Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-31
BODY or LEADING
ROCK ISLAND MEN
ENGAGED IN MOVE
Fifty Representative Citizens Conduct
Campaign Which Makes Associa-
ton Possible.
SUCCESSFUL RESULTS OBTAINED
Organization Now Has 1916 Resident
ard 80 NOn-Resident Members
On the Roll.

ranized a Chamber Of Commerce toI
care for the city's cIuc, Industrial,
agricultural and commercial affairs.
The truth OF the foregoing state
roerf was established only a short
time after the Chamber Of Commerce
rss organized Demands upon its
services we're made almost upon the
heels OF It's temporary organization
and from the first It was demonstrated
that the plan under which the asso-
cation was instituted was ideally
f,ted for this city. The Chamber OF
Commerce has been the greatest fac
for in years 20 merge all interests.
This important achievement was
made possible through the cooperation
Of the Rock Island club and the Bust
ness Mems association working I'M
der the caption Of citizens commit
toe. The Chamber Of Commerce found
rs ncipiency in the meeting Of a
small group of hsuiness men who ap-
preciated that Rock Island was not
going to keep pace with other cities
i with whom 81 was in strong competi-
lion unless the man power forces OF
the city we're thoroughly organized
and directed through an association
such as q Chamber Of Commerce would
be and gnder The management OF
4 competent business manager.
The story of just how the Chamber
of Commerce came into being has
never been made public For long
time there had been a feeling among
the members of the Rock Island club
that the association was not fulfilling
It's mission as a commercial body, and
this commercial sentiment was one
day discussed aft the clubs monday
round table, This discussion inspired
President G.. a. Haligren TO take some
actual steps which would lead TO the
establishment Of such an organization.
At the same time J. r.. Marion, presi-
dent Of the Business Mems associa-
ton. who had been elected by the
members Of the Business Mems asso-
citation on q commercial activity plat
form. was also working in the same
direction Mr.. Hallgren and Mr.. Mar
ron, representing the heads of the
two ORGANIZATIONS called together in
February a few business men before
whom the matter was discussed,
Those present at this meeting were J.
T. Marion. g. A. IIailgrcn ". p, Null
lane, j. I. Vernon. NJ r, Strieter. H.
\ A. Cleyensune. H. W Lamont. NJ. s
y Heagy. W. r zimmerman and Deyore
sV n Sim0uson
This meeting resulted in the APP
pointment of 20 committee consisting
Of Mr.. Hallgren, Mr. Marion and Mr.
Simonson who were authorized tC
y take up The question of locating a de-
m sirable secretary and such other steps
n as were necessary which would lead
up to the organization Of a Chamber
Of Commerce.
BY March f. the committee hsC
siited down the applicants and had in
vi,ed T. w Bender. then connected
with the Town Development company
Of New York. % appear before thu
committee for discussion Of the mat
ter and present credentials as to hi'
capabiity for handling the Rock Is
land position In May the committee
definitely closed with Mr. Bender au
thorUng him to return in June anC
undertake the building of a Chambet
Of Commerce The work was pu
through according to schedule and Of
July the Chamber Of Commerce wa
fully organized with it's board Of di
rectors and a membership Of S91 whit
held l.046 memberships. giving tn
organization am income of S26.15D +
year for q three year period,
This did not include the non-resi
dent membership which amounted &
about one hundred and Fifty.
List Of Organizers.
The names OF those who participat
ed In this campaign and made posi-
Bile The building of this Chamber o
~ commerce should be placed on tn
u eitys honor roll and be long remem
" hered as men who unselfshly gave c
their personal services and thei
Money that there might be establishe
IN the city Of Rock Island an institu
lion of sufficient men, money and in
VI 'erest 20 permanently care for tn
otys community needs
Following is a list OF those VIII
served on this Chamber of Commerce
membership campaign: r. b Davis
A. Hallgren, NJ. +. Strieter, II. I
Cleaveland, r. H. Guyer. l.. NJ Castee
:. -'t'fA AhllH titAA it9 L. " ithtls -
Is }. Lachner. G., William Roth. C.
Larkin Il. O. Vale Jr.. DR.. c. I
hobb, A. G, Anderson, ". c. Quayl
II d. Mack. J. L. Vernon Rev. G.
VNelll j. 3. Eekbart. w. S. Park
frank North, Ralph II. Booth, K.
.ushman, u, " Couston, Otto Prize.
yer, W, p Mullane. A. r. Cline. l.
ROBERTS c. A. Schoessel. W. A. Schae
Ter Q. J. Ohlweiler, A. L. Horst, Hug
" Crawford, Gus Tegeler. Hugh
DuFtls, E. b. kreis. II. A. Clevenstin
,n,onert Bennett. Jr., Fred w Youn
W +. zimmerman. Henry c, Schaffe
=. i. Mckown w A. Rosenfeld, ].
Seicn, G. Huntoon, F. r. Polar
:, \ Mckinley, Paul +. Preston,
~ Davis T. ], Murray. Swain Pea
son, NJ, II. Sexton. Fred T. Myers.
" Grlm, j. A. Weishar. Joe r. Tueki
=. l.; Hallett. J. T. Shields, E. L. Phi
n'ooks, 5. w, Searle. A. L. Rruner.
~ .; White n. G. Griffths. s P. Burgess
W ;. McCombs, L. Mosenfelder, j.
nrltlen, l. II. Buffum. Dave Brady.
.. summon, DR.. E. NJ. Sala, J. B. Ba
ssu. A. 3. DuVon, c. f. Johnson,
- Ihoms, r. ]. Bennett. J. H. No
movie. j. F. Witter. H. p. Simpson.
=. Clarkson. r. W. Lamont, NJ. D. Fl
~ A. p. Sala, NJ o. Griswold. A.
Adndstrom, f. G. Don. W. S. McCom
and r. ], Rote.