Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-11

o-na costs but SOC box II it does
not help you, the price is absolutely
nothing.
were In league with this sum of all
villainies
We are delighted to look back and
find the part the church played in that
great struggle was a most honorable
one, neither running to the extremity
of the ranter and assuming the role
Of the hasty prophet, nor yet meriting
the curse Of Meroz who failed to come
to the help of the Lord, the help of
the Lord against the mighty. For
when the lines were clearly drawn the
Christian church was found leading
the public sentiment instead Of tardily
trailing along the path the brave and
heroic had marked out for her. So 1t
may be laid down as a safe guiding
principle for the church In such mat
ters that she is one to one hand to
avoid the charge of becoming po-
litical agency and of handicapping her
self by any Affiliations with party or
an organization that would interfere
with her freest exercise of Judgment
and action.
Create Mighty Sentiment.
On the other hand it should be the
part of the church to create public SEN
timent, arouse deadened conscience, to
stir up latent moral energies, to arouse
the lethargic and to sound the bugle
blast of battle when great moral is
sue is at stake. When she has thus
done her duty in creating sentiment
1t would appear to be the part of wis
/ dom to retire and let the activity be
directed by those who are in position
to manipulate and direct such move
ments where political and organized
civic action is needed.
| make this deliverance of princi-
pies once for all in this course of SER
vice which l might dignity as a cru
SADIE against the vice that is now ram
pant in our city. l am frank to say II
is my desire and hope to create such
sentiment as may result In an utter
overthrow of the present ruling dy-
nasty, which is about as nasty as any
dynasty could possibly become. l
want 1t, however, understood that l
have no political purpose to serve In
the matter. l do not care a fig per-
sonally, which political party holds the
reins of power. The only thing in
sist on is that whoever sits on the driv-
er's seat will not have saloonkeeper
on one side of him. gambler on the
other, and load of prostitutes lolling
on the cushioned seats of our civic
carriage. I hope to arouse such a
spirit of indignation against this dis
graceful proceeding that it will not be
possible for any man to be elected
mayor of this city next spring that
holds in his hands the dirty money
that has been scooped up from the
slums Of Smoky Row.
Need of Crusade.
| Is there any need of such a crusade?
In my judgment there is. For nearly
four years have been citizensof your
fair city have tried to interest my
self in your public affairs as much as
becomes the part of a public minded
man. | have tried to lend my small
! assistance to all wholesome efforts OF
reform and law enforcement that the
better elements have felt constrained
Ito undertake At every turn have
| come face to face with the deplorable
4 conditions that prevail in and around
4 our city hall. I have discovered that
\ there has been no honest effort made
! to curb the vicious and destructive
1 forces thatyoperate in our midst to ou1
\ damage both of goods and reputation
j When | have moved around in other
places both In the state and out OF
! it / find Ottumwa bears most unsav
/ DRY reputation 1t is common to hear
4 of it spoken of as the worst place In
j Iowa.
/ When it was first published in the
city of another state that was likely
to move to Ottumwa travelling mar
of the city said to me, Ottumwa is the
wickedest city in Iowa. When / was
ND at a small town in the central par
of the state ten days ago and 1t came
out that was from Ottumwa the frs
thing | heard was, Ottumwa is the
worst city in the state of Iowa. Sucl
| things are not to our credit. What Il
more they are not deserved. want tx
repudiate once for all this miserable
SANDER and say that in many respect:
Ottumwa has great reason to be proue
of her pre-eminence. She Is city o
churches. At least quarter of hun
bred Christian organizations ar
fully equipped in our midst, doing he
roic and devoted work l know he
faithful ministers, both Protestant AM
Catholic, and they are as hard-work
ing, upright, able and high-minded
class of Gods servants as You can flint
in any city of its size anywhere in tn
country.
Christian Organization.
We have in our midst those organl
cations that express Christian interes
and activity of her better minded men
We have the best Y M. G. A. In tn
state of Iowa. The same may be sal
of our Y. w. G. A. We have fine
representation of our solid, infiuentia
business men active in our Christian
churches than any city of my know
edge. Call the roll of our great maj
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