The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-11-01
What's the Matter With Chamber
OF Commerce. Director Attempts
Answer; Tells What He'd Do

Is the Albuquerque Chamber Of,
Commerce dead. or In danger OF
The editorial in sundayss Herald,
discussing the presont conditcn OF
the Chafnbcr and it's outlook. has
aroused general interest and discus
sion The most frequent expression
|among business men Ia ono OF con
cern over the lack OF public intercst
In the o~rganizntipn and It's work.
Many suggestions hRro been mnde "a
TO ways and means for reviytng IN
|tnrest In and support for The Cham
Der OF Commerce nj many reasons
have been advanced TO account Tor
the evident lack OF Interest and sup
port, as shown by a membership o.
s2o IN a city h a should provide a
minimum OF 1000 members.
Il brifeve l voice b feeling Of All
the members OF tho board OF direc-
tors Of the Chamber OF Commerce,
said n member OF the board today
when 1 say that we are as eager as
any others to aid In bringing about
the kind OF unanimous support for
the Chamber Of Commerce that "
certainly should have. To that end
we are ready TO make way for 9th
err or to carry on. whichever may he
deemed hest for the organization and
for Albuquerque.
Al Inc nAANtA VI any 'AANAN " "
vive interest In Chamber Of Com
merce work n point should DC
made clear. The system Of plural
memberships now In effect does not
confer any material power or ndVnnt
are upon the holdcra OF those nrm
hcrfhips Ia governing the orEnnizn
tlon, aside from the privilege Of pay
linz for more thun one membership.
Holders Of plural memberships may
cast more than one vote only upon
the election OF directors. In oil
other matters they cast q n vote.
as does the holder OF n single mem
hcrship. Moreover. after the direc'
tors have been elected. each director
has but one vote. The plan o. plural
memberships has perhaps furnished
an excuse FOR not joining the Cham
her Of Commerce 70 a few citizens;
hut these In All PROBABILITY would
have found som- other excuse for moi
joining. Ths assumption that plural
membership D. q scheme devised 20
live their holders control Of tho or
nanlzatlpn IL not only Incorrect hut
very unjust 20 the holders Of those
mrmbsrrhipH. They ,nre propoBcd
and taken by n Few concerns entirely
through o public spirited desire tc
keep the Chamber of Commerce going
md 10 provide II with the financial
support which II seemed unable to
get from individual memberships.
Tho Absentccs.
In any discussion OF Chamber of
Commerce work, pr the lack OF II, b.
e. necessary to consider u condition
q the membership and TO pay some
attention TO those who do not belong
or take any part n carrying the com
munity burdens. There are now 32G
memberships In the Chamber ~
Commerce IN good standing. This
Includes plural memberships. Among
thoae who are not members N who
Rre not assisting In any way In tax
ing care Of community responsible
ties We find snnitaTia. hotels, drug
stores, other branches Of retail busi-
noas; n inrgo number 81 those indi.
vlduniH and Institutions who benefit
directly from the kind Of work the
orannizafion has been doing and g.
now doing to bring people TO Aibu
oueruue through advertising climate
and other advantages.
Another phase ~ tho situation g.
found In The act that tho secretary
time T. very largely taken up In col
lectinr dues. II H. necessary TO g.
personally after checks that should
be mailed. Running a Chamhcr Of
Commerce on wind l. not practical.
Money IL required.
Has Not Been Idle.
''It Il not fair, either, TO assume
that the Chamber Of Commerce has
been wholly inactive. Il II true that
the organization has not been doing
n number Of things In which IL might
itmlRht have heen profitahiy engaged.
and 4 am In agreement with the con
Vontlon. The work has been done
some means can be found 20 arouse
and hold general community support
for the Institution. It's death is threat
cncd.
Nevertheless, the Chamber OF