The Sentinel=record., 1918-06-05
AMERICAN FORCES REPULSE GERMANS
 AT MOST CRITICAL POINT ON FRONT

responsibility and negelct their pri- yate business affairs, Wiht no hope ot ! reward except gratifying a civic pride and furthering the citys interests. l make an appeal to all the people of Hot Springs to give the new adminis- tration their unstinted support. The commercial organization of d city Is it's very heart beat, and the progress it makes is measured by the support 1t receives from the people. There are many big things confronting Hot Springs, and unless the new officers receive the support asked for, they will naturally become discouraged and will not work win the enthusiastic spirit that is necessary to success.
 The longer this awful conflict in (which we are engaged continues. the more apparent it becomes that it is necessary for Hot Springs to be ever Watchlul and yigilant in seeking foundation of a more constructive na- ture for the citizenship 10 depend up-- on in the future and the economic problem after the was is over will De the greatest of all to solve. Entire ly new conditions will have to be met and the community that has over looked it's opportunity will suffer greatly from its neglect and short sightedness l regard this as one of Ehe most critical moments in Hot Springs existence, and it is going to require the united effort of our citi- zenship to meet it.
 Immediately upon resuming the of- flee of secretary of the Business Mems League, campaign drive for mem bership was started, dividing the city into districts, giving series of luneheons, making daily reports and thoroughly covering the entire city. Rev. c. E. FIickok was made chair man of this committee, with happy results. Seventy new members were added 10 the league and more than $2,000 in money collected | quote from the report after the campaign was finished:
 'l wish to give special praise to the various committees for the splendid work they have done. The field has been surveyed in full. am sure that the necessity of cooperation in this city is not denied, and will not be denied if the city is to prosper"
 He said there was still much work that could be done, but all We're de- | lighted with the progress that had been made.
 The committee recommended that this work be taken mp again with the object of urging every citizen inter ested in the affairs of the city to be- COG affiliated with this organization
 Railroads.
 In the event the government had not assumed control of the railroad situation, Hot Springs would have re- ceiNed $15,000 in money this year from the various railroads for adyer- Using The league appointed as a committee Rev. C. F. Hickok and Sec- retary Bedding to visit St. Louis and Chicago, which they did with most gratifying results. The Missouri Pacific, Wabash Alton, Illinois Gen. tral, Chicago East Illinois and the Rock Island all agreed to contribute various amounts. totaling $15,000. In less than one week after the return of the committee it was announced that the government had assumed control of the railroads hence contracts en- tered into became null and void, with the exception of those contra Is that had been made by the railroads i'll advance of the order It is unneces- sary to relate what happened after this, as it is a matter of history. The situation became so acute that the services of general passenger agents were discontinued and their offices closed, as all railroads in America became one system, controlled by the government, and the time may come, if he war continues for any great length of time, when a person travel ing may be required to show a certif- icate permitting him to travel. Hence you can see the great dangers con fronting cities depending upon tour lst travel at this time.
 Racing.
 The big season of Hot Springs open ed with the race meeting. Some peo- pie rather pessimistic, thinking that Hot springs would not enjoy the same patronaee at a race meeting that tt had in previors years but to the sur prise of all it proved to be a record breaking crowd. Every hotel, board ing and rooming house in the city was taxed to capacity; also many of our private homes. and there is no ques- ton in the mind of anyone but that this was the greatest race meeting Hot Springs eyer enjoyed.
 Conventions.
 Immeaiately following the race meeting Hot Springs began to receive visitors for the great conventions we have entertaied this year. The first was the General Federation of Won cn's ClHhs. which opened April 2s This great biennial was attended by the most representative and hralnest