Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-11-14
Crabbscrawlings
WHAT is THE NATTER WITH
AI.BUOUEROUEp

WHAT is THE MATTER WITH
ALBUQUERQUE?
Everybody is asking what is the
matter with the Chamber of Com
merce as If that body were an ami
mate thing which thought, planned
and executed for itself.
Talking behind our hands will
accomplish nothing, and we have
gone too far for that now.
Whether or not you agree with
Mr.. Roslington, you must give him
credit for speaking right out in
meeting. He at least left no doubt
as to where he stands.
Let the whole town follow this
example and perhaps we will get
some place in this effort to dag
nose the community ills.
But until the men who compose
the Chamber of Commerce make
up their minds that the present
trouble rests solely and wholly
with them, the first step toward
| lSoi pioSlSSS Will NV HNNS NSNH
taken.
Regardless OF what other opin-
ions may be, several years expert
ence in organization work con-
vinces me that it would have been
ECONOMY to have accepted the prop
osition of the American Cities bu-
reau, even at double the price
asked.
l have no interest in the Ameri-
can Cities bureau, but have an
| interest in my own welfare, which
is now allied with Albuquerque.
The Chamber of Commerce is
sick, and family remedies have
failed. 1t needs the service of
specialist.
The reorganization Is being at
tempted with exactly the same
minds directing it that allowed
the decay. Such efforts usually
result in second failures even more
disastrous than the first In that it
destroys what little enthusiasm
there was left after the first ruin.
Those who are advocating econ
omy in this reorganization would do
well to remember that it is economy
to hire men who have proven their
ability to get results.
In their own businesses these
men would do this, and probably
boast of the amount they were pay
ing the expert, but the Chamber of
Commerce is everybody's business.
There is nothing truer that what
is everybodys business is nobodys
business"
You appoint committees to do
this, that, and the other thing. |
Committees have killed more con-
structive movements than they |
ever aided.
A committee is often nothing |
more than an excuse to put some
thing off.
If the Chamber of Commerce |
would set its house in order and |
keep it in order, it should hire a
housekeeper who has had some ex-
perience with the broom.
Mr.. Mckee might be the greatest
secretary in christendom, but UNI
less he has wise counsel, the full
est cooperation of his principals,
and is given a board of directors
with broad vision with whom he
can work and who will work with
him, he is seriously handicapped
and cramped in his endeavors.
He is the working head of the
II
done without at least getting his
views on the matter.
If this community, when. antici-
pating an undertaking, would think
less of the obstacles to be overcome
and more of the resources at hand
it would help amazingly.
You start something here in a
civic way that effects all of our
citizens, and the thing is drowned
out by the cries of ooh, you can't
do that here! You don't know the
native mind!"
If the native will not work with
you, enter 1t on the minutes as re-
gretable, and go on, regardless.
The native cannot stand in the way
of progress.
If the Chamber of Commerce
would do something to instill allie
glance to Albuquerque into the
hearts of the recently arrived, it
could accomplish wonders.
A healthseeker Is a visitor until
he feels at home, and then he is a
resident. He can't be a booster
until you give him reason to boost.
I have heard of four families,
not persons, but families, who have
moved away from Albuquerque
within the past few weeks because
there wasn't a first-class place of
amusement in the town.
l have never heard even the
slightest word said in defense of
the places of amusement which we
tolerate, yet no improvement Is
made.
Is there a merchants credit as
ISOLATION here? And If there is,
what is the matter with 1t?
Why am I told by old residents
that it is foolish to pay my bills
promptly when all the merchants
expect to wait sixty, ninety, or
even 100 days for their money, and
make their prices accordingly?
Is that healthy condition? Is
1t conducive to good business and
low prices? Why tax those of us
who do pay our bills for the sins
Of those who don't?
Aren't the merchants strong
enough to overcome this evil among
themselves and for which they alone
are responsible?
Every loss suffered by an in
dustry, community, or an indi-