Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-05-27

The following letter shows tnat george
still has warm place in his heart for
our people and is moved by the same
spirit of patriotism that enthuses all
good citizens.
Providence, Rhode Island, May 10, 1897
EDITOR DEMOCRAT:
If may again be permitted TO tres
pass upon a small portion of this paper S
space would like to say few words
to the citizens of Great Bend In re-
gard to a Fourth of July celebration.
If it has not already been decided IN
favor of having one l would most
strongly urge you to give this your I'M
mediate attention.
Great Bend is the county seat OF
Barton county, its largest city, and the
place the people in general look to to
. take the lead in matters of this kind.
There are but two days in the year
entirely given up by our people to holi-
days-Christma and Fourth of July
and they are as unlike as night and
day. While the former is home and
church day, the latter is any thing but
it. On that day we want to have
good time, and we want the children to;
we want them to remember what day
it is; we want something to stir US; we
want to celebrate and we ought TO, for
it is Americas day, it is our day, it is
the Fourth of July.
1t is to your interests to furnish
amusement on that day to the people
that patronize your city during the
year; the farming element more par
ticularly, the tillers of the soil, to whom
a holiday means SO much. AS l said
they look to you for this, and if you
slight them so will they you.
1t seems to me you could afford, and
should celebrate every year, or at least
when no other place in the county
does. Of course you do not want to
be selfish and not give the surrounding
towns a chance, but Ellinwood cele-
brated last year and it is your turn
this. If you shrink you fail in your
obligation to the people OF Barton
county Possibly some will say: 1--WE
cannot affort it." To them | will say,
you cannot afford not to. If by exPend-
ing one dollar you gain five, could you
not afford it? Look at the crowd a
celebration brings to town. 1t has
been estimated that they will spend on
an average of fifty cents each. L
deem the estimate low. Figure out
about what you think this would come
to. then examine the book in possession
of the Commercial Club for the cost and
see how you come out.
But don't care if you are not ahead
a dollar, l say celebrate. 1t pays; it
brings people to town; it shows that
vou are wide awake, and it advertises
Above all it shows you are thinking OF
the enjoyment-of your people. Be- up
and doing! Do not say cannot, but
| WILL! A town with as good prospects
as Great Bend has cannot afford to lag
behind
You do not want $500 or $500 cele-
bration, you cannot afford aud the
people do not expect it; nor is it nec-
essary. The book kept, by the Com
mercial Club shows an accurate account
of the last two celebrations. The first
20 he SnNOnH that
the same mistakes were not made, and
many said it was an Improvement. 1t
cost about half as much. Now yor
have two guides, and no doubt but
what other mistakes can be rectitieo
and more Improvements made. In the
report of 'o5 you will not only find how
the money was spent, but where i
came from.
Again 1 say HUSTLE! What has
been done can be done again. There
are three requisites, work, work, work
Make up your minds and never stoI
pushing until it is an assured success
Someone has to take the lead. Wha
is everybody's business IS nobody's
YOU know. 1 would say let the Com
mercial Club have charge of it. Tha
organization is composed of bright
energetic aud capable young men,
know they are rustlers, they go in t.
win, and if they take hold of it you car
he assured it will be no failure. LIE
the club call special meeting at once