The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1922-07-28
CLEANING UP
The OLD DEBTS
Generous Response Has Been Met
With from Citizens by Soliciting
Committees.

Mention was made in the Gazette
that vigorous campaign had been set
on foot for the purpose Of raising
FUNDS to wipe the slate OF all debts
contracted by the Commercial club in
the past and also to help out the Le-
glon boys to erase the debt resultant
from the convention and celebration
put on at Oroville on the 4th.
I The Commercial club has not func-
toned with any degree OF activity for
some months, and this temporary sus-
pension OF animation was largely
owing to the deplorable financial con-
dltlon into which the club had drifted.
1T is recognized and acknowledged
fact that during the heyday of that or
ganization's existence it was an i'm
portant and valuable factor in the
civic life OF Oroville. G.stakes may
have been made, for no organization
made UP of members of the human
family can possibly be infallable. but
those mistakes were as nothing
weighed against the beneficial accom-
plishment for the town coming
through the work of the club. Nothing
That could be proposed for the better
ment OF the community failed to meet
with ready support from the club. In
the exuberancy Of effort. with some
gain in sight for the effort, the zeal of
the club overreached the finances I'M
mediately at command and conse-
quently the organization ran into debt
1t was the old, old story, get action
while the chance of action appeared
to be Immediately at hand end let the
future take care of the liquidat ton.
Now all these debts were contracted
in good cause with an honest inten-
tion of paying the same in the near
future. Unfortunately the receipt of
funds did not come up to the expecta-
tlons OF the members and consequently
the old debts became bugbear. Delay
followed delay in reaching any plan
by which funds could be raised to
eliminate those old accounts. At last
and recently, the executive committee
of the Commercial Club decided to
face the situation squarely and make
drastic effort to raise sufficient money
to pay all outstanding debts, and also
to collect sufficient to include the in
debtedness of the Legion boys.
This thing of soliciting funds for any
public object, and more especially for
dead horse, so to speak. is no soft
job, as any member of a collecting
committee will not hesitate to tell you.
But 1t was an unpleasant task that
had to be performed, and the several
committees have now been in the field
Tor some days. The entire town has not
yet been canvassed, but no one will be
overlooked. Notwithstanding the quiet
times, and that the money was wanted
to smooth the water that had already
passed the mill, it can be said for the
generosity and public spirit Of the bus
mess and professional men of Oroville
that with few rare exceptions they
have responded handsomely to the
call, which not only made the thank
less task of collection easier upon
those upon whom the job was sawed
or. but encouraged them to renewed
effort. In this connection the commit
tee wishes the Gazette to express
their thanks and appreciation to those
who have come through so cheerfully
and generously.
1t may be added that the full sum
necessary to cancel all debts has not
as yet been secured 1t is confidently
believed, however, by those having the
campaign in hand, that when all the
prospects on the list are finally ap-
preached that sufficient funds will have
been subscribed to clear the debts of
both the Commercial club and the
Legion. And it can be further stated, as
stimulus for subscribing at the
present time to the good cause, that 1t
is not likely that ever again will the
public be called upon to meet old ac-
counts. In the future the Commercial
! club will contract no debts. If any
work of public nature is to be done
that requires financial outlay the fl
nances will be on hand to meet that
outlay, otherwise that work, 40 mat
| ter how attractive it may appear, will
be passed up cold.