History of Santa Clara County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 45

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846-
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1928

USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 45

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The Merchants Association was organized in 1901, with Chas. M. O'Brien as president. Its influence began to be felt after its removal to its new and commodious quarters at 74 North First Street, on November 8, 1915. It took over the entire upper floor of the San Jose Abstract Company building. The rooms are used by the Merchants Credit Bureau for offices of the superintendent of the credit bu- reau, and the merchants' patrol, for a meeting place of the board of directors and for the sec- retary of the Retail Grocers' Association. There is also a tastefully furnished reception room for visitors.

The credit bureau is a model of efficiency and is being copied by other cities of the state. It is in a position today to give an almost in- stantaneous rating of every buyer in the county by means of a card index system. When a new buyer appears in a store and asks for credit the merchant gets into touch by telephone with the credit bureau, obtains a rating on the customer and almost immedi- ately knows whether it will be advisable to extend credit.

The idea of this institution was first worked out by private enterprise. The system was so meritorious that it was finally purchased by the Merchants Association, then reorgan- ized and developed into its present efficient basis by the capable superintendent, Capt. E. R. Bailey, a former member of the San Jose police department. It is stated that over 1,000 ratings are given by the bureau to its patrons every month. Captain Bailey, besides super- intending the department, is also in charge of the merchants' patrol system. Two patrol-

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men are employed by the merchants to look after patrons' business places between sun- down and sunrise. These men walk beats and ring in at regular intervals to the night police captain. They are subject to the discipline of regular police officers, although they may be discharged only by the patrol committee of the Merchants Association. These men try the locks of business houses, look after lights, and are a protection against fires and burglars. The efficiency of their work is revealed by interesting reports which are submitted at regular intervals.

The association has found that the experi- ence obtained by Captain Bailey has been very effective in guarding against extensive opera- tions by bogus check men in San Jose. As soon as a bad check is discovered Captain Bailey is instantly notified and all the mer- chants are then warned to be on the lookout. Bad check men, as a rule, attempt to pass sev- eral checks in a town before getting out. The association is growing rapidly and now has a membership of 231. The officers are: War- ren Reilly, president; Karl Stull, vice-presi- dent : Robert R. Aver, secretary, and Earl Bothwell, treasurer. The directors are W. B. Reilly, Henry Hirsch, Henry Hoff, Jav Mc- Cabe, W. C. Andrews. J. S. Williams, H. Mel- vin, Earl Bothwell, Karl Stull, Geo. Osen, G. H. Borchers, Walter Trinkler, J. Desimone, A. S. Appleton, N. A. Pellerano, Geo. Howes, A. B. Canelo, F. L. Foster, A. J. Hart.

The Rotary and Lions Clubs

The Rotary Club of San Jose, a branch of the national organization, was organized on May 22, 1914, with Henry Hoff as president and Alex. Sheriffs secretary. It consists of men selected from each district, business or profession and the aims are for the moral and financial betterment of the individual mem- ber, both in a practical way and a moral way ; the betterment of the members' crafts or pro- fessions as a whole; the betterment of the member's home, his town, county and state, and of the society in which he lives. For its members the Rotary provides activity which will extend their horizon of business experi- ence, stimulate their minds to travel in unfre- quented channels of thought; arouse them to service for others; help them to attain their greatest possibilities; make them leaders among men. On the practical side the Rotary activity provides an opportunity for increased business thoroughness by the establishment of cordial, intimate, friendly relations between members. On the ideal side the Rotary activ- ities provide members with codes of correct practices and high standards in business. The ideals are equally applicable to his personal

habits as well as to his business conduct. The Rotary's slogan is "Service, not self. He profits most who serves best." The Rotary has a distinct field of its own and is mainly educational in character. It is different from other organizations by its limited membership and by its active concern in the individual member and in the individual member's busi- ness and by placing on the members the re- sponsibility of awaking the respective crafts and professions to higher standards. At a meeting held on June 2, 1920, the following of- ficers were elected : President, A. G. Du Brutz ; secretary, Frank Baker ; Arthur E. Holmes, treasurer. Other directors-Arthur Curtner. Geo. Parkinson, John D. Kuster, Seymour Kittredge. During the past year twenty new members have been added to the roll. In 1922 the officers were Dr. C. M. Richards, presi- dent; E. O. Billwiller, secretary; Arthur Holmes, treasurer.

