Imperial Valley press., 1920-11-04
To
ADDRESS A
RELIGIOUS
MEETING?
Declines to Address Crowd
at Sunday Ball Game; e;
Associated Chambers in
Statement as to Their At
titude on Question.

Governor VIM. Stephens has de-
clined to address any meeting in
Ell CentrO Sunday other than re-
ligiOus gathering. Plans of the
local committee after consulting
naval commanders in charge of the
recruiting drive had called for a
luncheon at noon at which the
governor would speak and a base
ball game in the afternoon between
the U. S. S. Brooklyn team and the
local Elks' team at which the gov
crnOr would also speak.
The notification from the governor
that he would not address any gath
ering other than a religious one has
radically altered the plans of the To-
cal committee. 1t is now planned to
have an open air meeting in the park
Sunday afternoon sanctioned by local
churches at which tha governor will
speak. The committee appointed by
the local chamber of commerce is
deavoring to arrange this and several
of the churches have already con-
sented to join in the movement.
Rev. Walter Reed of the Baptist
church this morning as we'll as sew
eral other ministers voiced their ap-
proval Of the attitude of the COVER
nor.
81 believe he has done right and
heartily approve his action,' Rev
Reed declared.
A detailed explanation of events
which led up to the awkward situa
ton was made this morning by JOS
eph Seymour, secretary of the Asso-
ciated Chambers of Commerce and
is as follows:
November a, 1920.
"This is to announce to the public
that there will not be any public
luncheon as arranged for and contem-
plated by the Associated Chambers of
Commerce in honor of Governor
Stephens of California on Sunday,
November 7th, 1920, and also that
there will not be any ball game be-
tween the Ell Centre Elks and the
Battleship Brooklyn teams as con-
templated by the Associated Cham
bers of Commerce"
Prior to October 23rd, 1920, Com
mander Wilberg and Commander
Jones of the U. S. N. were guests of
the Ell Centre Chamber Of Commerce
at a luncheon, whereat they stated
that the purpose of the governors
trip was to encourage the recruiting
of native Californians for the crew
of the Battleship California, and that
everything possible should be done to
have as large crowd possible and
create as much enthusiasm as posi-
BILE. On October 23rd, 1920, a letter
was addressed to Mr.. Seymour from
H. Jones, Commander U.S.N., Officer
in charge at San Diego Recruiting
Station, in which it was stated as fol-
lows:
" ................ The object of this trip
about the state is to convey the mes
sage to be delivered by the governor
and by the recruiting authorities to
as many people as possible. There
fore, all arrangements should tend
toward insuring the largest crowd
possible to hear these messages-a
crowd among which there should be
as many prospects as possible. rms
is the whole thing in nutshell. IN
every place where the governors
train is scheduled to make stop, ar
rangements should be made to insure
the biggest crowd that the place can
furnish. District officers should see
that this idea is paramount in the
minds of those looking after the de-
tails of arrangements and should per-
sonally get in touch with the leading
citizens of the towns in their dis
tricts at which the recruiting train is
scheduled to lay over, to insure that
proper arrangements are made fol
accomplishing this one big object in
dicated above. The governor anc
this recruiting party are not touring
the state for the purpose of beins
entertained. What they want, anC
what we all want, is to talk to big
crowds. What is needed most is tn,
d.