The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-15
SPIRIT OF TOWNS
Topeka Chamber of Commerce
Into New Activity.
Enthusiastic Banquet in New
Quarters Last Night.

Creating an atmosphere of enter
prise.
Creating. custom of appreciation of
public service.
Establishing the habit of giving.
These are the three principal func-
tions of a chamber of commerce, out
lined to 400 Topeka business men by
Lucius Wilson of the American City
Bureau at the opening dinner in the
new quarters of the Chamber of Com
merce Tuesday evening. It's the To-
peka Commercial club no longer. It's
the Topeka Chamber of Commerce and
a charter for the organization under
that name will be obtained. w. w.
Webb, president of the organization,
called for a vote on the new name
and it was adopted unanimously
1t was a dinner, long to be remem-
bered. Every chair was taken. Deco
rations in the big, new hall were beau
tiful and enthusiasm ran high. Henry
J. Allen was the drawing card and he
didn't disappoint his audience. Cover
nor Capper- spoke a few words, Mayor
House talked common sense, F. c.
Fox, general manager of the Santa
Fe. and E. Raymond, general superin-
tendent, spoke. Senator James A.
Troutman acted as POSTMASTER But
when it came down to hard facts
about chamber of commerce. work.
Lucius Wilson put them all in the
shade. ..-- 81.
esprit of Town. $40
1.-THE spirit of the town determines
the value of it's real estate" declared
Mr.. Wilson
He then described Seattle, a town
| with spirit which swelled real estate
values and then described an eastern
town where spirit was lacking and
real estate value was in much the
same condition. And this spirit. he
affirmed, was reached thru the three
main principles he had outlined Big
red-blooded men won't bring factories
to Topeka until the men of Topeka
| measure up to the men the city de-
sires to bring here, he declared. And
this spirit is only attainable thru a
commercial club up and kicking first
last and all the time
Henry Aliens talk was mixed with
the pretty phrases and dreamy words
that have made him famous as an
J orator.
Good Towns, No Accident.
Towns do not grow by accident"
| he said. 1T is no accident that To-
peka has grown as it hast has
! been no haphazard attempt of boost
ers.
There is nothing that you cannot
make out of Topeka if you have the
VIII TO make it. Its future in the
| m1ddle-west is beyond description if
you will meet the opportunity with in
teIligence ard organization. You must
cooperate. Unrelated men accomplish
very little.'' --'' -
He spoke of politics and urged the
CITY manager plan which he has de-
voted considerable time to investieat-
ing. He paid a glowing tribute to
Dayton where the city nanag ger MIA n
mas been adopted and has proven a
success. q
Capper Speaks.
I
ne1 Lhat everyone present was united
on one subject, boosting for Topeka
ana It's industries. He cut his ADDRESS
snort to accompany the Wichita man
TO his train. Then Lucius Wilson
spoke Mr.. Fox and Mr.. Raymond
made short addresses.
| Calls for Mayor House were heard
me mayor made a confession. He
hadnt been a member of the CONNER
cial organization while in the news
paper business, for monetary reasons.
After becoming mayor he had refused
| TO join because people would think
he had done it for political reasons.
But he told the audience that he had
learned to appreciate the club and its
cial life.
He admitted that petty politics was
the greatest hindrance to official du-
ties, and confessed that he had found
political expediency of acts had been
The Mayors Trouble
| Imagine coming from a newspa-
per office where everything must be
done today and discovering the red
tape and politics surrounding every
official act" said the mayor ST be-
lieye a commercial club should back
a city commission which it believes Is
playing square,.
President Webb urged cooperation
He lauded ]. Will Kelley. secretary OF
the Chamber of Commerce, and told
the audience that if they were pres
emit day after day and saw how hard
Kelley worked, they, too, would APP
preciate the secretary.
| The Santa Fe orchestra furnished
music and Ray Lattners sextet sang
The Santa Fe men sat at a decorated
table and INDUCED in number OF
wells during the dinner.
Csxyr UoceoI. DaS1r,ad