The Lions Club, whose objects are similar to those of the Rotary Club, was organized March 24, 1920, by the election of the follow- ing officers: F. B. Brown, president ; Warren Reilly, vice-president; T. S. Montgomery, treasurer, and L. M. Simonson, secretary. Both the Lions and the Rotarians are lending efficient assistance to the Chamber of Com- merce.

The Civic Welfare Club

The Civic Welfare Club, of San Jose, was organized in November, 1919. The following officers were elected for the first term: Presi- (lent. J. D. Crummey ; vice-president, Rev. A. W. Noel Porter; secretary, Josephine Rand- Rogers: treasurer, T. M. Wright; executive committee. C. S. Allen, L. D. Bohnett, Dr. N. H. Bullock, Chas. F. Crothers. J. D. Crummey, Herbert C. Jones, Rev. A. W. Noel Porter, Josephine Rand-Rogers, Clara H. Smith, Mrs. E. E. Stahl, Geo. S. Walker, Bert R. Ward, F. D. Wolfe, T. M. Wright. The constitution thus declares the object :

"The object of this organization will be to assist in maintaining the highest moral stand- ards in the political, social and industrial life of the community. It declares for a vigorous enforcement of all laws that are essential to the promotion of the general welfare, and it will act upon this declaration whenever the occasion arises. It will loyally support the earnest efforts of all officials to execute such laws. In primaries and elections it will en- deavor to ascertain the attitudes and stand- ards of candidates for offices, the incumbents of which exercise powers affecting the public welfare, and will give such information to the electors. Its method in all activities will be so far as possible constructive. It will always co-operate to the end that the community

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may become united in the support of meas- ures affecting the public interest. In its po- litical activities it will be strictly nonpartisan. It will not use its influence to advance party or individual interest. It will strive to be an organ of intelligent, disinterested and progres- sive public opinion.

"No candidate at a primary or election shall be endorsed by this organization until a refer- endum vote has been taken, and the returns show a majority in favor of such endorsement. The executive committee may also order a ref- erendum for its guidance on any matter, and ten per cent of the voting members of the organization may on written petition require the executive committee to direct a referendum on any proposed measure or action, and to abide by the result of such vote."

During the few months of its existence the society has directed its efforts toward the sup- pression of gambling and "blind pigs."

The 100 Per Cent Club

In the fall of 1918 the 100 Per Cent Club of San Jose was organized. It is composed of business and professional men and its objects are to promote business, advertise San Jose and Santa Clara County and boost every proj- ect looking toward city and county advance- ment. The members consist of one man in each line of business or profession and the club follows in many respects the program outlined by the Rotary Club. Every year it gives in San Jose a grand industrial exposi- tion, which attracts visitors from all parts of Central California. The opening exposition was held from May 29 to June 5, inclusive, and there was offered one of the most worth- while programs ever prepared in California. There were daily aviation races and stunt con- tests in which fifty fliers competed; fireworks were turned loose from airplanes ; three bands provided music and famous entertainers from the East appeared. In addition, there was a "Joy Zone," patterned after the famous ave- nue at the Panama-Pacific Exposition. The educational and business phases of the affair were the industrial exhibits, the machinery exhibits, the automobile and air shows and the government demonstrations of recruiting work.' The officers of the club are: President, Paul Rudolph ; secretary, Alvin Long: exec- utive committee, Z. O. Field, W. A. Mc- Donald, F. M. Ely, Claude Stutsman, William Horwarth, J. F. Stover, E. L. Simpkins, L. H. Elmer, L. Austin, Alvin Long, William Horst- man. The last named acted as manager of the exposition.

Labor Organizations

The free employment service in San Jose started up during the winter of 1915, when

there was an acute period of unemployment. A committee of citizens representing civic, fraternal and labor bodies, solicited the neces- sary funds and established a Rest House for the unemployed at a building on the Alameda and started service in the city hall to supple- ment the work done at the Rest House. The experiment worked satisfactorily and practic- ally eliminated the back-door solicitor and tramp. At the end of the winter the city au- thorities were induced to take over the work and under the new auspices it was continued with good results until April 15, 1918. No record was made of the calls and placements made during that period.

On April 15, 1918, the state established in San Jose, at 176 South Market Street, a branch of its regular employment service, un- der the direction of the State Labor Commis- sioner. This was in co-operation with the United States Employment Service, and the work was carried on as a state federal bureau until April 1, 1919, when the Government dis- continued all free bureau service except in the large industrial centers of the Eastern states.

