Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-09

cheers for Willimantic before Toast master Beard introduced President Frank H. Johnston of New Britain, president of the Connecticut Chamber of Commerce.
 Chamber of Commerce President.
 President Johnston spoke upon the subject, Problems of State Cham Der of Commerce, holding the close attention of his hearers as he ad- dressed them as follows:
 During my term of office as presi- dent of the Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, l have had such splendid assistance from the members of this live association of yours that I have looked forward with much pleasure to meeting you and learning what there was in this atmosphere that inspired so much enthusiasm and downright hard work in your association, and I assure you that appreciate the honor you have accorded me in inviting me to be present this evening as your guest, and in permitting me to assist you, if possible, in the broadening and developing of your work.
 It was with much regret I found that I was unable a year ago to ac- cept an invitation from the Norwich Business Mems association to meet with them at the annual banquet as needed your inspiration and knew you had plenty to spare
 l have been in the work long enough | to know which associations are build | ed on permanent and solid foundations and which associations are determined to grapple with the real problems of | their community and then study them until they are rightly solved. | bp11aVn l. so constructed and that in your pres l ldent and officers you have broad thinking men, ready at all times to | give up their time and thought in an unselhsh desire to build up develop and make community life better for all its citizens.
 Big Field for Work.
 There is a tremendous field for vol, 10 work in. and to me it seems strange that the business man of the com = | munlty so little realizes the power that lies in his hands. The govern ments Of cities, of states. and this na- | ton, are largely concerned with bus- mess questions and it certainly is time job. 'o"i It is a fact that most of the tneffi- clency or government is due to our | leaving these all important business problems to politicians and lawyers tc
 solve. 'e
 Someone has had to do it and as
 usual the business man has been sc
 wrapped up in trying to make A liy.
 ing that he has thought he has had nc
 time to waste in these bigger ques.
 tfons.
 Business Men Waking Up.
 It Is a very encouraging sign tha.
 he is finally waking up-compelIed b1
 the ever increasing war" taxes in.
 come taxes. taxes of every sort mad.
 necessary in many instances by in.
 eHlsient ana Wasteful management O.
 our municipal affairs.
 The men whom you have selected 10 manage these business affairs ar,
 not to be blamed if efficiency was no
 attalned as they probably did the bes
 they could without your help, but vol
 ana certainly are to blame if VI cannot or will not take up our indt
 v1dual responsibility and see that th . business man does his share Efficienc, , ana economy in government bushes
 Will never come until the bushes , men make it their daily duty to stud , public policies and take hand i : enforcing them.
 : It Is truly said, If you think yo
 nave no time to give to the study ~t
 public affairs on account of your al
 sorption In your business affairs. yo 5 VIII wake up some day with plenty !. tune Tor you'll have no business" when you are willing to give Ii
 some or your time to these studie oont try and accomplish them a g alone, but get into these association T ana by cooperation, and building U ), can be accomplished.
 State Association Necessary,
 The business men of our cities ar
 towns have practically realized f, some years that the state associatir = was becoming a necessity, but s,IC S movements are necessarily slow ar n take time and careful handling befo
 the public will accept and stand bat Il of the work ~ [, Puollc acceptance during these pa = 10 years, slow you may say, but t continually upward and onward II, n Ill today with our forty live Chan s Der Of Commerce and Business Mer f ssoclallops-with our actual men y resenting directly 1600O citizens, I b D HeVe that we have the largest al
 strongest body of active business m, d associated together, for business e d nciency that there is in any state 5. lne union. With the fact establish It what are you going to do about
 Are you going to back it up and a = s1st in solving these big problems s are you going to dodge them and lea, o them for the other man with mo [ time and less business 1uder,.,t 6 do. Il If you are determined to do thin e for yourselves through these orra n 1zations the time will come, soon I. late, when the general court of t a state will pass such measures as ha e had your careful study and approy
 and dfscord the many "freaks'' tb
 cannot secure this approval.
 When it comes to a consideration 5, commercial legislation, the real leei l. lative body of the state will be : business men.
 lt l know that this is the belief of ma, . of our best business men of today a o that our present chief executive. E u Exceilency Gov. HoIcomb, would ",
 come such careful consideration bv
 business men of this state, of t s many vexing problems that confro m us at this time
 l. The Goal.
 # It IS toward this goal that we q = working today and are endeayori
 to enlist the hearty support of eve
 thinking man in every community. a We realize that it is a big work, a, Y must be carefully built up, and th i" above all these decisions must repr