Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-20
An Opportunity for Rca1 Service

An Opportunity for Real Service
CERVICE, presumably, is tho watchword
~ Of the Richmond Chamber OF Commerce.
1t is, or should be, the basic idea on which
the whole structure of that organization rests.
Service to Richmond certainly was the
thought it's founders had uppermost in mind
when they launched 1t on its career of hoped
for usefulness. There has been, Of course.
no change in the chambers aspirations to
promote the growth and material welfare
of Richmond, but there is evidence of re-
grettable tendency to interpret the word
service" to mean less than it should, and,
by thus restricting the chambers activities,
to limit its legitimate field of labor Under
the Interpretation given by the present Of
ffcers of the chamber, 1t is held that as an
organization it cannot put itself squarely
back Of any project wherein the selling Of
stock is involved AS general principle
that may be commendable. Certainly any
undertaking depending for success on the
marketing of securities should undergo most
careful scrutiny as to its possible benefit or
injury to the public, but if that principle is
to be so closely adhered to that the chamber
is barred from lending it's influence to what
really is public enterprise, then it would
better shut up shop and retire from further
public activity.
A case in point is the attempt to restore
the running OF trains on the Richmond
Ashland electric line. When that service
was abandoned by the corporation which
owned it, hardship was worked on thousands
of,people who had depended OH it for trans
portation, values of property in territory con-
trlbutory TO it deprecated, and growth OF
one of Richmond's most desirable residential
districts was stopped overnight. Urged to
do so by persons thus deprived OF transpor-
tation and by Richmond people generally,
local citizens formed a company which pur-
poses to restore the line provided sufficient
amount of capital is subscribed. Despite the
fact that it is not a money-making project,
but in very truth peoples enterprise under
taken by and for them, the company is denied
the official support OF the Chamber of Com
merce because Of its ancient precedent that
1t must not take part in any .stock-selling
campaign, although it's officers "as indi-
vduals,' are willing to assist in the move
ment.
1t is time TO shattcr that precedent, or to
confess mpotency in furtherng Richmond's
material progress. Similar organizations in
other cities are not so hedged about by pre-
cedent, prejudice or, call it what one will.
They are found up on their toes and active
in support of any project which will aid their
respective communities, and the growth Of
those communities tells in unmistakabe
terms OF the wisdom of such a policy. Yet,
under the ruling OF the local chamber Rich
and electric lines are concerned-and it has
lost three railways in the last two years
and the chamber would sit by idly, its hands
tied by its own devitalizing precedent that
it must not give Of its influence TO the selling
of securities.
If the popular conception Of what ser
vice. means is not mistaken one, it means
more than inviting conventions to meet in
Richmond and the distribution OF literature
singing its praises to the world. 1t means
something very real in making Richmond
what it hopes to be. That cannot be accom-
plished without proper lines OF transp ortation,
and they cannot be obtained without money
If the money is to be provided then, the in
fluence and labor OF every business organiza-
ton must be contributed generously and
intellectually. This without doubt, is the
popular conception OF what the chamber
should do in this instance, and if it will come
out promptly and sQuarely back OF the Rich
mond-Ashand railway reorganization plan
its success will be assured, it will add i'm
mcasurably TO its own prestige, widen it's
field of civic endeavor and fix its status as
an invaluable municipal asset.