Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-02-28
THE CIVIC LEAGUE.
Dr.. Whtbeck Announces Organization Of
Local League on Tomorrow Evening.
Editor Public Opinion:

Editor Public Opinion:
With your permission, would like
to say something abont the movement
to organize Civic Leagues in different
parts of Winneshiek county. At
present we have five organizations, at
Highlandville. Hesper, Bluffton,
Castalia and Ossian. The first two
are in splendid working shape and
are having very interesting meetings !;
Hiahlandville every Friday evening
and Hesper every other Friday. Now,
what do we propose to accomplish?
This, if sufficient men who are
willing to give some time to the better
ment of mankind and their surround
ing conditions. can be found. First,
we want as many organizations as
possible to be formed in different parts
of the county, wherever there are two
or three interested men or women to
help push it along. The first part of
the programs are used for debate,
for intance, the debate at Highland
vile, two weeks ago. was ON "The
Adoption of the Primary Election
Law" Music and recitations pre-
ceded the debate, select reading, play.
double farce and music followed.
This might be taken as fair sample
of an interesting progam, with the
result that those who attend will have
gathered all up-to-date knowledge
obtainable on the primary law, now
before cur state legislature. There
are many other similar and important
questions. AS to the league develops,
each member is placed on a commit
tee for the study of some question, to
report some rev meetings ahead. Said
question may be used for debate the
same evening. Then some of the
campaign methods of sending ont or
handing out literature, in this case
nom partisan, as far as possible for the
edification of those who need it..
Some good writers might write up
local conditions which could be print
ed by the Civic League at small ex-
pense in pamphlet form, or leaflets
and booklets, now printed bv a New
York Reform Bureau, treating on all
the great questions and movements
of the day, might be secured. This
method might easily be made pro-
ductive of great deal of COOL. After
several leagues have been organized
throughout the county, a county or
ganization could be formed, to hold
yearly meetings about three days in
length similar to a Ohautauqua course,
or with a program as follows: First
day, a debate between the leagues
second, an old settlers picnic, with
advice from our old settlers along
civic lines third, couple of the best
might be filled in with county fair
g. hol l.,
help make full rounded out daily
program, with an intellectual accent.
All church people and those belonging
to different political parties might
easily work together in such an Or
ganization, and the good to be ac-
complished would be unlimited. At
present we have far too few of our
citizens, who take active part in, and
make diligent, earnest study of civic
affairs. am not speaking in a
political sense now. We seem never
to have any trouble in finding plenty
of individuals, who are ready to
sacrifice themselves on the altar of
their country's good by serving in
public Office, and am glad to say
there are quite few of these who
show a proper sense of their re-
sponsibilities, and are striving
earnestly TO do good. But without
doubt a large share of our state and
national officers are far more anxious
to get the Office than they are to work
If our forefathers had kept in close
touch with civic Righteousness. we
would not need to use so much of the
valued space of our. great newspapers
nowadays in exposing the misdeeds of
our fellow men and the want of deeds
in the United States Senate, and if
the every dav citizen of TODAY would
keep himself properly posted, and by
organized methOdical work, go to
work, we should have but little cause,
very shortly. for such articles as this.
But if the present percentage of
disinterest in anything else but per-
sonal pleasure and the dollar keeps
up, the future outlook of our country
is not very bright. In other words,
the present small percentage of work
ers in civic righteousness can never
hope to solve the great question now
before them and to come. We must
keep posted if we expect to discharge
our duties as citizens Of great re-
public like this and if we don't, those
duties will not be discharged.
Friend, if you wish to help pu sh
along the work in civic and moral
progress, come to the meeting at the
city library rooms next Thursday eve-
ming ut o'clock sharp, and help us
organize Civic League, as above
outlined with the hope that eventually
we may be able to form a county
organization and prepare program
for three day fall session at DEBORAH.
Both ladies and gentlemen are in
vited to attend.