The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-03-18
THE PLAIN TRUTH is DEMANDED


sue, exposes the present character of
the so-called Federation Of CONNER
cial Clubs, which assumes to represent
the commercial bodies of the cities and
towns of Missouri. The plain facts,
given in another column, really require
no comment. Answers to letters of
the editor disclose the truth, namely,
that this organization does not seem
to be federation of clubs at all, for
we can find no clubs that belong to it,
although we have canvassed the entire
state. 1t is known that once the fed
Grafton was live, active body, but it
is now revealed that tie commercial
bodies of Missouri have withdrawn
from it, and left it without member
ship and without support, SO far as the
clubs are concerned.
This federation has officers, one of
whom, at least, must receive libe-
raj salary, with allowances for ex-
penses. 1t is supposed to send out
printed matter, and gives forth prop
uganda of various kinds, and assumes
to call conventions. The Commercial
Clubs Of Missouri, in the letters to the
Capital News, say that tl:ey make no
contributions to this Organization"
that they pay none of its expenses.
NOW, WHO DOES?
The Capital News has taken no
part in the controversy over the va
rious plans for carrying out the ex-
penditure of the sixty million dollars,
voted by the people for good roads,
except to say that WE WANT SIX
TY MILLION DOLLARS WORTH
OF ROADS IF WE SPEND THE
SIXTY MILLIONS. The road ques-
ton has nothing to do with the dis
closures respecting this federation. 1t
is extremely important that no decep-
tions be practiced upon the people
by any man or set Of men, assuming
to represent an organization that does
not appear to have any members of
the character it claims, and receives
its funds from unknown and myster-
ious sources. And if an organization,
formerly having affiliated with it
many leading commercial bodies,
reaches a stage when its members
withdraw and abandon it, the officers
have no right to parade themselves
before the public as the heads Of an
organization which he's ceased to be
what it's name had indicated.
The Commercial Cubs of Missouri
have withdrawn from this so-called
federation, and any now assuming to
represent it should state what its
membership now consists of, and the
sources of its revenues. 1t is prob
ably all right for Mr.. KelGo, who is an
excellent gentleman, representing
numerous public utility corporations
in legal capacity, and for Mr.. DON
lin who is said to be asskillful and ca
pable man, when his energies are
wisely directed, to maintain a little
bureau for the protection of the peo-
pie against themselves, but there
should be no camoufage about it.
When money is expended to influence
legislation and public sentiment in be-
half of some organization, the parties
thus engaged should tell what consti-
tutes their organization in fact, and
how and where they get the money
they spend. Why not cut out the
sham, cease claiming to be a Fedora
ton of Commercial Clubs and call it
something else, and publish list of
contributors, an itemized account of
expenditures and the roll of actual
members?
There should be statute in Mis-
souri,, requiring persons carrying on
activities Of such general character,
masquerading as some sort of a club,