The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-26
Be A BOOSTER, NOT A
kN0CkER SAYS RUFf|M
dress On the Duties OF Citizen
ship--Mr. Grice Presides.
By w, NJ. BICKERs.

BY w. NJ. BICKERS.
One OF the most stirring meetings
of the Railroad y. NJ. c. A. Tuesday
Club was held yesterday, with Mr.. 4.
w. Grice presiding.
The speaker of the occasion was Mr..
3. A. Ruffin. and while technically his
subject was THE Railroad Mans Re-
lation to City Welfare" the address
was applicable to the good citizens of
all business relations. though the
speaker thought that railway men, by
their training in discipline and direct
ness Of important observation. are. as
a. class, more susceptible to the obliga-
ton to public welfare.
The prime fundamental and compre-
hensive duties of citizenship are: az
To be Informed as TO what enters into
and constitutes the best community
interest: and cd to become acquaint-
ed with the best meaps and manner
whereby these wholesome things can
be best applied. Good citizenship is
an essential of good public well-being.
To be properly informed on civic dues-
tons Is very necessary. Has each OF
us given calm. intelligent consideration
to the now agitated question of the
proper site for a union depot? of the
cession to the government of por-
tiop OF street for postoffice pur-
poSes? of the proper provision for
school facilities In the outlying dis
tricts? These and other public ques-
tions demand xerious consideration no
less than the moral questions. Ex-
pansion of territory is not the chief
good Of a city. whether city be
large or small these are ever-vital
issues that demand serious, sober
reflection. Here Mr.. Ruffin paid a
high tribute TO Richmond's moral and
material worth and referred in pleas
ing terms to its excellent sanitation
and water. and to Mayor Ainslie' s
ideal Of a uniform street and park
system.
As the churches and Sunday Schools
are the heart. as the schools and col
Ieges are the brain. OF the land. Just
so are the railroads its veins and
arteries and the higher training OF
railroad men has made for the ad-
vancement OF good citizenship as the
increased mileage OF the roads has
developed territory and com nierce.
The speaker urged loyalty to the
city and pleaded with every man
present 10 be 1--we booster and never
knocker, We want plain. practical
training for the common veal. a pro-
found realization of our personal re-
spensibility In developing this Eoodly
city into its highest moral and ma
ternai possibilities.
After the applause which followed
the earnest address subsidized, Chair
man Grice thanked Mr.. Ruffin for his
inspirat!onal effort. and then there
was an open meeting" in which
short and pungent addresses were de-
iivered by Mr.. J. E. Peasants. secre-
tsry In the State Y NJ. c. A. office:
Mr.. G. A. Mccarthy. the newly elected
boys works secretary OF the State Y,
NJ. C. A.: Mr.. John Fl. Redd and
Chairman r. " Grice. Plans for en-
larslng the clubs membership were
heartily discussed and enthusiasm
abounded.
Upon motion. committee was ap-
pointed TO write and present TO ths
club and 10 the family of the decea sed
a memorial on the death of Mr. G. w.
n Crawford, who was n regular at
tendant at the clubs meetings. and a
very popular member. The chair ap-
pointed w. NJ Pickers. r. j Goodwin
and 3. p. Dowdy.
The h"nediction was pronounced by
Mr.. Mccarthy