Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-03-10
COMMERCE BODY
HIRES PROMOTER
S. n. CLAY WILL BOOM MEMBER
SHIP OF OTTAWA c. OF C. TO
SEEK OUT 1000 FOR ASSoCiA-
TON ROLL.

In its campaign 10 build a member
ship sufficiently strong to make Of it
the important factor in Ottawa's ciylc
life it should be, the Chamber of Com.
merce has engaged the services of 5.
II. Clay. a professional organizer, who
will boom the local organization Ia
the hope OF swelling its roll until ii
contains the names of one thousand
men,
Mr. Gage, it is understood, works
under commission basis, getting an
allowance for each member he Sc
cures. He will do the injecting, using
his own system of administering pep
to the Association, leaving the reviyor
process to the local leaders to keep
the membership active and large,
after his departure.
Gage has been in the organization
business for the past seven years He
spent two years in Salt Lake City,
Utah, and five more in Lexington, KY.
He has arranged for big meeting TO
be held next Wednesday evening AT
which time the campaign will be for
mally inaugurated. At the present
time the Chamber Of Commerce has
membership roll of one hundred and
ninety-one business men. professional
men, retired men and farmers.
Mr. Clay. speaking OF the campaign
for members. said:
In my Judgment the city of Ottawa
is just now at a crisis in her history
And the successful outcome of the
Chambers membership campaign will
do much to make that history what it
should be.
Ottawa has the opportunity because
Of her natural resources and location
to do something really worth while IN
the location Of new industries. With
the practically inexhaustible deposits
( of fine glass sand there is no reason
4 why more factories making glass
should not be located here. One Of
the surest and best ways in which to
make city grow is through the add
ing Of more pay rolls. 1t is estimated
that for every workman employed IN
factory located the population of the
city is increased by five people. The
Chamber oil Commerce when fully or
ganized purposes to bend its entire en-
ergy to this great question of develop
ment of the resources of the city and
its environs
why should the city of Ottawa
have a Chamber of Commerce? Be
cause if it lives up to its duties, 1t
will be the most potent force in the
community for progress. Its duties
are to do anything and everything
necessary for and incident to the up
building and the better building of the
city and its environs. Its duty is not
only to make a city grow, but also to
make it better, a more sanitary, a
prettier and more enjoyable place in
which to live.
the Chamber Of Commerce OF Ottawa
should not have one thousand mem
bers It's labors are multitudin0uS anu
continuous and in order to do this sort
of work it must be possessed OF tho
gineWs of war-money. 1t must con
duet it's affairs upon business basis,
pay its obligations when they become
due, and in every way be an example
of efficiency Its work is entirely I'M
selfish. 1t is working for the good. OF
the whole community il has no
chance to make any profit upon its OPP
ora;ions because all of force and en-
ergy is bent toward the one object o.
making the city better place in
which to live and in which to do bust
ness.
Its province or field Of work reach
es out into every branch and takes
cognizance OF every phase OF the city 8
life. TIE commercial interests re-
tail and manufacturing, the profeS-
sional interests; the government OF
the city, county and state, the social
side of the city's life where ii touches
the question of public morals AMI
health; all of these and i'll truth every
channel of civic activity comes under
its practical eye.
THE first duty of the Chamber Of
Commerce is to bring all Of the varl'
GUS elements of the entire community
tosether into one great compact CO.
operating body working for every
thing which will be for the general
good OF the city. 1t must teach the
citizens composing the lesson OF
achievement through cooperation. 1t
must arouse them from the old time
lethargy to a rejuvenated pusating
interest and always and everywhere
preach the gospel OF sane sale ana
sound development, unseltiahness ana
) civic pride. It's motto must be, II It's
good for the community. then let us
have IT, What helps the city as q
whole has a like beneficial effect upon
everyone within its boundaries.
"The Chamber of Commerce pro
poses to put in charge OF the work q
thoroughly trained man who Will de-
vote his entire time 10 pushing the
city and its advantages to the front
Every property owner within the city
must realize that here is a big strong
body composed of the representative