The Washington times., 1916-12-03

the bunch" quietly met to arrange
ways and means OF getting together
10 G' orSsni h elect offcers. ana have
e few rules for the suppression OF
ThereIpon was born the City Club
Of Baltimore. This time luncheon
place was formally engaged, In the
fangements were made with a
caterer, and the daily luncheons for
civic conversation grew and thriveo'
-. Club q Natural Grswth.
The big point about the city Club
was that II was q natural evolution.
No one tried to force II. No one tried
to get lmembers for 1t. IL was an
honor to belong. which the real work
ers OF the city soon sought, ana
which liz still held mighty high, so
that tho 1000 members of the city
Club form q sort OF who's who OF
the progressive, active. forward look
ing. thinking men OF Baltimore who
are doing things, or, what IL more 70
the point. want to help do NOR"
One phrase has become a by.word
with the club. Its members are not of
the performer" type.
This club IL Informative, not re-
formative" its members will tell you.
The members won't even admit ne
Writ Steele, one of the Immortal
original six" now secretary OF the
club, explained:
Advocates No Propaganda. s.
"The club doesn't advocate any.
thing or attack anything. We don't
go in for propaganda. We still ad'
here to our original idea; this Is q
want to know about a thing we get
men to come here In the open. thresn
the thing out, and tGen we appoint
a committee, n need be, to inquire
into the matter. and report to the
club. We simply try to get at the
'As a result Of this we don't antas.
onise anybody. we don't commit our.
selves to any party or faction, but X
Is surprising what a unanimity OF
opinion one. can create About any valid
and worthwhile reform simply by air
As a result or this course the club
has done more good In Baltimore thu q
can easily be reckoned. IL has aired
facts about some questions anectine
politicians who a. is members' sno a
members. Several public men have
conceived the idea that the club rs
trying to drive them out OF public life.
But they cling to their memberships,
and when questions Affecting their
interests arise they are invited TO
come forth and have their say.
Pisi,ess Pssiieity.
II IL pitiiess publicity with q ven
geancs, not the iimeiight kind. but
the aiI.pervading, permeating x.ray
sort. which doesn't allow any sinking
OF into dark corners.
Everything has been discussed be
fore the club. from socialism and sin
gle tax to politics and woman sur
frage.
yited to the Saturday ionE;table lunch
ions, which have become famous out
aide the confines OF Baltimore.
These Saturday lunchoons began
back in 1912. when questions came up
which the club wanted explained at
Always Hears Bsth sides.
Always the club 10 careful to get both
sides Of a question. Cabinet members,
jurists. legislators. captains Of industry,
authors and editors. and leaders In
every walk Of life have spoken nj these
Saturday Iuncheons. william Howard
Taft and william J. Bryan are typical
OF combinations that have been there on
Important ar they have become. these
the main function OF the club. IL re-
fuses TO bulge from It's talk things
over" platform. The other ave days OF
the week are kept free for the gather-
and more at tables to cat and talk.
Thus the city club has become the
noontime meeting place OF committees
of all sorts There are private rooms
for committees which have women mem
privacy than. that OF the big dining
room.
The business man who wishes to talk
over something with friends. who wishes
10 meet n committee. who desires 10 have
simply calls up the City club and has
a table reserved.
Isfsrasi Meetisgs Daily.
Besides the Informal groups there are
meetings OF this sort daily. Take q
random example from the clubs noon
day calendar. which looks like an as.
signment sheet OF whats Doing In
Baltimore" today;
tary training camps association
board OF managers. Federated CHAR
ties: senior class Johns Hopkins uni
verslty, dinner; character study class
April, 11-Miii Owners Club; Mary
land Claim Association: Ship Build
April i2-onetotwo Club: Brown
Memorial Church social committee
ID. X. Il. fraternity; canned goods ex
change.
The evening program OF meetings .,
almost as varied. For the City Club
rooms form a sort of community gath
erinE place. which may be had for al
sorts OF meetings, upon the payment
OF a nominal fee to cover cost OF
lighting.
sTke Top Of the Tsws.-
The folder OF the club 10 headed by
this Inscription, THE Top OF ths
Town." referring to the location or
the eighteenth floor OF the Munse,
building, and below Ia the invitation
Let a daily view OF our whole cit,
give you a broader vision OF her op
portunities and needs"
Real Leaders Heard.
Last Saturday Carl r. Gray, presi
dent OF the Western Maryland rail
road. spoke to the Saturday rouns
table luncheon on what that rsilwa!
means to Baltimore.
ua.a A.. sannIs Aen2ras. Tor ,