The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-12-13
Designed to Coordinate all
Groups and Eliminate
Duplication.
SPONSORED BY LEGION
Name Committee of "A under
JesseI Whyte to Plan
Organization.

A committee composed of represen-
tatives of fourteen clubs and civic Or
CARNATIONS, headed by Jessel Whyte,
commander of the American Legion,
was named to formulate plans for an
all-Kenosha civic federation at meet
ing and dinner held last night at the
Elks' club. The dinner called by the
Legion, was attended by more than
fifty representatives of these various
organizations, together with members
of the city government.
This federation, according to tenta-
tive plans, will include representatives
of every group of citizens in Kenosha.
It's purpose will be to amalgamate all
the forces in the city into one COM
prehensive outfit, the objective OF
which will be to boost all worthy civ
ic projects, and cooperate with the
city management. +.
1t is planned to make this fedora
ton do the work of the now defunct
chamber of commerce. 1t will be
sort of super-structure built on the
firm foundation of all organizations,
now functioning in the city, which
will coordinate the present forces,
and through it's machinery eliminate
all conflict and duplication of effort.
Financed From Chest.
It was suggested that the machine
be financed from the Community
Chest, due to the fact that its entire
work will be along the lines for which
the chest was founded.
Foreign language clubs, labor or
CARNATIONS, and all other groups will
be asked to get in on the ground floor.
1t is planned to assign each group to
work in which they have particular
interest, and to back up each with the
combined strength of the whole.
Such a federation will be welcomed
by the city management, it was de-
clared, for it will give it sort OF
Laboratory in which to test for the
reaction of the taxpayers on any pro-
posed legislation, thereby giving the
taxpayers more voice in their govern
ment. On the other hand it will serve
as mouthpiece for the citizens in
getting measures which they desire.
This is the substance which was
''boiled" out Of more than three hours
Of speech and discussion. 1t was
pointed out that without the motive
power of persistent and individual eff
fort, the giving of time and money,
these plans will melt into mere
Utopian dream. Some definite arrange
ment must be made to Gull out the
drones. and separate the workers from
those whose SLOGANS is .'let George do
it," a.ey
Whyte Outlines Objects. '.''''
In his opening remarks, Jessel
Whyte, commander of the Legion, who
acted as chairman of the meeting, said
that the civic committee of the Legion
in discussing the plans came to the
conclusion that unless the entire city
could be welded into an all Kenosha
movement, little could be accomplish
ed. Sporadic, heterogeneous effort, he
saidA would result in the accomplish
ment of about the same results which
have been here in Kenosha for years
past. The way to move the mountains,
he pointed out, is to build workable
all-Kenosha machine.
Gan organization of this sort would
be a big help to the city government,
he said. Through it the city council
could get the taxpayers viewpoint, and
conversely speaking, the council can
be reached.
Names Vital Needs.
"There are many vital things which
this city needs such as transportation,
street cars, bus lines, automobile traf-
,fic and parking regulation, schools,
parks, a zoo, the remaining of streets,
safety plans and similar things.
'sThe old idea that the first thing to
do is to build city, then make the
transportation to fit the needs is out
Of date. A city won't grow until they
have car lines. There are hundreds
of acres near the limits which are
lust waiting to build up and as soon
as they have transportation facilities
they will grow. Kenosha is badly
crowded, and anyone who disbelieves
this has only to arise early some
morning and watch the BUSES come in
from Racine packed with those who
work in our factories! If Kenosha is
good enough to work in, it is good
enough to live in.
Pleads for Individual Effort,
w T. Marlatt, veteran of a score of
similar meetings, warned Of the dan
ger of not following through" Talk,
he pointed out, is cheap stuff, but it
takes work to do something. He told
of the birth, death and funeral Of the
chamber of commerce. Death, lie said,
was caused by lethargy.
Through the years there have been
few public-spirited citizens, who did
all the work, he said. In the old days
z. G. Simmons, and few others were
lie ones who bore the brunt of the
fight for the betterment of the city.
Then from his experiences with SINH
lar movements he predicted that this
undertaking will evaporate in plenty
of conversation and eventually perish
from the lack of individual effort to-
ward, collective results.
Each of us here must get the idea
that if we are going into this thing
we have got to get behind it personal
ly, and build a eentralizing power be-
tween contending forces"
City Feels the Need.
W. H. Afford, president of the COM
mon council, briefly outlined work that
might be done by such an organization.
The chamber of commerce had too
many dummy members and died from
lack of Individual interest and effort.
He said that when the chamber was