The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-12-08
INSTITUTE
ADDRESSED BY
RAY M. HARDY
Merchants Hear Fine Talks on
"Playing the Game" and Com
munity Cooperation.
Especial Correspondence


Geneseo, Ill, Dec. S.-Ray Nor
/ ton Hardy, community and social
efficiency expert, conducted yester-
days program of the Merchants
| and Community institute. Pryor
| Irwin, counsellor and retail inves-
| tigator, is scheduled for the after
noon and evening talks today and
/ tomorrow which will conclude the
institute His topics are, Thurs
day, 1870 p. m, Forces That Build
Business, and at 1880 p. m,
"Salespeople of Today and Tomor-
| row.. For Friday the talk of the
afternoon will be upon the subject,
Opportunities in Retail Adyertis-
ing" and in the evening, Teamwork
for Community Betterment".
The keynote of both of M.
Hardys talks was found in the
thought of Community Coopera-
ton" He emphasized the need OF
civic activity to attain the great
est benefits to civic and individual
life of a community.
Mr.. Hardy's address of the aft
ernoon meeting was "Dynamics of
Modern Business. LAS a dynamo
transforms latent energy to active
productive energy, SO is commerce
the real force in the development
of civilization" Mr.. Hardy said.
Referring to present conditions in
the financial and business world
he said that in any community the
strength and power of community
cooperation will go far to overcome
the sense of business depression,
as that condition is greatly a state
of mind. Community cooperation
will develop and open channels for
better business which are closed
and impossible of successful ac-
cess by individual endeavor One
merchant cannot obtain the results
in arOusing the public as can the
combined efforts of the merchan-
disers of a city.
Must Sell Idea
Nothing is accomplished, Nj. ,
Hardy added, until the idea is sold I
That idea may be anything from
the smallest need of any individual, !
to the accomplishments of a great .
or national undertakings. J
The idea must be sold to one per-
son, perhaps to thousands. And to !
succeed in selling the idea enthus-
iasm, confidence, and tact must be
In the discussion of these ele-
ments. Mr.. HARDY stressed the
1t is contagious" he said. 1T
carries conviction. 1t develops the
spirit of desiring TO become a part
Of any civic undertaking if that
is the idea which is being sold II
is indicative of health. It is the
proof Of proper living. 1t is the
symbol that you
know the goods"
One of the most forceful state
nents which Mr.. Hardy impressed
upon his hearers was the value of
in your fellowmen. If
hat confidence in the integrity of
manhood is not upheld and main
aimed its influence of questioning
and doubt is soon reflected upon
be person who so doubts manhood
n general. No clerk can success
lilly work for an employer who
acks confidence in him. And so,
n turn, Is it impossible for any
merchant or farmer to succeed if
lie lacks confidence in his en-
'loye. Rather question no mans
honesty until he is proven dishoE- /;
st than think every man Gishon-
st until you are convinced that he {
S honest. The practical applica- s
ion of community cooperation go {
ar to remove such doubts among 8
1en of a. community because that
cooperation brings them into closer
contact whereby they {
aust find them better men because {
hey have learned to understand
ach other. il
The successful merchant, be- {
ond all money gain, finds the {
reatest dividends in the spirit OF 7
merchandising because of service c
to satisfied patrons. So.
%, will community cooperation by y
CRYING the needs of the people d
evelop satisfied citizens who are |
leased and proud of the town in n
-hich they live, willing to cooper v
te to make it a still better place y
'r all to live in.
Evening Address. v
The evening address was heard y
al aGulence which indicated n
lat the institute is continuing in =
lie favor of the people of this II
entity. Mr.. Hardy spoke on the I
pic Playing the Game. He e
lshes that more men would play T
lie game; that more men would +,
II INTO the game of making better a
1T is sorrowful p
for a man or woman to u
Sc the spirit of play" Life then, h
r Hardy said, has lost great in +.
rest to that person who, because
that loss, is not fully developed
MS relations to his fellow citi-
ms and his attitude toward life. =.
child who takes no interest in ~
ay IS either sub-normaI or abnor- -
al. 1t may be an element of dan u
r in the community. Therefore "
Us play the game. "
Teamwork Necessary. "
ITO play the game, teamwork is
cessary- Every baseball. football
basketball taem to succeed must II,
We teamwork. not individual Ct
ars." Applying this thought to p
viC and f0nnnDify, 1roblz