The Pensacola journal., 1920-04-20
PULLING THE LOAD.

Portland Oregon, has raised one mil
lion dollars by public subscription 10
absorb trade differentials in order 10
attract freight to that port.
That is the spirit that builds cities.
IL is the same spirit that caused Port
land to be known far and wide as the
city of roses; and the same spirit that
put Portland forward last year, in the
national home building movement.
The day of the natural advantage"
pull is past. Cities move forward not
so much because of what nature has
given them as for what use men have
made OF the tools they have and the
environment in which they have been
placed
Pensacola needs an injection OF that
spirit. Just now. few men have it.
Others are acquiring it. Others are
blocking it. In which class do you be-
long?
There is an organization in Pepsa-
cola the purpose of which is to pro-
mote the interests of this port; that or
ganiZation is the Chamber Of Com
merce. Are you a member? If not,
why not? Is it because you think your
own personal affairs are of greater
moment than the affairs of the town
in which you make your home, and
where you earn your living? Is it be-
cause you are Indifferent? Or because
YOU belong to other organizations. and
are not in sympathy with certain MEM
bers Of the commercial body? Or be-
cause you belong to other organiza-
tions, and are not in sympathy with
certain members of the commercial
body? Or because you think 1.-The
Chamber of Commerce is not function
ing as it should?"
All, or any of these reasons are poor
excuses for Withholding your support
to the organization upon which so
much of the commercial success of the
city depends.
Your personal affairs can never be
separated from the interests of the
town in which your have cast your lot.
The success of every legitimate enter
prise is an aid to further enterprises !;
the growth of any business is a spur
to other business activity. And each
Of these factors is -e-active, and must
in one way or another, affect the COM
munity.
III you are not in sympathy with other
business men and do not find that
their best ideals or business meth
DDS meet with your approval, then
your membership is doublY needed
you need the broadening impulse that
contact with other men would give
you; the give and take that means
growth; and those men need you to get
your opposing view point for there
can be no progress without the i'm
pelling force of that which comes with
competition.
II you think that the Chamber of
Commerce is not functioning as it
should. then il is your part to help to-
organization by giving it your sup
port.
In that masterpiece of English liter
ature, THE Sorry Tale" the Christ
tells his followers that you cannot
build UP by tearing down" So it would
seem that even two thousand years ago
there were men who wanted to make
the failures Of others their stepping
stones.
But there is only one way to build,
and that is-to build You max tear
down. but your wreeking will avail
nothing, unless you build again, brick
by brick, stone by stone.
The way to make an effective Cham
Der Of Commerce for Pensacola is for
every man to put his shoulder to the
wheel and make one.
Certainly he will never make one, by
standing afar off and pointing out the
failures OF others.
IL you think there are failures, be-
come a member and then have the
courage of your convictions. always re-
membering that obstinacy is not eour-
age, and that, while you may be gifted
In business sense above your fellows.
there are others who also have some
good ideas which are of commercial
value. Even mule can balk and
kick-but il takes more than baking
and kicking % pull the load up the
ails.