Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-06-22

half Of the Social Service Center, which
is regular bureau Of the club. Thru
the agricultural department, most
successful corn show was held in De-
eember, said by neutral observers TO be
the best show Of its kind in this part
Of the country.
1.-THE club auditorium has been re-
modelled and the Woman S club becomes
sort Of an affiliated member of the
Commercial club. Since this time the
club has been host 10 the wide vari-
ETY. of organizations both local and
visitors, too numerous 10 begin men
tioning. During the spring. various
war gatherings were held with the co.
operation of the club, all of which
have served to show us why we are at
war and to stiffen the morale of our
people generally. Three veterans Of the
Canadian army spoke TO overflow hous-
es here. 1t. Hector McQuarie was also
visitor. Two other Canadian veter-
ans came during the third liberty loan
drive of which the manager of the
club was chairman for the work done
in the city. The club took up and in
vestigated the matter of the eommunl-
ty war chest, gathering information
and statistics thereon, which Will be
of use at a future date should it seem
the sense of the members that com
munity war chest will be a good thing.
The bridge matter came up again, dur
ing the high water of the winter
months, when traffic thereon and con-
neetion with the opposite side of the
river was seriously threatened. Quick
action on the part of the club again
saved the situation.
al have been able in this swift re-
view only to strike upon a few Of the
more salient points of the clubs ac-
tivities. If Mr.. Mcdaniel were here,
he could no donbt reclte hundreds of
items of which l am not aware. We
have carried on nothing of what may
be called club propaganda since my
ineumbeney in office for the very good
reason that we have been too intern
ally busy to be able to stop and tell
about them. L can speak with great
deal of emphasis regarding the work
of the club since May the first of this
year.
"In electing me the directors told
me that six hours day would be all
the time the club would demand. They
should have said sixteen. The work of
the food administration carried on
Through the club has grown to amaz-
ing proportions. The work of the state
council Of defense is also demanding
very much of our attention. The club
has staged two war rallies this month.
1t has sent the Cherrians to Portland
ITO put on their minstrel show for the
benefit of the men in the Vancouver
barracks. 1t has entertained a state
grange, the state p. E. 0. and the state
Jewellers. There is scarcely any matter
of civic activity that does not come to
the club in one way or another. | have
been unfortunate enough to hear init
nations that the club was totally UNI
necessary excrement upon the public
life of the city, and that it might with
propriety be now abandoned. You
might as we'll talk about throwing ut
the banks and expect to do business.
There is not day goes by, and scarce
ly an hour when some urgent demand
is not made upon the executive depart
ment ofsssthe club. Without the club,
the city would find itself at the pres
ent time most seriously handicapped.
i beg to state that in my judgment,
there has never been a juncture in the
history of the city when the CONNER
cial club had the opportunity to do
good work. as it has now. There was
never a juncture when it was as nee
essary as it is now. There was probab-
" never O time that it has done any
better work than it is doing now. The
idea gains ground that little or no
promotion work is being done by the
club. This is quite erroneous. We are
receiving dozens Of letters every week
from all points of the country, ex-
interest, asking for informa-
zion and literature, all Of which are
answered and there can
be no doubt but that in the long run
the absence of a Commercial organi-
zation would be severely felt.
"I think that there is nothing l
need to say further. The club is or
ganized for sevice. Service is its md
lie name, and it actually rs serving.
Further comment would be superflu-
)us."
ROBERT S. GILL,
Aak;no, Manouor