Deming graphic., 1921-03-22
The New Booster Club

good results only by consulting with
the majority and carrying into effect
the collective Will
For several wears the citizens of
Deming have had no organization nor
leadership willing or able to assemble
I them together In a council wherein
each might "a Il equal voice. differ
cnCcs might be- Aarmonized and co.
operative policies outlined As conse-
quence the free citizens Of the city
have felt suppressed. and no western
community Is going 10 long submit to
such a situation for fear OF offending
benevolent despJtS For at least SIX
months past the agitation for a public
/ forum has been going ON and th" desire
will not be- denied.
II the chamber Of commerce wants
! To kill this new organization il can
do So very easily, Il can make II 'uper-
flouS by meeting the needs and condi-
tions Of the citizens ot Deming
The chamber of CONNER % once DID
qualify as public forum lut It does
sn no longer, for Il never assemblies the
citizens. asks their advice and consent
nor attempts TO interest them IN It's
work.
The chamber of commerce Oncc did
accomplish wonders for peming built
Il city i'm the desert from nothing ap-
parpntly: hut recently It has btctmh
mOribmd and Is ruled 10y an arbitrary
hfIrd that pcrpctuute, itself frort year
90 year with the excuse that thC citi-
zcnS fail to attend its elections Even
t., board Is not altogether harmonious
and is very hard to ISseuble when nc
Q cn in civic matters is demanded.
And right here any fair miudel '''i
zen will have to admit that many of the
present members OF the board Of III
rcctOrs of the chamber Of commerce are
the natural leaders Of the community.
40 one wants them removed from "a po-
siton of authority What fine thing
it would he II these directors would dc-
ccpt the citizens at their word and
make their leadership effective by re
gaining the backing and confidence Ut
the people.
What win thee IS do? Sulk In
their tents? Or will they get out and
lead willing followers rh' decision
tradesmen. artisans and others thut
propose to do something in a humble
way for Deming. These little fellows
certainly cannot worse themselves nor
their city by failing 10 dishand at a
nod from the salt of the earth. The
gentlemen of the chamber of commerce
cannon shirk responsibility by offering
IN turn their organization over To the
sans coulette, then Withdrawing their
influence and the benefits Of their eX-
periencc In the hope that the "dynami-
ters' will blow themselves to glory.
They can do this. perhaps they will do
this, hut they stand 10 lose more than
anyone else when they do.
There Is tendency for those who
have born the brmt Of leadership for n
long time 10 wonder how their organl-
zdtions will be able to function after
they have gone the way Of all flesh
You can't even bust" up a football
game by breaking the captains neck.
Also the best OF leaders wear them
selves out. President Wilson lid that
lost his health because he was unable
To use other men 10 help him.
Unless Deming can achieve unity, the
hattle Is lost and this growing, hustling
optimistic city will sink to theidead
level Of the little villages we all know
failed because the citizens would not
cooperate to initiate program Of
progress.
This is no time for airing selfish
piQue and parading offended dignity.
II Is a time to fish or cut bait"
Likewise Il Is no time for idealistic
social experiment with program of
Icxtravagent public expenditure. a
busted" community is always a breed
/ ing ground for discomfort. The con-
Servative elements Of tile city are in
the majority and TO them the radical
and reactionary will yield when hidden.
let the citizens continue to assemble
themselves and work out the problems
that confront the community.