Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-03-22

loves the right, these are the forces
that VIII elevate public sentiment.
Let us condemn evil everywhere, but
pity and try to reclaim the evil done.
Among the prominent evils of our city
are the saloons with their aSSocia ions.
Let US do away with these evils as far
as possible or at least mitigate them
Iht saloon keepers are human. Some
of them are fathers. All of them are
citizens. Let Us reason with them.
for their families sake, for the sake of
our Greater city'S reputation let US
| urge them to reduce these evils to the
minimum. Then there is the question
| OF Sunday closing Of our business
| places. Why can we not do as other
cities have done and bring about the
closing of our business houses. Who
is responsible for this opening? You
are. am. You deny this. and yet
| until you and | do all in our power to
bring about Sunday closing we are
responsible for the evil in our midst.
L once asked d business man why he
dld not close his store and he informed
me that he would be glad to do SO but
was obliged to keepOpen to accommodate
people who stopped in on their way
home from church to purchase. A sad
commentary on some church going
| people. Another suggestive idea
was found in statement made in our
city paper some time ago, when notice
was given of change in the time of
opening the pOStottice at noon to ac-
commodate church-goers. The repu-
| tatlon OF our city would be advanced
| and the interests of all concerned be
best served if all this Sabbath desecra-
tion were done away with. The
| business men aud their clerks are
men, with the needs and tastes Of
men. They need and are entitled to
d rest one day in seven. They open
their place of business, not because
they wish to do SO, but because they
feel compelled by conditions a> they
| exist. Let us cooperate with them
in securing Sunday closing Of all kinds
OF business except that which it is
| essential should be kept open.
We can materially advance the inte
| rests OF our city by making it deSirab BILE
IT'S place of residence. There are
certain influences that determine the
standing of city. These are social,
business, educational and religious or
moral. Let these be developed to the
| highest possible degree. Men are
social animals. They will seek congo
| NAL associations. | have in mind
beautiful home which | am informed
may be bought at much less than cost
because OF the nature Of its environ
mentS. The same principle will apply
| to the city as a whole. If we are
| hopeful, generous, sympathetic,
hospitable and kind, people will be
attracted unto us and will be glad to
dwell with us. Ii the reverse of these
qualities be found to exist here they
will be repealed. Nothing is more
detrimental to the social interests of a
city than 'cliqueS,' SETS or Glasses. ,
Let us be one working for societys
best interests. The growth of our
city will depend very largely upon our
| business men. We have as fine bust
ness men as are found in any city in
the state. They are intelligent.
generous, broad and progressive. We
have magnificent water power that
| is waiting to be utilized. Some years
ago it was my good fortune to live in
d city possessing fine water power
and other natural advantages under
| the control of man or men who
refused to rent or sell except at eXhor-
| bitant rates. The result was that
capital was kept out, the power went
to waste and the city developed but
very slowly. Finally the business
men became aroused to the necessity
of doing something in the matter.
They affected an OrganiZatiCn called a
mass meeting of the citizens and
| brought such pressure to bear upon
the owners of the power that they
were compelled to sell or rent at
reasonable rates, or appear to be
ObStructiOniStS. They reduced their
rates, capitalists invested, mills and
factories were built and the city
received an impulse in growth which
it still retains. So our business men
by combining may do great things for
our city. They showed their power in
bringing about consolidation. They
represent money, business talent,
intelligence and power. They are our
natural leaders. They can do with us
and for us pretty much as they will.
Our city shall be largely what they
determine it shall be. In considering
| the influences that determine our
standing as city leading place must
| be given to our schools. Some of the
best people in looking about fora home
consider as a main factor the queS-
tiOn of educational advantages offered.
| have in mind one city many of whose
people were attracted thither by the
superior advantages offered by its
schools. Our own schools have a
record of which we may well be proud,
but it is possible under our new system
to attain a still higher degree of excel
lence. Let us 50 labor that our city
shall become known as an intellectual
center equal to the best in It's class,
second to none. Furthermore, |
appeal to you in behalf of our religious
interests. These are fundamental to
the growth of the higher life of our
city. [ know the weakness OF the
church. | am conscious OF its lack,
still it is the greatest agency through
which God works in establishing His
kingdom on earth. There is no greater
power for good among men than a
church which declares the whole
gospel of Christ and people who
practice the teachings of that gospel.
A church which is not true to It's mis-
sion, which does not hold up the
standard of Jesus would better disband.
Cultivate your religious interests.
Support your churches by your pres
ence and your means, bid your minis
tiers be fearless in prOclaiming the
truth. Make it the rule rather than
the exception, to be found in attend
ance with your families, at Divine
worship and you will see the results in
purer, healthier moral and spiritual
influences pervading society. Finally
let me say that if we would make our
city great in the highest sense we will
seek to attain for ourselves and help
others attain the highest type of