Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-10-13

The first membership meeting OF
the waterville- Winslow Chamber Oh
Commerce was held Wednesday eve
ming in Elks hall, following a pam
ouet furnished by the ladies OF the
CONGREGATIONAL church of Winslow
which was most satisfactory. The
meeting was featured by the pres
ence of a larger number OF LADIES
than usual, who found the proceed
ings interesting.
J. Howard Welch presided and
announced that is the hall was to be
sued for dancing at $50 the meet
ing was to be short and snappy and
lie wished all to remain.
Previous to the speeches of the
evening a solo was delightfully."- rem
dered by Hugh p. Tracey who was
recalled by an encore.
Mr.. Welch in introducing the
speaker of the evening, Rev. c. A
Knickerbocker said that he believed
that all present were interested in the
Chamber of Commerce and there
was 4 message to be given in regard
to the Chamber by man whom all
knew and believed IN and he thought
they would continue to believe in
him after he had said what he had to
in regard to the Chamber of Com
merce.
Mr.. Knickerhocker spoke briefly
and to the point. He marked that
he believed that he had the happy
faculty of brcvity or good terminal
g.. i l, ,,,
tcrested in the Chamber of Com
merge diea. That he was fully in
sympathy with such an institution.
I'm here because ] want to make
the Waterville Winslow Chamber of
Commerce more alive than ever be-
fore, more people come into it and
carry it to nights of enthusiasm
than it has never before known"
The speaker referred to the news
letter just issued by the Chamber
and asked how many had read it. In
response many of those present
raised their hands. He called atten-
ton to the work of the free employ
ment bureau and said that that one
activity alone, inspired by the wis
dom OF the manager, more than JUS
tifles the $50 spent Il year It was a
real service rendered to the COM
munity. Let's not discount it." he
said.
Second. we are going to have a
hospital. A hospital that is equal to
any 1t is due to the Chamber of
Commerce that we are to have it.
The Sisters are to run it, They know
how. 1t is going to render a real
service to a whole community,
roundabout
There is the free employment bu-
reau and the hospital and one other
thing is the school problem. We are
facing a situation in the school prob
lem that is too big for the city gov
ernmetn and too big for the board
OF education. 1t is upto the citizens
of this community to remedy this
situation and the interest and intelli-
gence OF this community must be
centered somewhere and that place
Is the Chamber of Commerce. Tn
less we have d central place to bring
she thought and interest and to talk
over the situation nothing can be
zone 1t is up to US members of the
chamber of Commerce to take the
steps to do it and if we can accom-
plish this it more than justifies all
the money spent and to be spent.
The fact is that any municipa]
government never leads public senti-
ment but follows it. It is made to
express the wishes " the people. But
first there must be a people. And by
n people l mean common place
"hefe people NEE, 20 talk things
over. Community life must have
somemeans of expressing itself. l,
can only be expressed through a
peoples institution. 1t must be their
collective wishes. Irrespective of 10.
htlcal or religious allegiance it mus,
nave Il common means of expression
NO otner organization than a Cham.
Der of Commerce or something like
1t, where people may meet and talk
over things common to all, will fl,
the requirement.
Because of this actual necessity
Chamber of Commerce in order te
function wisely and efficiently must
De place where things may be full,
ana freely talked over without feel
ing or rancor. the things which have
to do with the community benefit.
we have been apt to get in ar
outsider to lecture and pay him &5(
to give something he has given over
and over again to women's clubs anc
other organizations. It rs a temper
. AIRY entertainment which fades wher
the lights go out. We want member
ship meetings where men and WON
en- meet and talk things over. Oul
business is to provide the grounc