Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-03-16
DISCUSS CIVIC
IMPROv EME:NT'
MRS. BELLE TELLS WOMEN HOW
TO GET MUNICIPAL GOVERN
MENT THAT is CLEAN.
THE KANSAS CITY VIEW

THE KANSAS CITY VIEW
Local Federation Hear a Rare Treat
on Civil Affairs as They Should
Be Conducted to Get
Results.
With civic improvement and the bet.
terment of the municipal conditions
for her ,heme, Mrs. Wilbur l.. Belle
of Kansas City spoke entertainingly
and instructive to the Woman's club
of Ottumwa in the general meeting
held yesterday afternoon in the gyrl.
nasium of the Y. w. c. A. The speak
er proved well equipped with informa-
ton on the subject Of civic improve
ment and demonstrated that she had
given the subject an immense amount
of thought and study Mrs. George
Haw, ST., preside@. at the meeting and
introduced the speaker in a few chos.
en- words explaining the conditions as
they exist in Ottumwa and the need
III DSIlSl SlNlC COAullloho, ihu Sobi-
p.-menting the club on securing the
services of Mrs. Belle for talk on
the betterment Of municipal condl-
tons. The address was followed by a
vocal duet by Mrs. John Hughes and
Mrs. Harry Swenson with accompani.
ment by Miss Sara Cornell.
Task Worth Effort.
In her address Mrs Belle went back
to the early days of the country and
| beginning with the American colon
lists, reviewed the efforts of the foun
ders of the present government in the
struggle for liberty and freedom Of
thought, speech and religious opinions
Life, liberty and pursuit of happiness
was the object of the founders Of thu
American government said the
speaker, "but they and their success
sors did not acconn'ish al th"'
sought. Later Ubiquitous license wa,
made prevalent in some PAGES AM
the establishment of law and order or
| CARNATIONS was made necessary t.
overcome this and give such place
better civic conditions. This Is no
accomplished. however without an el
fort but as the law of life is one q
strife, the end is worth the task in
posed as it is only by an effort tina
we accomplish worthy ends
Awake to Conditions.
The trend of the country to cor;
mercialsm WIS given by the speake
as cause of much that Is objection
able in city governments. The lure {
gold as an incentive to graft and tn
:. graft to shutting the eyes of the OIL
Gals to improper conditions that ten
toward the decentralization Of the civi
government were shown. That this
an agricultural rather than CONNIE
cial country should not be lost sigl
Of Commenting on the meeting hel
Monday evening in a local churcl
Mrs Belle said, 81 noticed upon rea,
ing your local paper that meetin
was held recently in one of til
churches of the city for the bette
ment of municipal conditions and al
sure that you ladies' of Ottumwa ar
awake to the conditions. You hay
all a duty to make yourself good, b,
you can make your neighbor happier
Make Better Men.
The old style of philanthropy tn:
fed the tramp at the door |ae CO
demned by the speaker who said tt
newer philanthropy was to make
I higher standard of men, to do som
, thing substantial for him by maxim
him better man" All questions ill
, many vessels have two handles, tt
right and the wrong one and it b
). hooves US as workers for civic il
provement to know which handle "
= have hold Of" continued the speake
: Religion is studying humani
more closely and democracy shou
do likewise Do not fail to consid'
conditions for they are all importaI
in lettering mankind. The permanel
good comes from appealing to man
strength rather than his weakness
There is an evidence among us
grasp new methods but an appallir
:, disregard for the conditions to be co
? sidered in the attainment Of the Ell
: sought. 1t is essential to place M
y where they can help themselves, al
the temptations that surround the
: should be made less This work
:. being very effectively done by missi,
workers. but club women should al
j, all in the work.
y - education Factor.
u THE incentive for women's clubs
J lend hand in the cleaning up OF c
9 ic governments should be the good {
tanned for the community by their
forts If successful. # we sit idly
how much do we help the municlp
i, ity? You have all heard the old Sc
- ing that all comes to him who wal
but it is time that we be up and {
ing"
IL Education as factor in securi
7. better civic conditions was dwelt
It by the speaker who cited the sche
IS of social science and the George F
:. public in New York. The placing
f. fit men in municipal positions Of q
If eminent, the breaking away from p
IS tisanship in civic politics and {
commission plan of government in {
# les were recommended by the spec
y. er. The refusal of assistance tend
e. ed by women's clubs to those