Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-10-01
w. S. Vivian, Director of Pub
lie Relations Of the Middle
West Utilities Company,
Gives Interesting Talk On
the "Watchword of Modern
Business" At K van S
Luncheon

The real meaning Of the term,
Service" whether it is the service
rendered by the individual or by any
large public utility corporation, was
brought forcefully to the attention of
the Augusta Kiwanis Club at its
weekly luncheon session yesterday
noon at the Augusta House by w. S.
Vivian. director of public relations
for the Middle West Utilities Com
pany, Chicago.
Mr.. Vivian is an able orator and
a keen business man, and filled with
enthusiasm regarding his topic he
was able to communicate this spirit
to his audience. His subject was
Service. the Watchword of Modern
Business"
At the outset, the speaker point
ed out the Importance of getting a
clear picture of what is taking place
in the modern industrial and bust
ness world for these are days when
"the impossible is being accom-
plished and there has been greater
progress during the past 80 years
than in all time previously
Turning to individual accomplish
ments, he said that 125 years ago. a
young man looking for opportunity
saw that artificial lighting conditions
were bad. With coal as basis, he
began experimenting and the result
was the manufacture of gas. The
man went to London and explained
his discovery to leading business
men and they only laughed at him.
L. he hap
ming of the gas industry which today
is thought of as the greatest heating
medium in the worul with an invest
ment of $4,000, 100000 in this coun-
try.
With Thomas A. Edison's inven-
ton of the incandescent lamp, came
the problem Of building machinery
to generate electricity. In 1881 there
was built the first electric light plant
in the world, this being l25 horse
power generator carrying the power
one half mile by wire. Today, such
generator systems are built with
275,000 horse power and many thous-
and uses for electricity have been es-
tablished, these including the album
dance Of labor-saving devices which
tend to lengthen the lives OF women
of this generation.
Such inventions and discoveries
have resulted in increase of wages,
also increase in land values. The
added purchasing power has meant
the raising of our living standard
The radio and motion picture have
been developed from these basic IN
veutions.
The origin and development OF
the electric railroad and the tele-
phone was briefly outlined by the
speaker, who told of the many bill
lion of dollars now invested such
public utility enterprises.
where did the money come from
to finance these enterprises? he
asked. The answer is that the pro-
moters had TO go to the money mar
ket, which in the last analysis IN
the people, for it was the people
who purchased the utilities stocks
and bonds. Financial interest IN
these projects extends so as to In
clude about everybody, for although
a person may not personally own Sc
curities of a public utility. the bank
or life insurance company with
which he does busin ess. undoubtably
has invested in these securities.
Therefore this business is your Dusl-
ness.
Mr.. Vivian expressed his defini-
ton of service as the delivery OF
the commodity plus the sum total
of every individual of the organlza-
tons" This means that every IN
dividual is obligated to develop ana
use his powers so that he can do
better work today than yesterday. A
simpler definition is that service
consists of doing the things that one
is not paid to do
The thought of the common good
must be kept in mind. Only as we
get this spirit of service can we get
4 united front where we can move
forward for the common good The
idea of service should he the biggest
thing in our lives and if we get TINS
we will soon find that success Will
attend our efforts.
Thus giving to a service organiza-
ton a clearer picture of what serv-
ice actually consists of. Mr. Vivian
held the interest of his kiwanian au-
dience and was accorded enthusi-
astic applause at the conclusion of
his discourse.
Accent Il. p. W. Invitation
With vote OF thanks. the kiwanis
Club accepted the invitation of the
Augusta Business and Professional
Women's Club to be their guests Oc-
tober l. at Augusta City hall at the
opening Of the Community Enter
tainment course, which the BPW or
ganization is sponsoring. The eve
ning's program will consist of
concert by Marie Montana, soprano,
and Bernard Ocko. violinist. Two
tickets will be sent to each kiwanian
who can attend.
Arthur s. Merrill, captain of the
Kiwanis bowling team in the Au-
gusta fraternal league at the ~
ALLEYS, called attention to the try
outs for the team which were held
last evening. Samuel Titcomb, who
presided over the meeting AT the
request of President Frank f. Mace.
drew laughter and applause with his
announcement for all Kiwa mans to
take notice that they want bigger,
better and buster bowlers.'