Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-20
GRAND OPERA HOUSE
MARCH 26.

y = II . y Il
An audience of men interested in
their city and desirous of doing their
part inlnaling it one of the best in all
Iowa-one that stands for the enforce
ment of all the laws on the statute
books and place wherein worthless
individuals could not thrive-filled
the main court room of the Wapeilo
county court house last evening and
listened to several enthusiastic
talks by public spirited citizens 1t was
an audience that showed beyond any
question that in the present campaign
there is an unusual interest feeling
experienced by many men that the
time was never more opDortune for
victory in the coming city election by
the candidates and platform that
pledge the enforcement of all laws
better and cleaner Ottumwa The
addresses heard did not in large
measure review the past two years in
city affairs, but in most of them the
avenue which leads to betterment in
civic affairs was visibly surveyed.
Enthusiasm ran high from the open
Ing OF the meeting by City Chairman
E. H. Emery to the closing word of
Capt. D. A. Emery, the Republican
standard bearer. The seats in the
court room were not sufficient to ac-
commodate the crowd of voters, and
many stood up in the aisles that bound
ed the two sections of seats. w. A.
Work was chosen to preside, and in
a splendid address, reviewed the is
sues of the campaign.
City is Large Family.
"a city is simply a family ca n
larger SCALE" began Mr.. Work. Its
people form what is called a commun-
ity. They are dependent upon each
other for protection, for daily bread
and substantial comforts; for prosper
ity in trade; in labor; in professional
life; in all the avenues through which
men seek happiness in supplying their
social or physical wants Every men-
Der of the community must be at least
fed and clothed. The highest type Of
community is where every member
contributes something in a reasonable
way to the good of the body polite.
If he refuses or neglects to do this he
casts the burden of his support upon
some one else, or on the community
at large. All will be supported; all
II lust be supported. For this reason
.he able bodied-those who can con
tribute to their own support and re-
fuse to do SO or choose to live upon
s Nhe contributions of others are right
lNlly considered undesirable citizens.
These include the vagrant the vicious,
he criminal. The fewer of such mem
Ders of the community we have the
better city we shall have The more
prosperity we shall enjoy; the safer
We shall be in our social business
and domestic life
Undesirable" Citizens.
I'VE all recognize that the thief is
grave menace to our community or
city life. He takes what he wants di-
rectly and forcibly; he must live. TIE
gambler must live, he takes only what
hekwants; hs takes it generally only
lettle less directly and forcibly than
the thief. The vagrant generally con.
tents himself with less, but manages
by hook and crook to get his living
from the communal family. Besides
ne is ever ready, from pressure of
circumstances to join the army of
criminals who make prey of their fell
lows. Every one of these classes puts
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