The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-11-09

ASSocietton ns8 0tten bertfees
81 contend. ladies and gentlemen.
that our association has rendered
service and tunctioned efficiently on
any proposition that has been sub
mited to It when its committees
have given literally Of their time
in making thorough investigation
and It has borne whatever expense
was necessary regardless q whether
Il recommended, turned down tne
proposition, or checked, 90 tar %
possible. the depredations Of some
irresponsible or crooked stock pro.
motors, get-rich-qaiek shafxs OF
sNost Of the criticism Of the Civ
&c and Commerce association II
made BY people who do not under.
stand It. Such persons DO not take
the trouble to look np its annual
report or the reports Of - com
mittees which voAld meet such
criticism intelligentiy. Il they win
mot do this they should consider
that many OF their own ne.ghbors
are citizens who are willing TO give
time, thought and money to enorts
for the public good simply because
men ought to be citixers n. the Ane
sense OF that good old word.
Mankato's Civic and Commerce az.
sociation Is not doing anything you
may make up your mind that he
does not know whereof he Breaks
and that he 10 Of the class who
make assertions Of this nature with
out giving the subject any thought
or investigation.
the work OF this association IL only
to secure new enterprises for this
city. Your association IL daily furc.
tioning ip great many important
matters for the bsnent OF tns city
| deavors to secure new enterprises:
doing things that can be done only
by the association as they are not
part Of the work Of any other local
1T would take much time to
enumerate the many accom- lish-
ments OF last year. It took Secre-
tary Olson fifty minutes to read his
last years report at our annual
meeting and I assure yen he made
it as short az possible, The secur-
ing Of several state conventions. a
good live manufacturing institution
oh0 I1C Va
$4,000 for Maukato's Teachers
! College were among these accom-
plishments. The latter required
considerable lobbying and ex-er Sc.
with regard to the conventions
mentioned /, want to call attention
to the fact that three Of them will
bring about 5000 people to this city
who will stay here two or more
days. You can make your own es-
innate as to how much money each
Of these people viii spend In this
city. II $40 a. day. is q reasonable
estimate then the three conventions
into Mankato. They cost the assoc
citation lass than $500 in money.
BUYERS Prize Week. which is to
be held in Markato rext week. Is
another concrete sample OF what
cooperation can do. This Is Civic
and Commerce project. Over 200
merchants. are taking part.
There Is hardly anything OF q
public nature OF any consequence
going on In Mankato at any time but
what the Civic and Commerce as
sociation IL pulling the strings to
help make II success?
/ Work In Association. offiees.
II wish 1t were possible for every
member OF this association or ev-
cry citizen of Mankato to spend q
sociation offices, to note the varied
services rendered to its members
and to all who call, write or tele
phone. Such visit wotild be rev
elation to many. -,
at takes money to do these things
therefore II 10 most essential that
the association have large paid .uI
membership. q
at is well to consider seriously
our duties as members of the Civic
and Commerce association the duty
of constant and interested attend.
ance at it's membership meetings
our duties on committees and as
Officers, and our duties to the com
munity. 1t is also well to ask your
self. What have I ever done to bene
At the Civic and Commerce associa-
ton? What would become OF it II
every member had done no more
than /? Is it fair for someone else tc
do. all the work and for me to share
only the results? What sort OF or.
Commerce association be If all were
like me?
There are many undevelopet
resources in Mankato that are
spiritual not material II everyone
believes in its future he will mo-
hesitate to invest more Of himself
and money in IT. You have heard
people say they believe in Mankatc
and have also heard them kicl
when Trey are called upon to invest
personal time, service or money In
work for the betterment Of this
city. Such people do not believe II
the city or community In the full
sense OF the word.
at Is not good luck that brings q
city manufacturing institutions. MOI
does progress come to II without
'nited effort. They are the result o.
careful planning by some body Of
men who have the welfare OF theil
city and community at heart. Suci
men do not take all they can get out
OF community and give ID little OF
nothing In return but are always
willing to do their share and con
slider 1t a privilege. They are op
timists and as such are assets Il
any city. ..-.... r
City Must Think Progress.
"A city must think progress, II
must be guided by its .optimists
must value constructive men more
than destructive ones, must have q
clear idea OF the demands and pos
sibilities Of future city and live
up to its ideals.
II sometimes wonder whether in
our business life we do not become
somewhat narrow In, our views o!
j duty, instead Of cultiTating q broad
er outlook and taking such share II
municipal and community work AZ