The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-05-12
lowA,s GREAT NEED.


Iowa club, delivered an address the
other day before the Northern Iowa
Editorial association in which he told
some plain truths that should be
brought home to Iowans. The calient
fact to which he called attention, and
upon which he placed especial EN-
phasis. is that Iowa needs publicity.
He pointed out that Iowa has served
as a nursing ground for the popula-
ton of the entire west. Iowa men and
Iowa money are taking the larger
part in the development of the Pan
handle of Texas. They are paying for
the irrigation bitches that are to turn
Idaho into the promised land. They
are dry farming in Wyoming. They
are truck farming in Colorado. They
are making fruit ranches in Washing
ington. Any two by four town west
of the Missouri river boasts of one or
more of its Iowa artisans. What has
caused this situation? Mr.. Hill de.
clared that it was lack of faith, and
went on to say:
Iowa men are in the position OF
the deacon who prayed all morning for
rain and went to church without his
umbrella They believe in the future
of Iowa, but wave a gaudy semi-arld
land advertisement before them and
they are off. Tell an Iowa man OF the
possibilities of cheap land, and If you
are a persuasive talker you can sell
him. Companies with semi-arid lands
to sell find their best markets in Iowa.
This condition exists because of the
apathy of the Iowa people. For TWEEN
ty-five years we have not lifted
finger in our own behalf. We have
stood idly by and allowed Iowa men
and Iowa money to go off to the last
end of the jumping off place because
there was no one to tell them the
truth about Iowa and the truth about
the locality they were going into. we
hive allowed the state to become over
run with a hoard of land agents, each
one a salesman selling faith in some
other locality, and we have not utter
ed one word on the behalf of Iowa. we
have prayed for rain but failed 10
provide an umbrella.
Men have gone to Texas to raise
onions because there was no one 10
tell them that onions could be grown
in Scott county, or for that matter,
anywhere in Iowa, and with better re
srlts. Men have gone into irrigated
districts-lured by the large acreage
yield-because there was no one u
tell them that the same sort OF IN
tensiye farming would get results on
Iowa land. Men have gone into DIS
tr;cts that are in the dry class Y
have reference to the bathing ma
terial. not beverages) because tnere
was no one to tell them that govern
ment experts stood aghast at tne ull
nrecedented rainfall, because tner.
was no one to tell them that the lans
salesman's rain follows the plow' wa
,,,ora or less talk. Men have gone gu
NJ the state who would not have dom
90 we're Iowa being given puollclts
This condition exists because W
have zone on the supposition that W
4 could raise corn and God would tah
care of Iowa. He won't he I'D
4 given us natural resources, but !"
will have to exploit them we mus
give the state publicity that we ma
maintain our logical position IN con
parison with other states.
Mr.. Hill suggested that the remed
lies in publicity. He said that low
must place herself in a position to tie
the truth about Iowa and If necessar
about other regions: must publish del
mite acts; must publish specific i
stances of success on the farms and
the factories of the state; must Great
an Iowa spirit; must cultivate a pc
sonality; must preach intensive farr
ing. must defend herself, and the on
!. way she can do it is to obtain II
5 publicity that is her due. To this Ell
+ he urged cooperation with the Grea
9 er Iowa club, which seeks to do I
a the cities what the local commerce
clubs are doing in their own localiue
, The idea is a good one. undoubtedl
, and should be carried into effect. 10y
: has cuffered severely because It's
!. sources and advantages have not be-
!, emphasized and exploited as they
/. serve. The sooner amends are ma
! for this neglect the better and unit
effort is needed to secure the Dc
results.