South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-05
ANNEXATION QUESTION
DISCUSSED BY NJ. C. P.
Prominent Members Express
Themselves On New Issue.
Big Meeting Scheduled in
Two Weeks.

The Chamber of Progress which is
composed of the younger men bers Of
the business interests OF Mishawaka.
at a meeting Monday night discussed
animatedly the annexation or ANAL
gamation Of MishawalSa and South
Bend During the past several days
anonymous letters setting forth the
benefits likely 20 accrue to this city
through its joining forces with south
Send have been received by every
tangible bUEiness man in MlshaWaka.
The source OF these communications
were easily guessed at. and the name
OF the writer was freely mentioned
by different members of the Chamber
of Progress at it's meeting Monday
night Pres't Barrows was inclined
TO ignore the communication, as were
several Of the others present The
subject would not. however down,
and it formed the discussion during
the two hours session OF the Cham
Der. In fact there was little else IN
business way attended to- The new
secretary, Charles Roy. looked after
the clerical work. Mr.. BarrOWs giving
his usual advice TO the members in
regards TO parliament usage.
Following is a copy of the letter
which every business man in the city
has received: Sir: having been ad-
vised that several senators and rep
resentatives Of the 1915 legislature
are anticipating anneXing Misnawaka
to South Bend. L am addressing your
honorable body with the view of de-
termining your opinion through the
press of the proposal OF South Bend
annexation to your city
81 remain,
a Citizen of South Bend.
The reading of this letter by the
secretary led to something akin to
home rule session in the British house
of commons. Pres't Barrows moved
that il be consigned TO the waste
basket where, ne said. 1t rightly be
longed other members thought diff
ferently. While they agreed that all
ANONYMOUS communications should
have their resting place in the iTe
or furnace. they believed that the sab
iect should be considered and thai the
Chamber Of Commerce SHOULD he the
first to place itself on record ON the
question.
The feeling of the meeting was
then canvassed and resulted in the
pros and cons being given a hearing.
l.. J. Casbon. one OF the live mem
bers Of the Chamber of Progress, told
the meeting his sentiments in regard
20 the annexation of the two cities.
lie believed that the bringing together
be the grandest thing that ever hap
pened for Mishawaka- Yes he con-
sidered the time ripe for bringing
about the question. He was one of
many of the business men of Misha-
wal<a who had dreamt for years of "a
greater Mishawaka. IL was only
logical that the cities come together;
they were destined TO be one. and any
effort made towards making them
such would be hailed with much sat
isfaStion by every enterprising citizen
OF Mishawaka. Mr. CasbOn'S remarks
were loudly applauded.
Jim Hennessey, another of the
prominent business men of the city,
an Irishman and q politician, told the
meeting that he knew all about the
efforts that were being put forth TO
bring about the unity of Mishawaka
and South Bend. He told the meeting
that he had reason TO believe that it
was a Countryman of his whc had
sent out the annexation letters, but
he wished publicity 10 disclaim him.
''Afishawaka." said Mr.. Hennessey. lis
a big enough city To stand on its
merits; IL IS a city with a future as
bright as any city IN the United
States" He had just returned from
California where ne had visited every
town and hamlet in the prune state,
and had come home with the feeling
that there was only one city i'm which
TO bring up family i'm America-and
that was Mishawaka.
W. II. Kerr, a retired contractor.
spoke in favor of annexation. He is
one OF the biggest taxpayers in the
city and felt that Mishawaka should
be a bigger city. OF course. ne
wouldn't give South Bend much; he
wouldn't be too free with the civic
rulers OF that city, but he would in
Vite them over TO dinner and tell
them what Mishawaka and he felt
sure before they left the aroma of a
CasbOn cigar behind they would all
feel that NIishawaka was the future
city OF Indiana.
Darwin Boyer in discussing the
matter of annexation said that the
public was being miSinfOrmed about
the scheme now on foot. 1t is not
annexation that is being fOstered by
state and local politicians but a ques-
ton OF amalsamation. which by the
enactment OF "a law hy tho state Loo