Imperial Valley press., 1914-04-01
Chamber of Commerce
Again Becomes Active
In Promotion Of City

Showered with optimistic utteran.
ces and with genuine enthusiasm pre-
vailing, the Ell Centro Chamber OF
Commerce was revived last night.
when about thirty-fve representative
business men of the city gathered in
the Davis hall for the purpose of re-
organizing the former commercial
body, the result of which was thai
r. B. Moore was unanimously elect
ed president and A. w. Swanson sec
retary.
Charles E. Hersee, Frank Reading.
j. E. Davis, William Egerer and Mr.
Pitts were elected members of the
boards of directors. the office Of
treasurer being combined with that OF
secretary. j. E. Davis was elected
vice president of the chamber.
The meeting was called to order by
Chairman Frank Reading, with c. w.
Collins acting as temporary secre.
tary, these two presiding officers
having been connected with the pre-
vious Ell Centre Chamber of Com
merce.
Mr.. Reading, in brief outline, re-
viewed the accomplishments of the
old chamber, reciting the birth and
death of the organization. Anon,
the achievements was the location of
the. present st. Thomas hospital,
which was directly traceable to. the
efforts of the old body. 1t was
through its endeavor that the state
highway commission was persuaded to
visit the valley, the outcome of which
was the establishment of the San
Diego highway.
Mr.. Reading was optimistic, buS
asked the new organization not to be
too promising. That deeds would be
preferred to promises was the key
note of his able talk. C. w. Collins
referred briefly to the financial diff
ficulties of the old organization, urg.
ing an unanimity of action, both finan-
cially and energetically. ~
When the predatory remarks were
concluded the election of officers was
taken up. J. E. Davis moved that A. |
W.. Swanson be elected as secretary,
upon which announcement it was
quickly moved chat the nominations
be closed, resulting in the election of
Mr.. Swanson The office of presi-
dent went begging for some time. C.
W. Collins nominated Phil D. Swing,
but the. latter was compelled to de-
cline on account of .onerous duties
Mr.. Collins paid Mr.. Swing several
neat compliments in connection with |
the district attorneys activity in the
former commercial body, stating that
he could always be depended upon to !
give his best efforts. for the further
ance of Imperial valley and Ell Cen
tro. ,....s
J. E. Davis nominated C. E.
Sprouse, the latter being unable to
De present at the meeting. 1t was
finally decided that Mr. Sprouse had /
himself as desirous of TAX
ing an extended vacation this sum-
mer, which resulted in the withdrawal
Of his name asa candidate for pres
ident.
R. B. Moore was then nominated
and other nominations were with
drawn. Mr.. Moore was cheered when
elected and made neat speech of
acceptance, expressing himself as
when so many men of ma
turer years and experience could
nave been selected, but those present
maintained that they were perfectly
satisfied with the qualifications of the
new president.
What apparently looked like troub-
ed waters came when reference was
made to the Imperial County Cham
ber of Commerce. One or two pres.
ent suggested that it would be bet
ter to dissolve the county organiza.
ton and affiliate entirely with the
new body. Charles Hersee, mem
Der of the directorate of the county
chamber, and E. E. Bennett, presi-
lent of the same, came to the rescue
of the county organization and stout
ly denied that the facilities of the
Imperial County Chamber of Com
merce were in the least impaired.
Considerable discussion took place, /
some favoring the dissolution of the /
county chamber, at which time Pres
ident E. E. Bennett took the floor and
delivered resume of what the coun-
ty chamber had accomplished. He re-
viewed the .hardships, the vicissitudes (
and yentanglements as .expediencell ]