The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-06-24
MEN. WflTFEN
 AND THINGS

the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce at the Southern Club on Monday night you cut yourself out of one of the most enjoyable gatherings ever held by this body.
 It ran true to promise, in that there was no cut and dried programme There
 wasn't a dull moment from start to irish The atmosphere was charged with good fellowship. and the speeches were short and snappy, and the refreshments most eatable.
 But more than this, the annual report 1 of President R. A. Brown, while brief. showed that quite lot of worthwhile l things had already been put over and lot of others were in process of being worked out. There were loud cheers when he announced that the chamber was out. of debt in spite of a number of improvements in the offices and office fixtures.
 really think that Buster Brown de- serves the thanks not only of the mem- bers of the Chamber of Commerce, but of the entire community, for the splendid years work accomplished in spite of the handicap of being without a secretary for large part of the time. He just shouldered the burden and kept things moving forward, demonstrating the fact that he is not only a good executive bu. willing to work overtime himself in pinch when it is for the public good. am really glad of chance to be able to mention the above, because the thing which Birmingham most needs, 1T the Chamber of Commerce is to be what il should be in developing this district at home and abroad, is realization among it's members that they have not fAcne their full duty in paying their dues and subscribing to the various calls made upon them, but that it is needful to be willing to back up their gifts with per sonal service.
 Retiring President Brown was unusual ly happy in his introduction of M. P. 1 Northlngton, the newly elected presi- dent. Merrill Northington represents the ~N~ VI PS SA eHC JOuuS men WnO nave made and are making Birmingham. In large sense this has been a young mans town. They have had the en- ergy, the courage and the daring to plan on a big scale, and already all around us we have the evidences that their dreams have come true in von- derful way. It's forward looking town. 
 US hard for me to appreciate Merrill Northington's remuneration at the begin- ] ming of his term, for he took office on the distinct understanding that he wasn't to do anything in the way of making addresses, but would let the secretary be his spokesman. Now, so far as I am con- cerned under these conditions the honor of being at the head of the Chamber of Commerce would be an empty one. I had rather be a private with the privilege of talking than silent officer.
 
 But President Northington did not take long chance on having his administra- ton talked to death but wisely farmed out his privileges to Secretary Bum. who as public servant has made a remark able record for sidestepping publicity and keeping a closed mouth. He can talk. and well, whenever he has anything to | say, but he doesn't go about hunting op- portunities to get before the people. know full we'll in saying this much that some of my friends will wish that | msht sit at his feet and learn the art of remaining in the background.
 
 l There is prospect that this year is going to be one of work and accomplish
 ment in the Chamber of Commerce. for
 while the president and secretary are short on talk, they are long on deeds. The outline of my friend. Bum, for the
 things the chamber must do contained
 many items of merit, and some day we are going to wake up and find out that while we slept he was secretly active in ! bringing them to pass. I have not time
 here to take up tke various items in his
 programme. but all of them had been
 carefully thought out.
 1 A special resolution was passed chang- ing the bylaws in order to add another 1 man to the directorate. It was not ex-
 pialned why it was done. but I supposed
 the old number, being sixteen, and
 having been bone of contention some years back in politics, that to some it had an unpleasantant memory, and so l they wished to change it to seventeen | The chamber has now seventeen perfect- | iy good and competent directors, chosen
 from the body because they were used
 to directing. A wit has said that de-
 mocracy which will not "denoc" is
 sham and fraud, and so I say that 1 directors who will not "direc" are orna- { ments which should be cast into outer ! darkness.
 l We have not yet taken our Chamber l loi Commerce to our hearts as we should 1 We have not yet realized what it can 1 be made to mean not only in the way of
 business but in fellowship. The time is
 now ripe to utilize it to the limit, for the way has been prepared through the
 clubs like the Rotary, Kiwanis Civitan 1 and Community, and other bodies in
 which comradeship plays big part 1t i is Secretary Bunns wish to capitalize
 this social power and make it function through the organization which in
 sense might be termed the mother one
 in the district.
 Monday l was in Decatur in conference l with leaders of the Limestone Morgan Bridge Company, and spoke at noon to the shopmen of the Louisville and Nashville at Albany to interest them in the proj- {, ect. It was fine body of fellows, and 1 I got a good hearing. It was the bunch that never fell down on single war