The weekly Alaska citizen., 1919-01-06

ueSiIe aDOVe everything else to keep the relnS in their own hands, without consideration of the fact that they might enlarge the scope of the work by sharing the responsibility and a- lowing others to advise and work with them. Mo-, the get-together notion, so fundamentally important for the effective development of the country does not appeal to them at all, and so they have to be put almost in the same class with the knockers; that is, they either have to be converted, or, as the proposition grows too big for them, they have to be kicked out. Fortunately they are usually much in the minority, and so can be overruled by concerted action of the majority.
 But those who wish to get together for the good of all, would do well to take birds eye view of the situation and see how they may best band themselves in order to get the most effective cooperation At this stage it immediately becomes obvious that there is al- ready representative body, several in fact (of which there will be more later,) but one in particular which was formed with the pre- else object of boosting the interior of Alaska and the Fairbanks district and Fairbanks es- pecially. This is the Fairbanks Commercial club.
 This organization, composed of the business men of Fairbanks, has already done effective work in advertising the interior of the territory. But its efforts have been greatly hampered by lack of support. It may not be well known, but, nevertheless, it is fact, that anyone who has business interest in Fair banks is eligible for membership to the Con- mercial Club. The dues are not exorbitant, and the money thus spent would be well re- paid in the results of the increased scope that it would give to the publicity work of the club.
 There is nothing that is more hamperins to the usefulness of an organization such as the Commercial Club than the lack of mem, bership The Fairbanks Club has ar active membership of only about thirty-five mem bers, at present. a fact. that does not reflect to the credit of the business men of the town All over the United States Commercial Clubs are important institutions in the community, supported by everyone who is eligible to membership. They are composed of the live wires of the place, who band together to work for the best interests of the entire community, and their efforts meet with success. The Club locally is composed of the live wires of Fairbanks, and the conclusion that may be drawn from the fact that the membership is pitifully small is not exactly complimentary to the majority of the business people of the town.
 There is no valid argument against mem bership in the Commercial Club There is everything to be gained by it, as has been demonstrated by the results obtained by like organizations the country over. There are too many supposedly good business men who are ready to make suggestions as to what the Commercial Club should or should not do, and are only too willing to find fault because it is not done. They not only stand in their own light, but they also hamper the efforts of those who are working for the good of the commun- ity.
 The people who have business interests in the district should see that they will be the gathers thru better and larger work on the part of the Commercial Club, and so should be willing to give it the support that it should have. One of the best ways in the world for getting together for the development of the interior is to join the Commercial Cub and put your shoulder to the wheel and BOOST.
 WORKING FOR ALASKA
 Alaska can pay the Nations War Debt" Of that we are all certain But the organiza- tion that is more vitally concerned with bring ing this about than any other is the American Mining Congress- The local chapter of the Mining Congress has already taken big steps in the right direction that will ultimately lead to the development of the territory. They have organized and have considered the mat ter from all sides and, deciding upon what must be done, they have set about to do it. This organization is naturally composed of the live wires of the mining game in this section of the country just as the local Commercial Club is composed of the live business men of the community The membership of the Min ing Congress is also too small, in considera-