The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1919-10-02
Not You But the Town.

is the value of their civic duty is be-
ing imposed by the Chamber of Com
merce. Some days ago the Directors OF
the Chamber of Commerce announced
that the cost of membership in the
Chamber was so low that there was not
anywhere near money enough to pay
the expenses of the association to say
nothing Of an occasional extension in
its work. The fees for the members
were doubled. Increased from twelve
dollars year to twenty-five dollars
year.
OF course the increase in the cost of
the Chamber Of Commerce service has
not been any greater than the cost Of
any other kind of service and much less
than the increase in the cost Of most
things, but just the same some Of the
luke warm supporters of the home town
are talking Of dropping out and Of
"finding it too expensive to continue"
If majority of the members of the
Chamber take this view of the mat
ter the Kenosha Chamber Of Commerce
in little while is going to consist most
ly Of an ornamental state charter.
The Chamber of Commerce is just
getting to the place where it is worth
something to the people Of the city,
The pioneering of the work has been
well done, the chamber is thoroughly
organized and the men who are at the
head of it have themselves come to un.
derstand something Of what is expect
ed Of them and something Of how they
may meet those expectations. The
Chamber has outlined a real program Of
work for the year. Its program of
work that is going to be of great value
80 Kenosha. 1t is a work that some
one must do and If it is not done by
organized effort every man who has
the least possible pride in his own town
is going to be called on to give Of his
money and his time to carry out the
program.
Twenty-Five dollars is not great
deal of money in this day and age. 1t
means to LOT Of people a couple of
boxes Of cigars. 1t means less than
bne-third the cost Of good business
suit, it means the cost of half dozen
theatre tickets at Chicago theatre.
That is what il means in sacrifice s.
Ear as yol arc concerned. 1t is going
to mean lot more to the city. It is
going to mean the continuation of the
battle for the things that Kenosha
needs and things that Kenosha must
have if it is not going back into the
'fcow PASTURE class Of cities.
Of course we know that the Chamber
bf Commerce did not get the big cars
down town, but it tried and the trial
that 1t made just naturally stirred ur
things to such an extent that lot of
other agencies have gone to work til
accomplish the result sought. The
Chamber of Commerce is perfectly will.
Ing to have these other fellows have
che credit SO long as the city gets the
ears. The Chamber of Commerce works
lmpersonally for the advance of no
single person or no collection of per-
sons. It's work is for the town rather
than for individuals.
1t needs at least q thousand mem.
bers with twenty-five dollar year
membership to make its work count
fcI the most. 1t can wiggle along on a
little less money but to do the work
right it should have budget of not
less than twenty-five thousand dollars
for the coming year. 1t does not mean
10 confer individual benefits to the
extent Of twenty-five dollars on every
man and woman who joins it. The
money is not going q be spent on indi
vidrale but on the town and the town {
interests. If you think that you are
worth twenty-five dollars to the town
Fou will hurry to send your check to the
Chamber of Commerce. If you don 4
believe that you are worth this much
rs citizen of Kenosha, probably your
Judgment is correct.
Every man who has the red blood
sf a real Kenoshan in his veins will
stand by the Chamber Of Commerce
sven if it has been necessary to raise
,he rates a little. The men who refuse
TO stand are not much interested in
their town. It is test of the home
patriotism of all of us and it is to be
hoped that we show a willingness tt
stand little Of the high cost of living
gaff just to let people know that we
are willing to stand by the demand Of
The town even if we do have to sacri
lice just little to keep our name OF
The list of men who believe that Ke
losha is town worth fighting for and
worth paying little something for.