The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-08-06
IT'S ANOTHER SUCCESS
Icons Second Chautauqua Opened
Tuesday with Big Attendance.
KObSOn Made Good Here.

Chautauqua System, opened Tuesday
afternoon unuer most auspicious circum-
stances and everything indicates that
the 1908 Chautauqua will surpass the
big success Of last year. The big tent
and force of employees arrived Monday
evening from Seymour where Chautau-
qua was held last week, and the young
men were soon at work putting up the
big tent. The tent used this year is
about a half larger than that of last
year, and the platform is arranged in an
annex tent which acts as sounding
board and is great improvement over
last year. A second tent was also
erected for the Seton Indian work under
charge of Miss Specht.
The platform manager this year is
Prof. T. F. Graham, of Cedar Rapids,
vice president Of the Redpath System,
and he has already made warm place
in the hearts of the Chautauquans by
his affable manner and promises to leave
Leon with as many friends as did Ar
thur MacMurray last year. The young
men employed as ushers, ticket sellers
and gatemen are all college students
and are fine bunch of young fellows.
The attendance at the opening ses-
sion Tuesday afternoon was very flatter-
ing, the big tent being we'll filled and
the demand for season tickets being
brisk. The attendance will increase
day by day as the Chautauqua progress
ses just as it did last year. The prom
ise is made that the entire program for
the six days will be put on without a
single change and if the attractions for
the balance of the session are as good
as on the opening day there will be no
cause for complaints along this line.
The program opened Tuesday after
noon with a concert by the Sterling
Jubilee Singers, consisting OF four gen
tlemen and three ladies and they at
once sang their way into the hearts of
their audience. There is something
peculiar about the colored races voice
in song which appeals to all classes and
the Sterling Jubilee Singers are among
the best singers in their class.
At the close of the musical part Of the
program Mayor S. A. Gates made an ad-
dress of welcome praising in few
words the Redpath System and telling
how it was appreciated last year and
would be more SO again this year.
Prof. Graham then gave short OUT
line of what the program was going to
be for the week and the special an
nouncements for the day, introducing
Harley T.. Lutz, who represents the
New York Chautauqua work and who
will speak each day. Mr.. Lutz is a
graduate of Oberlin College with a
Masters degree from Harvard, and has
made a special study of current economic
questions. He is vigorous, pleasing and
interesting and will hold the attention
of the audiences during the morning
sessions. He does not take one side
only of the questions he discusses, but
presents both sides and leaves his hear
ers to form their own conclusions.
The big attraction for the opening
son, the hero Of the Merrimac, and the
was introduced to the audience by Mr..
Geo. w. Baker in one of the finest intro
ductions we have ever listened to, and
Mr.. Baker was complimented by the
management on his remarks as being the
best introduction Capt. Hobson had re.
ceived at any of their Chautauquas.
There was some question as ITO how
Capt. Hobson would be received by the
people here, as 80 many stories about
him have appeared in print that many
thought they would see vain young fop
but they were agreeably surprised for in
stead of a dandy they saw a fine looking
young fellow, with a countenance show
Ing grim determination and you could
picture him as he and his brave com
panions set out on the Merrimac into the
very jaws of death in an effort to bottle
up the Spanish fleet at Santiago, will
only one chance in a million that they
would ever escape with their lives
Capt. Hobson quietly announced that hit
subject which was announced as "Oul
Navy" would be changed to "a World O
Peace and he had spoken but few
minutes until he held the profound at
tention of everyone in his big audience
and had impressed upon all his hearerl
his deep sincerity and patriotism
Captain Hobson is recognized as al
authority on naval and internationa
affairs, and he put the situation of i'm
minent trouble between the United
States and Japan in such an intelligen
light, that whether one agrees with hin
or not, he does not fail to be impressed
by the deep sincerity of Hobson's pat
riotism and the force of his argnmen
on the minds of American citizens. H,
opened his lecture with discussion O
the new era upon which the world i
entering and the responsibility whicl
such a3change is throwing upon th
civilized nations of the world, and mos
of all, upon the United States. The tim
has come when peace is at premium
and the nations no longer have to xii
and destroy in order to live. The NOR
the nations cooperate to control ma
ture's forces the more they succeed
Hobson believes that America was tn
effective agent that Heaven had raise
up to perform the work, to carry tn
world from the old era into the new
He gave two reasons why this was sc
First, that America is the chief peac
nation, and second, this peace movement
for which America is responsible. Capt
Hobson made plea for new and bi
navy for the United States, not for wal
but for peace. He demonstrated tina
the Spanish war cost billion and hal
dollars, while it could have been pre-
vented by an expenditure in advance 9
ten millions for up-to-date battleships
Capt. Hobson in his address awakene
the interest of the citizens of Iowa, til
great prairie state, in thetneeds for.
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