New Britain herald., 1915-04-22

are builded on permanent and solid foundations. and which associations are determned to grapple with the real problems of their community and then study them until they are right ly solved.
 1T believe that your association is, so constructed and that in your presi- dent and officers you have broad. thinking men, ready at all times to give up their time and thought, in an unselfish desire to build up and de- velop and make community life better for all its citizens.
 There is tremendous field for you to work in and to me it seems strange that the business man of the commun- ity so little realizes the power that lies in his hands. The government of cities, of states and this nation is largely concerned with business ques- tions and it certainly Is time that you business men were on your job.
 Tt is fact that most of the ineffi- ciency of government is due to our leaving these all important business problems to politicians and lawyers to solve.
 Should Take Responsibility.
 Someone has had to do it and as usual the business man has been so wrapped up in trying to make a liv- ing that he has thought he has had no time for tn ese bigger questions.
 "The men you have selected to man. age these business affairs are not to be blamed if efficiency was not a t. tained as they probably did the best they could without your help but you and I certainly are to blame if we cannot or will not take up our indi- vidual responsibility and see that the business man does his share. Efficiency and economy in government business will never come until the business men make it their daily duty to study pub lie policies and take a hand in en- forcing them.
 Tt is truly said, If you think you have no time to give to study of pub lie affairs on account of your absorp- tion in your business affairs, you will wake up some day with plenty of time for you will have no business |s Tt is very encouraging sign that the business men are finally waking up-compelled by the ever-increasinS war taxes, income taxes, taxes of every sort made necessary in many in stances by inefficient and wasteful management of our municipal affairs
 When you are willing to give lip some of your time to these studies, don't try to accomplish them all alone, but get into these associations and by cooperation and a building up of strength. you will be surprised what can be accomplished.
 Oy.rauizatiou Necessary
 ''The business men of our cities and towns have practically realized for some years that a state association was becoming a necessity but such movements are necessarily slow and take time and careful handling before the public will accept and stand back of the work.
 We have made progress towards this public acceptance during these past sixteen years slowly you may say, but continually upward and onward until today with our forty live Cham Der of commerce and business mems associationsr-with our actual member ship of 1000 business men represent ing directly 16.000 citizens, I believe that we have the largest and strongest body of active. business men associated together for public efficiency that there is in any state in the union. With the fact established what are we going to do about it? Are you going to back it up and assist in solv- ing these big problems, or are you going to dodge them and leave them for the other man with more time, and less business judgement do SO?
 If you are determined to do things for yourselves through these organi- zations the time will come, sooner or later, when the general court of tho state will pass such measures as have had your careful study and approval and discard the many freaks" that cannot secure this approval.
 When it comes to a consideration of commercial legislation, the real leg-