Page:The history and achievements of the Fort Sheridan officers' training camps.djvu/26

 24 THE FORT SHERIDAN ASSOCIATION

the confidence and good will of the men who w^ere to lead the New^ Army with him.

After the departure of the Second Camp, the office of the Association was moved to the Conw^ay Building, Chicago, w^here applications for loans in person and by letter increased rapidly, all of our forces w^orking on corre- spondence and upon investigation of loans. During the w^eek w^hen our Direc- tors had their ten-day leave, it was necessary to incorporate our organization and reorganize its administrative force. This was done to the entire satisfac- tion of the officers who had previously served and the splendid spirit in which the new civilian officers accepted the responsibility has been greatly appre- ciated by all.

The follow^ing men w^ere elected to serve during the period of the w^ar:

Alfred Cowles, President and Director.

William V. Kelley, Secretary and Director.

Harry E. Weese, Asst. Treasurer.

J. Harry Selz, Director.

John W. Scott, Director.

Wallace Winter, Director.

George A. McKinlock, Director.

William C. Boyden, Director.

John J. Mitchell, Chairman Citizens' Committee.

James C. Hutchins, Sr., Legal Adviser.

William B. Mcllvaine, Legal Adviser.

The Board of Directors then elected Capt. Myron E. Adams, who had been commissioned on the staff of the Adjutant General of Illinois, at the request of General Ryan, as Executive Manager in charge of the administra- tive work of the Association.

The Fort Sheridan Association was fortunate in securing the support and active help of these understanding business men. They gave largely of their time and experience and helped to establish the standing of the organization immediately in Chicago and throughout the country.

Alfred Cowles, who was the president of the organization from Decem- ber 13, 1917, to July 16, 1919, gave the Association an immense amount of personal attention and daily service during the greater part of this period. His personal interest in the men, his determination that the work should be main- tained on an efficient business basis, his willingness to take the initiative when any new emergency arose, w^ere factors which early placed the Association in a position where it could operate with a maximum of service and a minimum of strain.

The officers on leave had only a few days in their home towns. In some cases they w^ere able to secure voluntary support for the Fort Sheridan Asso- ciation from home sources, but in the majority of cases they were instructed to leave this to civilian representatives of the Fort Sheridan Association who would assume the responsibility after their departure.

The Board of Directors, co-operating under Mr. J. J. Mitchell, Chairman of the Citizens' Committee, with the assistance of Mr. Charles W. Folds, con- ducted a financial campaign lasting only one week in the City of Chicago

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