The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-16
voLUNTEERs WANTED,


city. will wage . membership CAM
paign next Tuesday and Wednesday
with q view to introducing new blood
into the organization to increase tts
efficiency and to make 1t possible to
close the year entirely free from debt.
An Indebtedness of $1,000. in round
figures, at the present time IL serv-
ing as a stumbling block to the per-
feet operation of the club. More
than five hundred dollars Of this
amount was borrowed from the build
ing fund created last year when the
club gave a minstrel show that was
an unqualified success. Next Decem-
Der II and Is q second minstrel show
win be given for the express purpose
Of increasing this fund with a view to
the ultimate erection or purchase Of
a permanent club home.
A city without a commercial club
would be a dead one. In all progress
sfve cities today a commercial organ
ization Is considered the clearing
house for the, general business and
interests Of the city.
The Commercial Club Bulletin
makes the following comment upon
the work Of the local club:
Every day questions are present.
ed for adjustment that could not be
handled elsewhere. A factory look
ing for 4 location will naturally COM
municate with the secretary Of the
business association. Persons out Of
Commercial club. Many positions
have been found for reliable men. and
thus not only have they been aided
but their employers have benefited
by procuring competent help. GEN
eral information about Topeka is fur
nished by the Commercial club. The
club promotes enterprises of civic in
terest. Many questions are brought
to the organization and put in con-
crete form for presentation to the city
commissioners"
It was. through the efforts of tho
Commercial club a number of years
ago that the Santa Te shops were
retained for Topeka. Credit for the
White Way lighting system. which
gives the city a strictly up-to-date APP
pearance and calls forth compliment
airy remarks on the part of, visitors.
IS due the Commercial club. BY the
Merchants association. an auxiliary
organization composed Of between
thirty and forty Of the leading bust
ness firms Of the city, conventions are
entertained. These conventions put
money into circulation and give To-
peka a large amount Of its best ad-
vertising. The things that the Com
mercial club does to promote the in
terests Of the city are too numerous
to mention-there arc q Thousand
and one" Of them.
What will the Commercial club do
for me?'
That is q question often asked by
persons who are invited to join the
ranks Of the organization. It is not
the purpose Of the club todo anything
for an Individual except in an indi-
rect way. Any effort which has the
interests of the city in View or which
makes Topeka A-better place in which
to live is a real benefit to every citi-
zen. It would be, within the scope OF
the Commercial club to bring a fac
tory to Topeka employing several
hundred men, but to sell stock for
business here would be an entirely
different question. Yet the club is
often asked to give assistance to in
dividuals and firms when the city as
a whole would in no wise be bene-
flied.
- There are now $50 members In good
standing. At least 1000 members are
required to put the club on a strict
ly business basis and to free it from
the handicap of an Indebtedness. Ev-
cry citizen of Topeka, in business or
not, is, or should be, interested in
the operation Of the Commercial club
He should lend his assistance by help
ing to maintain the club, and should
take an active interest In the prob
lens of the organization. Topeka's
progress Is due to the efforts Of the
public spirited men who devote their
time. and money for the good of the
city. If more men would give money
and their moral encouragement To-
peka would make even longer strides
than has been the case in the last
few years.
There is q tendency to leave the
work to the 'other fellow" One
group Of fifteen or twenty men has
engaged in every Commercial club
campaign in the last few years. These
men feel that their sphere Of infiu-
ence in a campaign IL to some extent
exhausted. and while they are willing
to do their part they want to see at
least 100 men in the field next week.
In fact the campaign will not be a
success unless that number will agree
| to give at least one day to the work.
No club member is too big or too
small to gut his shoulder to the
wheel A call has been made fol-
volunteers!