Los Angeles herald., 1907-10-20
CITY CLUB
DISCUSSES
CITIZENSHIP
PRESIDENT WHEELER MAKES
LEADING SPEECH
Noted Educator Reviews Evolution Of
Society and Declares No Title
More Worthy Than That
Of Good Citizen

the Westminster hotel, greeted the eyes
of the members of the City club when
they assembled at their weekly dinner
yesterday.
The decorations were in honor of Ben
jamin Ide Wheeler, president of the Uni
versity of California, and members of the
alumni who were present as guests.
The room of the hotel was crowded to
its full capacity. Throngs of visitors at
tended to hear the noted educator speak
on the subject of "a Citizens Duty"
President Wheeler was introduced by
Lee Gates, president of the club
President Wheeler Speaks
Mr.. Wheeler eaid, in part:
II am not going to make long ad-
dress. What 1 wish to say can be put In
a few words. l wish to speak Of public
duty.
THE old Hebrew theocracy was state
which existed for the purpose of glori-
flying Jehovah. They made a contract
with him to take care of his work and he
in turn agreed to care for them.
"The Graeco- Roman state grew out OF
the family. This family was a religious
organization with the father as high
priest Assemblages of families made up
a clan. and assemblages OF clans made
up a tribe, and finally the state was made
up of assemblages of tribes.
"These were inherently religious organ
izations. When child was admitted to
a clan he was also admitted to clan wor-
ship. That was all that happened. The
tribe. the clan, the family, they were all
greater or larger clubs in which certain
so-caled divine persons were known as
gods. The sacrifices were simply club
dinners in which choice pieces of meat
were selected and handed over to the
honorary members of the club. namely,
the gods.
Prefers to Be Good Citizen
Later, when men differed as to the
source of authority in matters of faith
it was found in many places impossible
for the state to maintain worship. Sc
that phase of religion which concerns
usages and ritual was separated from the
state, but the state never, at any time
or place, became non-religious. "a
"The state we have now is the same
in spirit as its germ. 1t must demand
from it's citizens something more than
the service 1t pays for There must be
in the citizens of the country con-
sciousress of duty, of obligation and OF
opportunity, that which far transcends
the mere consideration of the moment.
THE call goes out today for every
American citizen to do his duty as citi-
zen There was never greater need.
There is nothing an American citizer
can achieve more worthy than the title
of good citizen
personally, l would rather be known
as a good citizen than as good uni
versity president.
by a good citizen I do not mean tha
a man must be an office holder.
what we need is not more office
holders. but more men who are willirg t.
attend the primaries and vote.
ITO vote is good, but to attend thu
primaries is better. To know what yot
are going to do at the primaries and t.
understand the points at issue are still
better
'The pitiful thing at the present time
is the fact that when man has the In
terest of his country and the public a.
heart and takes an interest in public af'
fairs suspicious persons begin to ask
what is he after?" thinking he is seek
ing public office.
Certain persons think the men who
have been holding the reins of gov.
ernment so long that they have come
To be looked upon as managers, are the
only ores who have any right at the top
and these persons resent the efforts Of
any citizen to take hand in public af
fairs. When one does he is given the
title of rank outsider and Mr.. Butt-in.
'.These politicians look upon public of
fices as private political agencies run a.
federal expense
SIT is the duty of every American citi
zen to take a hand in the politics Of his
country and every business man shoult
be acquainted with al issues. He has M
right to leave it to a few persons ant
when he does he is working an injury
to himself, his neighbor and his country