Since that date the San Jose bureau has been operated as a state institution, having no con- nection with the Government except that it is allowed the franking privilege on all return postal cards and official correspondence. Since its establishment more than 20,000 employers have been served and more than 40,000 men and women have been placed in earning posi- tions. The manager of the State Public Em- ployment Bureau is George Moody ; assistant, Thomas A. Graham. The managers of the municipal bureau from 1916 to 1918 were M. Chestnutt and Dana Thomas. A. J. Rhein had charge of the bureau during that period, and during 1915-1916 Walter Henderson had charge of the Rest House.

The labor unions of San Jose are represented by the Building Trades Council, the Central Labor Council, and the Labor Temple Asso- ciation. The Building Trades Council, for building trades only, was organized in 1901. with Ed White as president and C. H. Harri- son as secretary. Other presidents were F. N. Smith, Wood James, Ed Lundy and T. A. Graham, who held office for seven years, and Fred Arberg. The present officers are Bert Rose, president, and J. F. Cambiano, secretary.

A short time after the Building Trades Council was organized the Federated Trades, afterwards the Central Labor Council, came into legal existence. It represents all the trades not covered by the other council. Be- fore its organization there were a number of labor unions, and the amalgamation came about through a desire for co-operation and concerted action. The officers of the Central

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Council are W. A. Wilson, president, /and George Bachelder, secretary. When the Y. M. C. A. got into financial difficulties and was forced to give up its fine two-story building near the northeast corner of Second and St. John streets, the two labor councils became the purchasers, paying $13,500 for building and lot. At the time of the purchase the La- bor Temple Association was formed. It con- sists of one member from each council. Louis Yates is secretary and manager. The affairs of the temple have been so well looked after during the eight years' ownership of the two councils that the original debt incurred has been practically wiped out. The business of the two councils is to see that labor receives its just compensation and that the interests of its members are properly taken care of.

The Progressive Business Men's Club was organized April 1, 1920. The objects are the same as the Rotary Club. The officers are: A. A. Zolezzi, president ; J. B. Hiatt, secretary, and F. W. Sinclair, treasurer. There are seventy-nine members on the roll.

Commercial Club

The San Jose Commercial Club, dedicated to the upbuilding of Santa Clara County, was organized in October, 1921. The objects and purposes, in detail, are to promote the civic. business and industrial welfare of the com- munity, to bring together upon common ground all existing organizations, to add the "personal touch" to business and professional relations, to supplement and amplify the work of existing organizations, to promote a closer business, professional and social relationship between San Jose and outlying communities and finally to develop broad qualities of lead- ership to insure steady, uninterrupted com- munity progress. The officers are: Dr. Ray- mond T. Wayland, president; Alex. J. Hart, vice-president: W. J. Cross, honorary secre- tary. The directorate represents the Chamber of Commerce, Merchants Association. Auto Trades Association, Hundred Per Cent Club, Progressive Business Men's Club, Lions Club, Professions, Rotary Club, Press, Prune and AApricot Association, Packers, Realty Board, outlying sections.

In December, 1921, articles of incorporation of the Commercial Building Company, organ- ized to erect a modern class "A" office build- ing which will house the Commercial Club, were filed. The building will be located on the old Music Hall property on North First Street and will cost about $400,000.

Pen Women Branch

The San Jose Branch of the League of American Pen Women was organized March 23, 1922. The objects of the League are

mutual benefit in creative work, betterment of literary and artistic production. The Edwin Markham Home was chosen as a fitting meet- ing-place. To further interest in books and Pacific Coast writers, the League will give an annual book fair. The officers are : Mrs. Kath- erine D. Cather, president ; Mrs. Edith Daley, vice-president ; Miss Mildred Hamilton, treas- urer ; Mrs. Elva S. Cureton, secretary; Miss Ruth Amet, historian. Those eligible are ar- tists, writers and musical composers.

