The Washington times., 1917-05-27
UNITY IN CIVIC aims
URGED BY billiard
COlOradOan Praises Wash
ingtOn Forward Move.
TELLS HOW DENVER BENEFITS
Organizations in Western City
Merged With Good Results.
TELLS HOW DENVER BENEFITS

- eeo.g
doubt in my mind, based on my ex-
perience in Congress, that united pub
lie sentiment is the strongest force
that can get results in Congress.
This is true locally as well as ma
tionally.
'Tf, for instance, there is a meas
ure before Congress affecting the city
Of Denver, which is my home, II
makes a good deal OF difference IL the
city is united for one PLAN II the
city is not united, Congress will give
scant consideration to the measure
and delegations from that city would
really be wasting their time in trying
to secure favorable action II they be
followed by another delegation want
ing something just little or a whole
lot different.
Last January q year ago / was
the guest OF honor at q MONDAY
luncheon OF the Denver Chamber OF
Commerce. At that time / said: IF
you business men OF Denver want
favorable action from Congress upon
the Moffatt tunnel project. you should
at FIRST get the citizens OF Denver to-
gether upon one definite plan When
Congress finds out that the people In
this section are all together for one
pldnf NnGu lou VIII SCI oCAAOu anu
will get IT quickly
Merger Plan Succeeds.
shortly after that the movement
to consolidate a number OF the civic
and commercial organizations at Den
yer was started and It proved a ire
mendous success.
From the Chamber OF Commerce,
the Retail Merchants Association, the
Z 49, a.
Exchange, the Manufacturers Asso-
citation, the Greater Colorado Associa-
ton, the Denver transportation Blu
reau, the Automobile Club, the Auto
mobile Trades Association, the Den
yer Tourist, Publicity, and Conven-
ton Bureau, q greater organisation
was formed, called the Denver Civic
ard Commercial Association. In its
Campaign it enrolled 5000 members
at $25 a year. and a year later 500 ad-
ditional members were added
Before the consolidation took place
Denver was as badly divided so far as
organizations were concerned as
probably any city in the country. I
believe that some Of these orEaniza-
tons were not even on friendly terms,
and they were often working at cross
purposes, and there was so much
jealousy between them that under
takings started by one organization
were fought by others. That, OF
course, made a very deplorable condi-
ton.
Marked New Era.
MANY persons did not believe 1t
was possible for the various organi-
cations to get together, but when the
plan was proposed to have them all
60 into a greater. organization on an
equal basis, IL was found that the
membership OF each organization ia
vored the idea, and the committees
which took part in the membership
campaign were made up OF members
OF all the organizations affected. 1t
was an inspiring sight when two
hundred or more Of the biggest men
OF Denver went out and solicited
memberships for the greater associa-
ton It really marked a new era for
that city.
THE Denver Civic and Commercial
Association Is doing great work, not
only for the city OF Denver. but in
building up the resources of the en-
tire State OF Colorado. 1t is organ
lied on the bureau and department
plan, and the organizations which en-
tered into 1t became departments or
bureaus.
Il was a guest at the Forward
Washington dinner here. and was
impressed with the statements made
by every speaker that If Washington
should unite under one banner Il could
deal much more effectively with Con-
gress in matters affecting the Dis
ri