The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-03-19

on the three year fiat rate plan,
which will cost the city $4,000 for
that period.
/. w. Fisher said that when the
committee met to investigate the
merits of the bureau plan, that many
of the members thought that the sys-
TEN was too costly, and in order TO
satisfy themselves further as to the
methods leading cities where the plan
had been tried out were written to-
The reports received were very fav-
orable to the plan. For this reason.
the committee came to the conclusion
that If the plan is good one. Man
kato will have TO pay the price in
order to receive its benefits.
"ln order to make this thing sue
cess" said Mr.. Fisher" we will have
to get into the same as unit. and
put II across. and make Mankato
what II ought 10 be-"
Bureau Representative Spoke.
At this point in the discussion, S.
b. Wilson, representative OF the
American city bureau system, spoke
at some length, going into the details
of the plan. He stated that under
the proposed system, the bureau after
putting on membership campaign.
and getting the bureau started, super
vised the work for the city for term
of three years. This system had been
put on In at least one hundred and
seventy-ive cities in the United
States with great success in the way
Of increasing the membership OF the
chambers OF commerce of those cities.
In going into the merits OF the
bureau plan of handling the civic
bodies, Mr.. Wilson said that com
mercial club or a chamber of COM
merce is only effective in so far as
1t has the support. Of the public. This
support is absolutely essential. In
stating just what il will cost Manka:o
TO adopt the new method. Mr.. Wilson
admitted that il was rather high at
$4,000 for the three year term, but
he felt confident that no man in the
city Of Mankato wants anything less
than the best that money can procure.
The speaker said that at the present
time the country is i'm the midst of
a social and economical upheaval. and
that radical changes are necessary TO
meet the new advanced ideas. II was
explained that in the adoption of the
plan the American city bureau brings
to Mankato the benefits of it's ex-
perience in the organization of bodies
of like nature in other cities. The
new chamber of commerce will be
kept continually under the eye OF ex-
perienced men of the bureau. Who will
see to the Development of the ac-
tiyitieS of the chamber for a period
of three years. During that time
there Will be a checking up at fire.
quent intervals. so that at no time will
the interest in the work be let lag.
All this time the local chamber of
commerce, will have at it's disposal.
will have the benefits of the depart
ment of research, which has been es-
tablished by the American city bureau.
This will deal with the housing prob
lem. and many others. which are now
Of vital Importance to American
cities. At all times it will be the aim
Of the bureau to bring out the things
which are OF greatest importance to
the community. A system will be
adopted whereby men who wish
things accomplished will be found
out. These men will be placed on
committees. and in that way good
ends will result. !
Sacrifice of Service.
Mr.. Wilson with great emphasis
stated that he wanted understood in
the outset that to make a chamber
OF commerce success, il should not
be gone into with the idea of the
dollars and cents which can be got
ten out OF it. A chamber of COM
merce to be a success must be built
around unselfish interests, and must
have unselfish service to the public.
The old theory Of reaping monitary
benefits from such body have long
since been exploded. The speaker
said that cities are built by men and
not through materials, or geographical
situation. 1t is the work OF intelligent
and unselfish men that make such
bodies a success. The easiest any
man makes. Mr.. wilson said, is the
money which comes to him through
the result OF CO. operative efforts with
the men associate with him through
The operation Of city. All that
man through his own individual eff.
forts can expect to accomplish is
bare existence. IL he wishes TO i'm
prove his condition he will have to
cooperate. This is the difference be-
tween the civilized and savage man.
Following this a great many of the
men present asked Mr.. Wilson ques-
lions on different phases of the pro-
posed plan. which he answered to the
best Of his ability. Some of the
things brought out in these questions
was the fact that school for the Sec
rctaries of chambers of commerce
along the lines of the bureau plan are
provided for. If this city would de-
sire such trained man to head it's
organization, he could be provided,
but the bureau will not insist on this.
On the motion of NJ ID. Fritz,
which was seconded by Theo. Will
liams the club voted unanimously to
adopt the city bureau plan of con-
solidation of the civic bodies of this
city. The president and secretary OF
the club and the chairman of the
committee appointed some time ago
to investigate the merits of the sys-
tenn were instructed to sign a con-
tract with Mr.. Wilson to put on the
American city plan i'm Mankato.
The Livestock Industry.
j. G. NARROW, one of the local Hol-
stein breeders, suggested near tho
close of the meeting that good