Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-02-11
MERCHANTS LUNCHEON
Continued from Page One)

North and Carol Braden talked
baseball TO such purpose that
meeting was called for Thursday
evening to perfect the organiza-
tion of the Rocky Ford Cubs.
Here are excerpts from the
paper by Mr.. Price:
Mr.. President and Fellow Business
Men:
You committee on program has re-
quested me to write paper on the
topic, "a Closer Fellowship of the
Business Men and Farmers of Rocky
Ford" AS there is no sane reason,
that / can see, why such a condition
should not exist. l have considered
that the subject is an easy one and
informed your committee that would
comply with their request, as best |
could. Let me say to begin with, that
/ do not believe, (and / do believe
that l voice to sentiment of practi-
cally every business and professional
man in our city, that there is any
serious misunderstanding or inten-
tional business friction among us.
The fact remains, however, that we
are evidentally SO engrossed in our
thought to closer fellowship, that
should exist with our neighbors, COM
petitors and fellow business men. To
attain the object for a closer busi-
ness relationship to me, the prime re-
quisit is cooperation, in every effort
to improve business conditions. The
truthful adage, "In Union There Is
Strength" particularly applies to the
success of our efforts and desires to
enhence the business interests of
Rocky Ford and vicinity.
The term cooperation, think, ac-
cording to Webster, is "joint labor"
To us as fellow businesss men, using
the curbstone phase it is, "get to-
gether," "stick together" and on any
and all feasible propositions for the
betterment of business conditions and
business interests of our city and vi
cinity and our city, as whole to
work in unity.
The Gazette-Topic of recent date
made the statement that what the
merchants and the professional men
and business men in general wanted
to know was, "How to improve bust
ness conditions"
l believe l am safe in the statement
that there are none of us here today
who cannot apply this same question
need of improved conditions, relative
to his personal business affairs.
Let me ask you why?
What good and satisfactory rea-
son can you give that better con-
ditions do not prevail in this COM
munity?'
There is a cause and a plausible
reason for every condition, and if the
condition is not us we would seek
to have it. l claim, there are 95 out
of every 100 cases a sufficient rea-
son to show the cause. That we are
individually or collectively negligent,
careless or Indifferent in the conduct
of our business affairs. AS procras-
tination is the "Thief of Time"
Negligence and carelessness is det-
rimental to business success and no
business man can reasonably expect
to gain the zenith of wealth or for
tune by protecting these two evils, nor
can city or community thrive or
progress under the like conditions.
Let me again ask you this question
more pertinent AS representative
business organization are we not lax,
careless, negligent or Indifferent of
our opportunities? Intentionally, no 4!
AS q matter of fact, yesI 1t is we,
that are cause and the cause can be
operation of our affairs pretaining to
successful business and interests of
those with whom we do business.
Opportunities. Occasionally you
will hear man say, there are no op-
portunities here in Rocky Ford and
vicinity. The statement is fallacious
and not worthy of consideration.
Pessimestic and hurtful.
The optomist, stong of mind and
physeque, with an honest desire to
help in the upbuilding of the COM
munity in which he lives, will tell you
that Rocky Ford and vicinity are in
deed fortunate in many things.
Situated in one of the most fertile
valleys in the whole United States,
with climatic conditions rivaling, if
not excelling the famed California
climate, today while we read of ex-
treme frigid weather enveloping prac-
tically the whole of the United States,
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, the
Mississippi valley suffering heavy loss
of life and poperty from destructive
floods, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklo-
homa sustaining like losses. Here in
this Arkansas valley, nestled at the
foot of and protected by the Rocky
mountains, have none of like con-
ditionS with which to contend.
Our soil conditions, available wa
ter supply and many other advantages
that, coupled with reasonable efforts
and industry, we are able to earn a
liveiyhood thereby, constituting our
wealth, happiness and prosperity.
From the date of the first settlers
of this valley and the incorporation of
the townsite of Rocky Ford, up to the
present time, cooperation has been
the important factor in her growth
and development. Substantial prog
ress has been attained largely by the
who have had faith in our natural
resources and who have aided both