The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-12-31
MEMPHIS CHAMBER
Of COMMERCE HAS
HAD GREAT YEAR
Big Membership Drive Placed
II at Head in South and
Made II One Of Six Largest
in Country.
RY j. A. osINIAch.


BY ]. A. oslNiAcH.
Many records have been broken by
the Memphis Chamber OF Commerce
In 1890 For one thing IT has DC.
some, during the year the largest
commercial organization in the
south and one OF the half dozen
largest in the United states. BY the
Dig campaign in June when lSO9
members were swept into the or
ganization in five days, 1t took the
lead In the South.
Perhaps the most important
achievement OF the organization was
,cored by the industrial division
which has been even more effective
han IL was in 1919 With Frank
Iayden, president of the Guaranty
1lank and Trust company as CHAIR,
4 IAN. Mark Fenton MS industrial
commissioner, and an able person
81. the division has functioned al
tlirably There are on record M
tow industries for 1920 against l3S
f,r 1919. despite the fact that Inc
h 81 half OF 1920 has been marked by
a period OF defiation, readJustment
I'd comparative quiet IN industrial
circles as compared with the pre-
ding year -.
The most ambitious program ever
m AIMED out for a southern chamber
o commerce was laid down in 1919,
90 ering n period Of three years. IL
/ lis a significant fact that In spite OF
Ia favorable conditions, TINS pro,
gf I'm has been consistently carried
cu, In 1890 and an even larger VOL
ur,e of work has actually been ac-
co nplished than in 1919, One eVi-
de, nee OF this is The fact that liov
M ctings haye been held IN the
ca tmbeg of Commerce this year,
WI CHI is the greatest NUMBER Oh
me ,tings ever held. in any one year
The building project has not peen
aba ndoned, but II was not oeeHeu
ad, lsable to endeavor TO carry
out under present conditions. 40
TIE Chamber Of Cohimerce mas Sv
active committees and DIVISIONS anu
n g. an almost startling fact that
over 1000 OF It's 5000 members nave
duyinp the year been actively en-
gar,d In some form OF committee
wors. ..s.,,
o,e OF the recent successful
orbL ,vements Of the organization
was the calling. in conjunction WIN
fhe 'otton Exchange and the clear
inc !touke association, OF the South-
vida cotton conference in memphis
whie, resulted In the formation or
n ne-manent organization and IN u
Dnse -ful movement looking TO the
radu, tton OF cotton acreage next
year and filliag the gap with an
ahup,lance OF food and feed crops
whtct will help make the southern
plant,.r economically independent
TIE bureau Of farm development
diy , on OF the Chamber OF Com
msrcs has taken leading part IN
me tl,yersification movement, ana
4, ,t nresent planning a far reach
inc "a fnpaign In behalf OF the farm
crs nt the Central South
THE merchants and manufactur-
ers, division worked in close har-
mony with the Cotton States Mer-
chants association last summer IN
cnrryit,y out the biggest merchants
convention ever held in the south,
THE traffic and transportation di-
,ision ,ns specialized on river, trans
portatinn during the year ana as Il
result Memphis is giving increas7
inCly good support to the narge
line AMI other movements winch are
expectei 20 build up traffic on the
Mississ phi. ,. - o..
The publicity dlNlSloh i'"7 w ,
nished large amount or material
10 out. II town publications.. Ihe
Manufm ,turers' Record, Mlsslss'PP'
Valley Magazine, Gulf Ports maya o.
zine "a tthern Marine Journal, Mid
Continent Banker, American hahker'
Tho I'rP.co Magazine, the metropoli-
IN, nre.s and many other publica o.
,tnry have all carried considerable
rubHcity material about Memphis,
The social agencies endorsement
md the good roads committee, each
With a paid expert serving as ITS
secretary have been among the
rrost act We committees during the
ynor TIE former was instrumental
in the organization Of the Central
Cnuncu II Social agencies, which
has don, a great work in co-ordi-
mating the charitable activities OF
tbc rity. The latter has succeeded
i'm malsir. Memphis the huh % a
network IL ~ national or Interstate
highways, many Of which are al
rendy un,.er construction and others
definitely projected,
Tn. m.isic committee sponsored
another ,-uccessful engagement OF
metrnpolua grand opera, and ar
ranged "a .cries Of light operas dur
ing the sumner and OF sunday aft
cruuon sa rcd concerts during the
winter
The Oh. mher If Commerce has
also been lctive in such civic enter
prlses as The hospital campaigns ana
the campsign 10 bring the South
western Presbyterian university IN
Memphis. Ia which It took the lead.
md which resulted in, a magnificent
Hcunnstrat on Of civic spirit and
CON nllnity patriotism
THE officials this year are Robert
r Ellis. president. j NJ Walker,
mrs vice resident II r, Chears,
second vic, president, and NJ @,
Er,Jc,. tr, asurer The executive
steve show several additions. and
+, rvmuosec Of the following: w II,
l}-ayiTv SEE Rotary John A, Osoin-
nrN. assistant secretary r. n. Hays.
ucshership secretary, Mark Fen
ton. >ndustT Val commissioners +. r.
IJrvd. dire, tor of the hcurcau ~
farm acvclc pmeut, G. W. Watson.
market specialist; T. NJ Rirming
rar, secrets merchants and man
uftctu-ers division. MiSs Willie
Dean. secret ~ real estate division.
William c. Headrick secretary so
rIal agencies Endorsement commit
tee. Mildred Jack, statistiCian; j.
Clayton join son, secretary lumber
gnens division, Miss Mary r. Nc
GS,g.n, home economies agent:
Thor3as g. King, manager highways
depnA tment, and J. r. Polsdorfer,