Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-03-19
LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, ONESAYS
DECLARES PEOPLE WOULD Be
BOOSTERS fF THEY REcoc-
NIzED RESOURCES.
RAILROADS, DECLARES OTHER
RATES ARE PRoHiBITVE AND
KEEP NEW INDUSTRIES FROM
LOCATING HERE.
What ails Las Vegas

What ails Las VegasY
"A lack OF knowledge and conse-
quent lack Of enthusiasm" says w.
J. Lucas, president Of the CONNER
cial club.
"Selfishness" is the reply Of Isaac
DAVIS, prominent West side mer-
chant
Discriminatory railroad rates and
spirit Of jealousy" declared Dr.. F.
e. Olney, an old resident and con-
sistent booster.
At the first meeting Of the Forum
OF Las Vegas, which was held last
night at Temple Montefiore, promi-
nent men of the community endeav-
ored to present to the audience pres
ent their ideas of what is the matter
with Las Vegas.
DR.. Jacob Landau, who organized
the Forum and who is a consistent
worker for the welfare Of Las Vegas
in opening the meeting declared that
he could see now, better than ever
before, what is the matter with TINS
community. &c said T was evident
that the people do not take an lniei
est in their city, else large crowd
would have attended the meeting last
night. (The attendance was smaIl)
DIR. Landau said the people of a city
should think it the best city in the
world and should always work for
its best interests. He said they
should be willing to give up social
pleasure, and, if necessary. sacrifice
some time that should be devoted to
business in order to work for the adj
vancement and welfare Of their home
community.
DR.. Landau explained briefly the
objects of the forum, saying it was
for the purpose Of discussing topics
Of local and general interest, partic-
uiarly with the ambition to inculcate
among the people spirit Of local.
and national patriotism He said the
forum was to do things. not simply
to discuss mem DI Landau's re-
marks were received with applause.
DR.. F. E. Ogney was the first speak
er He stated that he would not go
into ancient history; that if he told
the honest truth about what Is the
matter with Las Vegas he probably
would create a sensation. DR.. Olney
stated that the railways have always
Disseminated against Las Vegas. He
showed how manufacturing interests
could have been induceu to come
here had not the rates offered bg
the roads been prohibiuve. DR.. Oh
ney said Las Vegas mad failed in the
past to develop its surrounding re-
He said this was the result
Of the fact that this point formerly
was the trading center for cattle and
sheep men for radius Of $50 miles.
The people were too busy making
money TO pay any attention TO the
resources Of the immediate country.
DR.. Olney said the dairy interests
should be fostered and that Las We
gas people should do their trailing at
home. This latter policy, he declar-
ed. would go long way toward
making Las Vegas a prosperous com
munity.
Lack Of unity, selfishness and a
tendency to boost for the things
which are doubtful Of success rather
than those which are sure to bring
increased prosperity. were a few Of
the things Isaac Davis declared are
the matter with Las egas. He said
that good, practical boosting would
do more good than working for some
thing Of an Impractical nature M
Davis explained By stating that it
would be Impractical. until the COM
munity has grown. patronage has