The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1921-06-07
SECRETARY HACKER EXPLAINS
COMMERCIAL CLUB PLANS :.

A recent issue of THE BOURBON
NEWS contained an editorial which
stated that "A cynical business man
wants to know why the Paris Com
mercial Club isn't more interested in
the matter of securing new business
enterprises, lower freight and ex-
press rates. and other business ne
cessities than in Fairgrounds. tennis
courts and Community Service"
William e. Hacker, Secretary of the
Commercial Club, replies as follows:
Il appreciate the opportunity to
reply to the above statement, which
is made by one who has not had
very active connection with the Paris
Commercial Club. The Commercial
Club inaugurated the Fairgrounds
movement, for which / believe we do
not deserve censure, but Fairgrounds
development, tennis courts, and such
are being developed through the
Community Service organization Of
Paris, which is a separate organiza-
ton and independent of the Paris
Commercial Club.
1.-The Paris Commercial Club is
deeply interested in the matter o.
securing new business enterprises.
We have worked consistently to de-
velop Paris industrially, and if there
are not yet any new smokestacks, it
is not because we have not tried.
would be glad to go over with any
one, who is enough interested, what
we have done in this line, and dis
cuss with him the present industrial
situation, which is not very favorable
anywhere in the country at present.
1 have communicated with numerous
concerns, and have had several fac
tory representatives here, and we
are hopeful that we may secure some
desirable industrial additions to
Paris. We have taken up a number
Of transportation projects, the most
recent of which is our effort to get
the favorable schedule of freight
rates on coal for Central Kentucky
cities sustained. We have been con-
cerned with many retail problems,
and for the promotion of retail bust
ness have conducted a window con-
test, trade-at-home campaign,
style show, and are now promoting a
booster trip over the county, and
outlining plans for a school of sales
manship and advertising, to be con-
Quoted for the benefit of merchants
and clerks. z5 --rt -
II regret that 1 can not have sew
eral columns of THE BOURBON
NEWS to outline the things we are
trying to accomplish for the good Of
Paris. Such an organization as ours,
regardless of how broad it's aims, or
how effectively it operates, is the
subject of a certain amount Of ad-
verse criticism in any town. My
only appeal to- these critics is to
bring their criticisms direct to my
office. If they can offer anything
constructive I will personally back
them up, heart and soul, in accom-
plishing what they want to accom-
plish. I just want to say, in con-
clusion, the people of Paris have put
barely $4,000 into the Paris CONNER
cial Club, less than to any other
public organizations, and less than to
probably any of the dozen drives
which took money out of their
town. These causes were all worthy,
but probably no more so than the
effort to make their own home town
better place to live in. With an
inadequate revenue, precluding the
accomplishment of many things
which require financial assistance, L
believe the Paris Commercial Club
Is not doing so worse in fact 1
think it is just as live an Organiza-
ton as you will find in any city OF
the size in Kentucky"