Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-10-22
Speaker Says Citizens Should
Have Non Partisan Spirit
of Zeal.
MANY ATTEND THE PUBLIC
MEETING OF TRADE BID.
Inspiration Given Members
by Stirring Address of n.
Y. Merchants Assn Nan

Declaring that for the proper de-
velopment of city it's citizens
should be imbued with non par
tizan spirit of zeal that would cause
| them to sacrifice individual inter-
ests for the greater welfare and
prosperity of the city, Frank L. De-
vine held the attention of g. num-
| Der of citizens for about an hour
last night at general meeting of
the Board of Trade. The caption
of the talk was Community Devel-
/ opment." Mr.. Devine's knowledge
of board of trade work as assistant
secretary Of the Merchants Asso-
citation of New York, is very COM
prehensive, and in the words of act
ing president of the Board of Trade
A. c. Clark, his address was an in
spiration to those present. Three
minor changes In the bylaws and
constitution of the organization, re-
commended by the Board of Direct
ors, were adopted previous to the
talk of Mr.. Devine.
Praises Perth Amboy's Progress
| The speaker began with an eulogy
of Perth Amboy's progress since
| 1900. He stated that he had oc-
casion to study the development of
a number of New Jersey cities be-
tween 1900 and 1910, and that he
was struck with the rapid growth
of the city and that he was con-
vinced that it was the most progress
slve in the state, and the most rap
| idly growing in the state and In
the United States.
The speaker declared that the
proper development of a commun-
ity depends on the citizens that
: make up that community. You
can tell city by its citizens" he
said If you send delegation of
the leading citizens here to New
| York, the latter city would be i'm
pressed of a city out of the ordin-
ary, for you have out of the ordin-
ary citizens here" The speaker
stated that the air of business pro-
gress, the condition of the streets
were also indexes to the city's sta
tus.
The speaker compared commu-
nifty to big corporation, each cit
izen holding stock in the company.
Every citizen, no matter what his
occupation, should take an active
interest in the development of the
community" he said. II like to
hear citizen speak we'll of his
| town; ] like to hear one speak we'll
of his family, large or small. No
matter what you say to each other
about the city, when speaking to
strangers you should speak well Of
your community"
Civic Work a Duty
| The speaker contended that civic
work Is our duty because the citiz-
ems of the present owe much to
| those of the past who have made
the present possible, ana owe much
to the future generation to insure
| them their rightful and proper heri-
tage. He compared citizen to the
characters In the parable of the
| talents, and averred that the best
| citizen IS he that makes the most
use of his talents and increases the
| same to turn over to those that
follow his generation. He spoke of
the civic pride of the ancient city
OF Athens, when at one time the
children were made to make oath
that they would not speak i'll of
their city and would try u leave
behind better city than was found.
If every citizen felt that he was
bound to do something for the city
OF Perth Amboy, the city would
grow still more rapidly than it has
before" said the speaker
The secretary spoke of the de-
pravity of knowledge about their
own town prevailing among many
OF numerous cities. He stated that
he thought the schools should set
aside one day in the session as
founders day, when local history
should be closely studied
Like Real Estate Broker
The speaker compared the Board
OF Trade of city to a real estate
broker selling the opportunities of
the town to different industries. He
stated that every city desires to
gain these manufactures, and many
are working indefatigably for them;
that Perth Amboy to secure them
would have to present its advanta-
ges, adaptability and facilities over
other cities, Such assets he de-
clared, should be diligently studied
| by the Board of Trade, SO that 1t
would know just what to offer pros
pective manufactures. He laid
stress on the fact that only factor
| les that would really be a benefit
to the city should be admitted, and
| that a concern, just because 1t
brings in a factory, should not be
admitted. He thought the method