The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-16
CAMPAIGN FOR NEW
 MEMBERSLAUNCHED BY CIVIC CHAMBER
Reports For First Day Are Very EncOuraging-Mes- ser Has Secured IA.
 Rivalry Is Keen

The Chamber of Commerce membership campaign was formally launched on Tuesday and at noon yesterday more than 90 members had ben added to the roster of the organization and the checks of the new members had been turned in at the bank. The interest is very great and there is keen rivalry of friendly nature among members of the chamber as to who will win the grand prize of a season pass to Redwood field. The member securing the largest number of new ones wins the season ticket
 M. P. Messer said last night that he had already reported 14 new members, and that it was the easiest thing imag- inable" to get them. 'I did not do an hours extra work" said MT. Messer. l merely mentioned the fact that I would be glad to take applications for mem- bership in the chamber to those with whom I came in contact in business way, and not a man nesitated mo- ment. Everyone seemed not only will ling, but anxious to join the chamber.
 T had not thought much about the season baseball ticket prize that is to be given, for it was so easy that l did not realize I was getting so many mem- bers until I began to count up.
 MT. Messer says he will leave Birming- ham tomorrow mornisy for Washington ana will visit New York before return ing home. being away from the city about 10 days all told. It is not thought probable that Secretary Radcliffe will be in position to designate the winner of the grand prize by tomorrow morning and Mr. Messer will be in suspense until he reaches home.
 Secretary Radcliffe said yesterday aft ernoon that very great interest was be- ing manifested in the campaign and that new members were being added faster thonl it was thought possible at first.
 Many members have made no reports at all, especially those who are known and noted for the amount of labor they can accomplish in matters of this sort. It is being whispered that some of these members of the chamber are keeping quiet in order that "the other fellow may not get wind of how many mem bers they really have. In other words, they are not setting up targets for the other fellow to shoot at. There are many fans in the chamber, and they are on the outlook for that season baseball ticket
 As one member of the chamber put it, 1t seems an unnecessary thing to do, this putting on of a membership cam paign, for everyone seems to be failing over themselves trying to join.
 The unique plan of the Chamber of Commerce for securing new members by asking each member to go out and se- cure at least one new one, was hailed with joy by practically all of the mem- bcrs. Notwithstanding the fact that it has been two years since the organiza- tnn put on such a campaign, it was not deemed advisable to send teams out to Interview the business men and request them to become affiliated with the cham Ter, So many campaigns are put under way in the spring that the directors of the chamber decided that every member had a friend who was not a member, and that many of them had several friends. The result is beginning to loom large on the horizon and the future of the campaign appears Wright.