The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1920-09-16
GOOD WORK: LETS COZ"

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memberships for the Chamber Of Commerce is one OF the best Of
a number Of worthy efforts made by the two clubs for the good
of Albuquerque. The two clubs mr. composed OF business and profess
sonal men who understand the value Of properly supported Cham
Der of Commerce work. A large majority of the memlers Of both
clubs are members of the Chamber of Commerce and loyal supporters
of its work. They understand the value of that work and they UNI
dcrstand also that the work cannot be done effectively without the
support of the whole community. Their friendly competition in Sc
curing new members should arouse quite as much interest as did the
recent baseball game between the clubs, and should get considerably
further in results for the city.
Last week Albuquerque entertained the republican state conven-
ton. Some fourteen hundred visitors came here for that meeting. Not
n dollar of expense was involved for the community, outside Of the
funds of the Chamber of Commerce.
In October Albuquerque will have a harvest festival that will
attract crowds from our immediate territory and that will. bring people
here from all parts Of ie southwest, This This event wen will revive |" t to a con on,
liable institutions we have had, both for Albuquerque and for the
state. The harvest festival should, and doubtless will, pave the way
for a complete revival of the state fair in this city in 1921. The har-
vest festival will not involve a dollar of expense to the city outside
Of the regular fund Of the Chamber of Commerce, derived from men,
bership dues.
In November the annua! convention of the New Mexico Educa-
tional association will bring from $500 to 1900 visitors to Abuquer,.
que for four days. This convention was secured by the Chamber of
Commerce and ii will be entertained without a dollar OF expense to
Albuquerque, outside the Chamber of Commerce budget.
If the Chamber of Commerce had done nothing else in 1920 but
IL secure and successfully stage these three events it would have
ton. The benefits of these three events are evenly distributed
enjoys It's share of the immediate trade induced and the future bust
II is obviously fair that the whole community, especially the
whole business community. should share in maintaining the Chamber
Of Commerce. The man or the institution refusing to support the
Chamber Of Commerce. is shifting the burden to some one else. Such
a dodging of responsibility is perhaps more reprehensible than tax
lodging, because the former cannot be enforced by legal methods ana
is a moral obligation only.
We have heard the charge made that the Chamber of Commerce
undertakes too many things and completes too few of them. II Is
possible tina, the organization does undertake too many things. Yet
IL is very difficult to see how it can avoid becoming interested in
them, because every community activity of every kind almost without
exception is carried to the Chamber Of Commerce first. That is what
the organization is there for; TO investigate and interest itself IN
every undertaking for the welfare Of the community that is worthy OF
support. 1t is not to be blamed because it has not been able to carry
all Of these undertakings TO successful conclusions.
As for completing things, il is worthy Of note that from the es-
tabishment Of the original railroad shop plant here through the years
to the recent completion of the Rio Grande park plan, every forward
step and every new institution, aside from those of purely personal
and private business, has been fostered and secured in part or alto
gether through the efforts of the forwardlooking citizens of Albu-
aueraue banded together for the common good in the Chamber OF
Commerce. In view Of the important things that have been accom-
plished by the organization for Albuquerque it is amazing TO con-
slider the number of minor things that the organization has had time
10 do and do very well indeed.
II is fair 10 assert, while the job is by no means finished, that the
Albuauerque of today is very largely the result of effort by the Cham.
munity; a good place TO live in, a fine place TO earn money in. IL
would be neither a good place to live in nor a profitable business loca-
ton for any of us but for the work of the Chamber of Commerce.
Chamber of Commerce work is the easiest kind Of work TO crit
ieize and the hardes; kind Of work TO do thoroughly and successfully.
II is the easiest thing in the world to pick, out of multtudinous activ.
tiles, one particular effort that has not been successful, or that has
failed. II takes broad guaged citizenship and genuine vision to look
upon the work as a whole and to Judge by the whole as TO the worth
Of the institution.
We have read with satisfaction the statements Of the five Abu.
Guerque banks, published in The Evening Herald during the past few
days. They are mighty good statements, rejecting a substantial cit
izenship and q prosperous community. II is possible, with a little
careful thought, to estimate what those statements would have been
hut for the work OF the Chamber Of Commerce, or whether there
would have been FIVE bank statements to consider at all.
No one who thinks about IL fairly can question the value oil
Chamber Of Commerce work in opening the way for individual effort
and enterprise. II is equally clear that the more completely a com
munity is united behind its organized community effort the more
speed ahead that effort viii show.
IT is necessary every 81 often to revive public interest in organ
lied community effort. This is true OF every community. II is time
for a revival Of the kind in Albuquerque. The public spirit and com.
munity loyalty Of our ON city are mighty fine. Let's get them out
and rub them up a bit.