The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-01-05
COULD HENDERSONVILLE SURVIVE
WITHOUT CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE?

Hendersonville has been engaged in the
tourist business for generations, but we
still have few citizens who do not under
stand that in the present day in tourist
town a Chamber of Commerce, or similar
commercial organization, is indispensable.
This fact is established by the number Of
citizens who do not hold memberships IT.
the Chamber of Commerce and is being
further emphasized in the experiences OF
solicitors in the tag day campaign which
is being waged to raise little additional
money for the organization.
The most enthusiastic supporter of the
Chamber Of Commerce is not disposed to
criticize any person who is absolutely I'M
able to take a membership in the organ
ization; but it is believed that there are
very few business and professional men in
the community who cannot contribute a
dollar to the financial support of the Cham
Der of Commerce. 1t is a fact, however,
that tag day" solicitors have found a num-
Der of citizens who refused to contribute a
dollar for this purpose.
Now, this article is not published for the
purpose of attacking these people, but for
the purpose of directing attention to few
facts in connection with the Chamber Of
Commerce as that organization is related
to the business of the community. The
Times-News believes there are people in
HenderSonville who have never given seri-
Gus thought to this matter. They are not
informed; they need information. They re-
gard the Chamber of Commerce as the pet
hobby of a few enthusiastic boosters and
know nothing about the work it does or its
vital Importance to this community and the
surrounding country.
And in this connection, let it be remem-
bered that nobody but these people are
responsible for their ignorance. Earnest
efforts have been made through the years
to keep the public informed about the work
of the Chamber of Commerce. There is no
excuse for any citizen of the town or coun-
ty remaining in ignorance on this subject.
Hendersonville's principal business is the
tourist business and a Chamber of Com
merce is absolutely indispensable in any
tourist town. An industrial town can get
along without this organization. A town
depending for business on the surrounding
agricultural territory can do this. A COM
mercial organization is big asset in any
town; but the tourist town cannot go along
and do business without it.
Thousands of people who write letters to
the local commercial organization, or who
come here and go to the Chamber of Com
merce offices seeking information, would
pass by Hendersonville and go elsewhere if
the town had no organization to do this
work. And this is only small part of the
work done by the Chamber of Commerce;
but without this alone, the town would,
under present conditions, in year or two,
be dictated" into village of a few hun
dred people. Hendersonville would have
been virtually wiped off the map in the
past three or four years, but for the efforts
of the Chamber of Commerce.
Maintaining the Chamber OF Commerce
is matter of self-preservation for the bust
ness interests of the community and Sec
ton. Every citizen who supports the or
ganization is not making contribution of
his duesSto the Chamber of Commerce but
is making an inHestmentin the progress of
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