Mexico weekly ledger., 1917-08-02
PRES. BURTON MAKING
A SURVEY OF NEEDS
Every Member of the Organization
Will Be Solicited for Sugges-
tions to Make Platform
WANTS A FRANK STATEMENT
From the Result of This Survey the
Years Program of Activities
Will Be Arranged

iHdlliHB every ihShDSA VI NhiS Oouy
letter containing a postal card ask
ing that they outline their suggestions
for the Chambers activities the COM
ing year. There is space for ten sug-
gestions. These will be carefully
surveyed and the matters given the
greater number of votes will be in
corporated into platform of action.
The following statement from Col.
Burton will make this suggestion
palmer:
To the Members of the Mexico Cham
Der of Commerce:
Your board of directors have seen
fit to elect me as president of the
Mexico, Missouri, Chamber of Com
merce. I did not decline this honor,
simply because l did not have the
heart to do it.
Though 1t is expected that compe-
tent secretary shall be employed,
whose duty shall be to do the bulk of
the work of the association, yet l
feel that great responsibility rests
upon the president, shall endeavor to
perform the duties of my office only
SO long as it shall appear that my
work meets with the approval of the
entire membership. would much
prefer not to have the responsibility
that necessarily falls up on the presi-
dent of your Chamber of Commerce.
The first conception of my duty
as president is to serve the whole peo-
pie, and not to try to impose upon
them some idea of my own, which may
not meet their unanimous approval.
believe live Chamber of Com
merce can be Of great benefit to any
town; in fact, it is almost necessity.
The support of every business interest
of the town is needed, if results are to
be obtained. Business men, who have
not taken membership, must do so, if
good results are to be had.
The Chamber of Commerce has been
organized and is ready for action.
The Board Of Directors employed a
secretary some days ago, but for
some unknown reason he did not ac-
cept the position A competent per-
son for this important position viii be
employed by the directors just as
soon as suitable person can be
found. In the meantime the Board
of Directors have authorized me to
proceed as follows:
1. Find out what the people of
Mexico should accomplish.
2. From this information draft a
platform.
8. Present the platform to the
people.
A. Ask all business men to support
this platform by becoming members
of the organization and pledging their
moral support.
5. After this has been done pro-
coed as united people to carry out
given platform.
In the absence of secretary the
president will endeavor to do the work
of carrying out the will of the organ
ization.
In so far as / am concerned, l
shall endeavor to carry out the will
Of the Board of Directors. | will not
consent to any understanding be-
yond our financial means. Our fin
ances must be conserved. Our bud
get must be made out and our expen-
ditures must come within our sourc-
es.
If the organization is to be o. bene-
fit, we must do business in a business
way. We must have a place in which
to do business. This place should be
furnished just as one should furnish
his own place of business. The Board
of Directors will ask the City Council
to provide a place of business in the
City Hall.
We must have stenographer in
the office, competent to serve the
members of the organization all the
time.
We must have stationery and post
age. A great deal of printing must
be done. We must provide for the
Expense and entertainment of speak
ers and visitors who will be invited
here to serve the community.
Our budget must be sufficient to
provide for these expenditures and
many others too numerous to mention
In addition to the above we will have
to pay for the service of secre-
tary.
So you see that there is business
about this proposition and we must
proceed in business way.
We must have a united people with
common purpose. Every business
man of the town should become a
member of this Chamber of Commerce
and do his bit.
Respectfully yours,
E. Y. BURTON, Pres,
m ~