The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-01-26
Letter From J. w. VAN wINKLs

Editor CITIZEN:
II may be Of general interest to
some of the readers of The CITIZEN
TO learn something of this locality.
Seneca, Illinois, is - miles south
west from Chicago, on the Rock
Island railway. II is in the coal field Of
this State, in the valley Of the
Illinois river, and the canal from
Chicago to the Mississippi river
divides the town into two parts It
is the center Of a thriving agricultural
district, of which corn and oats are
the chief product, and day after
day loads Of oats and corn, ready for
the elevators, are brought into town,
in wagons usually, but during the
past week almost all has been brought
in on Bob sleds just as necessary
a vehicle of local transportation as
wagons are in Kentucky. Nearly all
of the farmers come TO town in
handsome cutters, finely painted,
making an elegant turnout, equally
as necessary for business or pleasure
here as the buggy or phaeton in
Kentucky.
The farmers, of many sections in
Lasalle County, are Norwegians.
thrifty, frugal, honest and indus
trious, and in religion, Protestants.
The town Of Seneca is largely
Catholic in religion, there being only
two active Christian organisations
here the Catholic and the Methodist
Church. The priest who has charge
of the Catholic body seems to be an
intelligent,w worthy man. respected by
the Protestant people, and well
qualified, so far as the writer can
judge, TO fill the position he occupies.
/ have attended several services of
the Methodist Church, and feel very
much at home with the Methodist
brethren. That part of the Catholic
service ineligible to me, rendered
in English, was such as would be
acceptable to any intelligent Protes-
tant body as whole, aud TO which
the writer has no criticism to offer.
Civic Righteousness" in Munici
pal as well as in State and National
government is the burden of the
hour, as is evidenced in the firm hand
our strenuous President is taking
in reference to Inter state commerce.
Tariff Reform, and other measures
that call loudly for reform readjust
ment
Chicago seems TO be hopelessly
in the grasp of the worst element Of
that corrupt city as evidenced in
failure on the part of the better class
TO have the dance halls closed, aud
the sale of liquor forbidden at such
places. The sense of common
decency is shocked at the recital of
the orgies held in such dives on Sat
urday night and Sunday, notwith.
standing State and Municipal laws,
whice, if enforced, would wipe out
such blots from our boosted Christian
civilization.
A crisis, if not upon lis approach
ing when the conservative iudg-
ment and cooperative utilization of
every element of reform will be
required to avert anarchy, bloodshed
and revolution. l am no pessimist,
have the utmost confidence and trust
in the virtue and integrity of our
people as whole, yet, when the
forces for evil predominant in the
marts of the world, our
own nation especially, it behoves the
uninfected of every rural district,
every city, village hamlet, State,
country and precinct to be informed
on these points, and be able if the
crisis ever arrives, to act conserva-
lively and intelligently along the
lines indicated.
j. w. Van Wrinkle, Seneca, Ill.