Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1922-07-28
Pullman Chamber of Commerce

men assembled at the Palace hotel on
Monday evening. November 81 1910,
organized themselves as the Pullman
Chamber of Commerce and adopted
the constitution and bylaws which
still, in large measure, govern the or
ganization. they held fond hopes that
from that group of leading citizens
might come the spirit and the action
which would make OF Pullman a bet
ter place in which to live. They be-
lieved that it was within the province
of that group to remove the barriers
which for years had held opposing
factions apart, which had kept COM
peting business men at swords points
and which had previously thwarted
the attempts of half a dozen well
meaning organizations to bring about
a unity of purpose and unanimity
OF effort which alone could result in
the material improvement and con-
tinued advancement of the com
munity.
The - years Intervening since
those 80 loyal citizens set about to
cure the moral. physical and social
ills of the city and to inaugurate a
program in which the word Pro
gressiyeness" was spelled with a cap
ital p. have seen the full realization
of the hopes of the fathers of the
Pullman Chamber of Commerce and
more The present sturdy organiza-
ton, with its membership of 225 of
the very best men of the community,
its record of really remarkable
achievements and its high ideals and
worthy ambitions, stands as fitting
monument to the purpose and ambi-
ton of those men who set before
themselves a task which appeared al
most Herculean.
The Chamber of Commerce as or
ganized in 1910 was the direct out
growth of the Mems" club, an or
ganization which had met weekly at
Frank NJ Slagle and the Rev. c. H..
Harrison as the moving elements
This group realized the urgent and
immediate need of a strong and unit
ed civic organization and carefully
laid the plans which made the Cham
her of Commerce possible.
member, should go the honor Of the
title of father of the Chamber of
Commerce The first board of trus-
tees included f. NJ Slagle, Dr.. T..
Mcguire. J j. Rouse. George IT,
Watt, A. F Brownell O. NJ. Thorn
ason, j. NJ. Klemgard, J. n. Emer-
son and George McCroskey. The
trustees organized by electing Mr..
Slagle president and Mr.. Thomson
vice president The Rev c. II. Har-
rison was elected secretary and
treasurer.
The purposes of the organizations
as tersely set forth in the articles of
association and so literally exem-
plifed during the intervening years
were as follows:
ITO advance the material devel-
opment of the natural resources of
this community; to make known
the advantages of Pullman as
home center; to encourage immigra-
ton, manufacture. agriculture and
other trade relations, and to foster
fellowship and team work in the
community"
So rapidly did the spirit OF the in
iant organization develop and per-
meate the entire community that,
when the charter membership roll
was closed on December 6. only
trltle over two weeks from the time
the organization was launched. 81
prominent men of the community
were enrolled as charter members,
with business men, farmers, profess
sional men and college professors
pledged TO work together in har-
mony and unity for the betterment
OF the community as whole. The
charter membership included the
following:
Frank NJ Slagle, Dr.. f. Mcguire
J. A. Sanford, George II. Watt. A.
F. Brownell, J. y. Scott. E. w.
Thorpe, c. H. Harrison, H. Scott
Z. H. Letterman. S. X. Cameron. L.
b. Stivers, F. E. Sanger. II. Folger
A. a. Rounds X. A. Emerson, w. f.
Hansen. Z, A. Archer, D. D. Kimball.
John H. Jones, L. H. Folger. Lou
curtis, John H. Gerding, W. r. Nor
rison, c. d. Roberts. W. L. Greena-
walt, J NJ. Klemgard, O. NJ. Thorn
ason, E, s. Burgan, A. b. Baker.
X. NJ. Van Dorm. ]. n. Emerson 7
w. West, ". S. Thornber. G. T.
Hulse, J. W Anderson Jr.. II. d.
MacVean, Bruce McCully. ]. s.
Klemgard, Ross Kennedy. J. l.