The Plotwrights

On June 8, 1921, the Plotwrights, an asso- ciation of county fiction writers, was organ- ized in San Jose. The following officers were elected: Homer Eon Flindt, president; Oscar L. Oliver, secretary ; Eugene T. Sawyer, treas- urer. The objects are sociability, the discus- sion of the technique of the salable manu- script, the giving of entertainments, the boost- ing of the beautiful valley of Santa Clara, and the reception and entertainment of visiting authors. The membership consists of the following writers: H. E. Flint, Austin Hall, J. B. Frisbie, James Hanson, Ray Hardin, Ray Hicks, A. Jamison Arroll, E. T. Sawyer.

The Western Aero Club

An Aero Club to promote aeronautics in the Santa Clara Valley was formed at a meet- ing of local aviation enthusiasts on July 12. 1920. The charter members were Johnny Johnston (instructor ), Louis Normandin, Ar- thur Britton, Sanborn Young, Frank Puck, Paul Stephany, Fred Gurvine, J. R. Penning- ton, Clyde Arbuckle, J. R. Knutzen (vice- president ), Roscoe Russell, William Brid- wein, Charles Newman, C. H. Odell (secre- tary and treasurer ), R. M. Scherf, W. G. Har- ton, Mrs. W. G. Harton, S. Metzgar, K. Rog- ers (president ), R. A. Burgess, Mrs. Newbre, Frank Rose (aerial acrobat), W. Lidley, H. Coleman and Dr. Morris.

The name selected is The Western Aero Club and the headquarters will be the old site of the Garden City aviation field on Capitol Avenue, near Santa Clara Avenue. The club has ships and more are to be added in the near future. In Santa Clara is another club and the Pennington-Todd training field on the San Francisco road.

Aviation in San Jose took its first real start during the European war. The Garden City field was selected as a base of operations, and when not aiding the local war committees of San Jose in distributing Red Cross, Liberty Bond and other circulars, the aviators carried passengers for a ten to fifteen minutes' flight over the city. During this period many ex- cursions from Camp Mather were made and hundreds of airships passed over the valley on their way to southern points.

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The San Jose squadron was organized on December 1, 1921. On February 18, 1922, it appealed to Congressman Free to assist its members in securing a plane for training pur- poses. Mr. Free, upon receipt of this request, called at the war department and presented the matter to the heads of the air service.

Although the war department plans to co- operate with the San Jose squadron in every possible way and to include it in its future plans for the development of aviation on the Pacific Coast, theer were certain technical diffi-

culties in the way of having an army plane allotted immediately for use at San Jose.

Mr. Free therefore appealed to the postof- fice department, having heard that a JN plane owned by that department was at Crissey field, San Francisco, and might be available. Through the sympathetic cooperation of Ilon. C. F. Egge, head of the air mail service, who took up the matter immediately at Mr. Free's request, the plane was secured and or- dered to be delivered without charge and fully equipped for use to a representative of the San Jose air reserve squadron on April 3.

CHAPTER XXV.

Charitable and Humanitarian Organizations of San Jose-The Good Cheer Club, County Charities, Home of Benevolence-Pratt Home, Salvation Army, Notre Dame Institute, and Young Men's Christian Association.

The Associated Charities was organized in 1894, and while in existence met with the gen- erous co-operation of the public. The direc- tors represented the churches of every faith in San Jose, as well as other existing charita- ble bodies. The aims were to make investi- gation and keep a record of all cases of distress reported ; to give temporary relief in emerg- ency cases and then report them to the char- itable organizations under the jurisdiction of which they belonged; to expose fraud and prevent duplicate giving ; and to secure work for needy women and men. Annual entertain- ments were given, which always netted the society a sufficient sum to tide it over until the next year. The officers for the first year were: Alfred C. Bean, president; Mrs. T. Ellard Bean, vice-president ; Mrs. W. B. Hill, secretary : James Bean, treasurer, and Miss Cora M. Bethel, superintendent ; board of di- rectors, Mrs. S. B. Hawkins, Mrs. T. Ellard Beans, Mrs. A. T. Herrmann, Rev. H. M. Tenney, Mrs. H. Branham, James Bean, Mrs. WV. L. Woodrow, Mrs. W. B. Hill, Mrs. E. G. Williams, Mrs. Anna Taber, Mrs. Alfred C. Bean ; honorary directors, G. D. Worswick, Mrs. S. C. Winchester, Rev. Father Gleeson, Mrs. Geo. M. Bowman, J. H. Campbell, Mrs. E. O. Smith, Mrs. H. Levy, Mrs. C. D. Blaney. Mrs. E. McLaughlin, Mrs. B. Cochrane, Mrs. Jackson Hatch, J. E. Knoche, James Rhodes, Mrs. W. P. Dougherty, Mrs. S. A. Jones, E. A. Hayes.

