. buildings.
Discussing in the American Lum-
herman the Christmas spirit applied
! to business. H. F. Miller, business
manager OF the association, writes:
1.-THE business mind is above all
things practical mind. 1t discards
Eall theories Lased on hysteria or un-
| sound logic. Convince the business
man that it is good policy for him to
organize with his follows, cooper
ate with his competitors, and extend
ms acquaintance. and he Soon learns
to capitalize acquaintance and good
fellowship and to clip the coupons Of
profit from the bonds of fraternity
| without the sacrifice of a single prin-
| ciple and without the infraction Of
the most delicate rules governing the
ethics.
I'm nearly every large and progress
sive city in the United States there is
today at least one big strong aggres-
sive organization Of progressive busi-
ness men banded together in good
! fellowship and working earnestly
along lines of efficient organization
and practical cooperation to a de-
gree which would have been impos-
sible oIly few years ago.
1T is frequently said and written
| that the spirit of organization is
abroad in the land. According to Of
| fetal report there are no less than
four thousand commercial clubs and
similar local commercial organiza-
tions in the United States. Civic
work has had no place in the old
fashioned commercial Organization.
The broader modern idea is response
| hn hi ina OF a1t
and good business, and in the fu-
sion of the elements involved a chem
| ical reaction has resulted which
means much to the business world
and to the world at large.
THE business association which en-
courages public improvements, CO.
operates with the public authorities
to secure ecolOmic and effective ad-
ministration, safeguards the public
health, secures for the individual and
his possessions protection against the
lawless and raises the standards of
living by directing the influence of
public opinion in many ways hither-
to neglected-ths association is get
tag business and is getting it by
means that are farsighted and en-
during. This work is new work.
Not until the local civic and com
mercial organizations have broaden
ed their influence through state
| wide cooperation and then expanded
| through countrywide fraternalism
| will they compass their greatest
| sphere Of usefulness"