The Falls City tribune. (Falls City, Neb.) 1904-191?, 1910-05-20
ARE We TO Be LEADERS 2.
IF SO OUR OFFICIALS MUST DE-
LIVER THE GOODS.
Falls City Ought to Set the Pace
Opportunity Now Looms Big
Upon Her Horizon.

the world, those who drive and
those who must be driven. They are
the two hammer and anvil brands.
There are the few who do the ham
mering, while the great masses are
! forever in the class of those being
hammered into shape and use. They
are the great army of imitators and
| followers.
This is not only true with indiyid-
uals, but is equally true with ag-
gregations of people, societies, cities,
churches and states. There are al
ways those restless spirited towns,
which are forever doing the unusual.
| They are the progressiyes. They are
the leaders in municipal reform and
city improvement. To which class
will Falls City aspire? viii we wait
until our sister cities have tried out
every modern improvement and when
it has become absolutely indispensable
tardily adopt it? Or will we push
boldly out along original lines and
do prospecting on our own Initiative?
Will we be leaders in the onward
march of progress or forever tag at
the tail of the procession?
Falls City is and has been dominat-
ed by the reactionaries Ultra CON
servatism has controlled the city's
politics for years. No really advanc-
ed measure has escaped strangula-
ton in committee for long time.
We are hopelessly tied up. Witness
the success of our paving effort. Why
should an improvement, which con-
Germs the welfare of the city SO
Consider for moment the unhappy
| plight in which the new city council
| finds itself because of the demand
on the part of our growing industries
| for day electric service. Humboldt
citizens have been served with day
current for some time. If Humboldt
can make it pay, why should not
Falls City? If private parties can
manage public service utilities prof
itably, why cannot city administra-
ton? 1t can. Falls City can pave
day current and provide an abundant
supply of pure water. The city can
and will do it. The gang, never.
Until the people throw off the
yoke of the city boss and prepare to
run the town in the interests of the
people, and not of the gang we favor
and shall advocate private control of
utilities and private enterprise for
the furthering of the city's interests.
Falls City cannot afford to have
her future placed in jeopardy in or
der to accommodate a few aspirants to
leadership whose only qualification is
their willingness. We must have
men who can deliver the goods,
whether willing or unwilling
Falls CITY is large enough to ac-
commodate a central heating plant
in the central part of the business sec
| tion. Where fuel is as difficult to
obtain as in Nebraska, and the prices
necessarily high, economy in heating
is an important item of business
foresight. But an up-to-date heat
| i,,o al t. ho.
cause of the economy of fuel it would
effect, but the matter of cleanliness,
sanitation, floor-space, general COM
fort, etc, all come in for their share
of consideration.
There is no reason why home cap
ital should not look into this matter,
and if found practicable proceed to in
stall a modern plant for the ac-
commodation of the more congested
business section and to thu lasting
credit of the promoters. Instead of
investing our surplus capital in real
estate in the west, why not keep it
at home, where it will serve the com
munity by intelligently investing it
in advanced utilities. Falls City
has not begun even in a remote sense
to realize her possibilities. Because
public utilities are not an economic
success as managed by our city ad-
ministration, does not argue them to
be bad investments if mnaaged by
men of ability and business fore
sight.
Falls City has the ability to set
the pace for other towns in this
section. She can lead if she will.
Just now she is wonderfully favored
;, by fortune Opportunity is looming
big on her horizon. Do we lead or
do we follow?