The association continued its beneficent work until 1917, when the Santa Clara County Charities was organized under the state law and with state and county aid. As its opera-

tions and aims were about the same as those of the Associated Charities, the latter organi- zation concluded to disorganize and then to reorganize under the name of the Social Serv- ice Agency. This action was taken after it had turned over all its data to the County Charities. As the Social Service Agency it allied itself with the Good Cheer Club, and for several years assisted in the club's cam- paign work.

Miss Cora M. Bethel, former superintendent of the Associated Charities, is the investigator or superintendent of the County Charities, Ray B. Newman is the secretary, and fine offices have been fitted up in the county court house. The board of supervisors has discon- tinued its alms-giving system and has turned over all that business to the County Charities for investigation and action. The County Charities presents claims of applicants for re- lief to the board and the board makes the allowances. The state aid for the six months ending December 31, 1919, amounted to $16,- 723.16; supplementary, $1,012.03; total, $17,- 735.19. Total of all aid for the six months, $23,173.02.

In addition to its other work, the County Charities dispenses the Widows' Aid Pension. Nearly all the claims of applicants for aid are for groceries, clothing and other necessaries.

The Good Cheer Club

The Good Cheer Club, started in 1904, is the health organization of Santa Clara County. The objects are to promote health and effi- ciency in the community, to give systematic relief to the sick, poor and needy, and to es-

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tablish a fund for these purposes. Annual membership fee, five dollars; life membership, twenty-five dollars. The officers are: Presi- dent, De Lancey Lewis ; vice-presidents, Mrs. Chas. Allen, Mrs. John E. Richards ; secretary, Miss Emma Philbrick. It is supported by the Santa Clara County Welfare Association, con- sisting of the Florence Crittenden Home, the Anti-Tuberculosis Society and the Social Serv- ice Agency. It receives state and county aid and fees from patients. The average monthly cases exceed 1,000. The departments include mental, medical and dental clinics and social hygiene. There are nineteen physicians on the consulting list.

The work of the club is done by no other organization in San Jose, yet it is in close co-operation with all the other humanitarian agencies and at the least possible expense. It reaches not only the very destitute and defi- cient, but the large American middle class in need of assistance. This assistance the club is organized to give, not so much as a charity but as a public health service. Visiting nurs- ing in the homes was started in 1904 and for several years that constituted the largest part of the work; but at last it became necessary to establish an office and dispensary, where applicants could be received, medicines and sick-room supplies distributed, surgical dress- ings made and sterilized, patients met by ap- pointment, doctors consulted, etc. Each branch of work undertaken has been the di- rect result of a real need. One of these was the clinic where children could have continued treatment. Doctors cheerfully cared for pa- tients through acute attacks. It seemed im- possible at first for the club to successfully follow up these attacks, as each child had a different doctor and a different hour of ap- pointment. But at last the club succeeded in opening a medical clinic through which chil- dren below par mentally and physically have been treated with wonderful results. Every child is given a thorough examination, the case is properly diagnosed, often by means of X-ray pictures and various tests. Treatment is then prescribed, medicine furnished, and when necessary the case is dismissed, contin- ued or referred to other treatment. Many children have received expensive surgical cor- rective treatment and hospital care, with no expense whatever to the parents. Through the operation of the medical clinic was found an absolute need for a dental clinic. Before this, only emergency work had been provided through the generosity of first one dentist and then another, but it was found that nearly every child coming to the medical clinic needed dental care, hence the establishment of a den- tal clinic.

The social hygiene department was estab- lished on February 1, 1919, with the assist- ance of the State Board of Health. There are now 200 patients being treated. In San Jose there are clinics conducted daily in all depart- ments. Branches of the club have been es- tablished in Los Gatos, Campbell, Mountain View and Santa Clara.

The nationalities of the new cases treated for one month in 1920 were as follow: Amer- ican, 213; Italian-American, 86; Italian, 18; Spanish-American, 29; Japanese, 2; Swedish, 3; Portuguese, 1 ; German, 3; Spanish, 2; Jew- ish-American, 4; Slavonian-American, 1. To- tal, 362.

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History of Santa Clara County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 45

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846- Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1928

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846-
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1928