Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-02-13
PROTECT THE HOME
NATURAL LAWS EVIDENCED IN
COMMUNAL RELATIONSHIP.
PRACTICES THAT DESTROY
Necessity for Harmonious Co-opera-
Eion If the Highest interests of the
People Of a Community Be
Best ~Subserved.

Sllle5 anu lOWnS are the natural
outgrowth of the Unborn desire in man
to fraternize in a protective as we'll
as in a social way. Primitive man IL
Illustrated a high type of individualism.
Exacaples of his methods can be
founG in the barbarous, wandering
tribes in some sections of the world
to-day. AS far as possible, he existed
Independent of his fellow creatures.
Like the wild animal, he tracked down
his prey and subsisted the best he
could. A natural law binds together
creatures of certain types. AS intel
ligence in man developed, a sense of
neutrality-suspicious. directed that tribal
methods of living in community be
put in force. This was necessary for
s~elf-protection and for defense against
attacks of COMMON enemies.
AS far back as evidence can be
found relative to mans existence,
there existed resident places CORE
spending to our present home towns"
With the advancement of civilization,
methods of living became revolution
lied. One resident of a community
found that his interests were best sub.
served by dependence upon other
members and by close cooperation with
them. In modern life, there are many
complex conditions which make neces-
sary the recognition of obligations of
one person to another. The small city
or town of to-day affords an illustra-
ton Of the highest type of communal
relationship. Here is found ideals as
to cooperation and a full recognition
of the necessity of harmonious labor,
not for self alone, but for others of the
community. 1t is by this co-opera-
ton that the highest type of society
is built up. 1t is by this harmonious
action that. churches are builded,
schools maintained, public Libraries
for the enlightenment of the people
supported, roads kept in condition and
all conveniences for mutual inter-
change in the social and commercial
life recognized as necessary.
A town cannot in itself exist. 1t
must draw the subsistence for it's peo-
pie from the surrounding country.
The basis of the city or town is agri-
culture. The growing of food stuffs
must be in order that people shall live.
An agricultural town of a thousand
population cannot exist by itself alone,
but must draw it's support from the
contiguous territory. Those residing
upon the farms find the town an es-
sential to their welfare and enjoyment.
Thus a community must be consid-
cred an entire and indivisible social or
ganization, in which each member
participates in whatever prosperity
and general advancement exists with.
in it. Thus we find that all compris-
ing the community have equal inter-
est in increasing it's prosperity, it's
wealth and all it's moral, social, edu-
cational and commercial advantages.
This participation is not exclusive to
those residing within the limits of the
town, but must be enjoyed by the resi-
dents and the workers on the ada
cent farms, and all who labor within
the radius of which the town is the
center. Perforce of this, the town be-
m the apex of the social activity,
as we'll as that of a business nature.
And the social and the commercial are
so entertained that one is necessary
for the other.
A spirit of mutual cooperation
should lfarmeate all of a community.
Each and every one comprising the
communal organization of a district
has equal interest with the others.
There can be no affair important to
the townspeople but which is also i'm
portant to the farmers and others of
the community; and there can be no
affair Of interest to the dwellers in the
rural district but is of equal import to
the residents of the towns.
How desolate, how monotonous and
how isolated is the life on the farm
without a home town. In human kind
social instincts are pr~edominating.
Unless social desires are gratifed
there is dependency. The records of
u insane asylums prove that from
the isolated farms, where social in
tercourse through certain conditions is
most restricted, comes the majority Of
inmates of these institutions. With
out social intercourse intelligence Is
benumbed and ignorance prevails.
Then how important it is to the resi-
dents of rural districts that the pros
perity of the home towns be encour-
aged. There is the social feature, the
educational, the moral and religious,
and as important as any and most es-
sential for the highest perfection, is
the business relations. The more
prosperous the home town the more
prosperous are the farmers residing
within it's trade radius, because the
livelier the town the better the home
markets.
There are complications in the bust
nes world to-day and the building up
of systems of business that interfere
with the highest development of the
small cities and towns. Railroads,
telegraph, telephone, rural delivery
all has tended towards enhancing life
in the country. But these means have
also encouraged business methods that
work against the higher development
of community interests. In order that
the home town exists, there must be
employment for those who reside
within it. This employment is solely
dependent upon the towns CONNER
cial and manufacturing interests.
Thus we find that the home town Is
reliant upon the trade. not alone Of