The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-01-13
rha hooster spirit is on.

|
The booster spirit was abroad last
night and it reached all citizens.
II penetrated the heart Of the rich
man and the pool' man, the tax payer
and the man who Owns nothing but the
clothes on his back. 1t reached 1000
and more representative citizens and
resulted IN the biggest mass meeting
' held in recent years In Keokuk.
The sidewalks were slippery with
the sleet Of January. The cold wave
nag was futtering in the evening
breeze, giving promise that perhaps
before the night was well on, the
wind would be biting and the mercury
falling. But the citizens left their
warm iresides and brayed the prom
ised bad weather and risked the
treacherous walking to attend the
meeting.
No uise knew how the meeting would
turn out. No one knew just exactly
what the idea was. The meeting Was
announced as one at which Keokuk
should take a more serious look into
| the future than 1t had ever taken
before. There was vague idea with
some that they would be called upon
for liberal donation of money for
the advancement of the city. They
went. Their presence showed their
willingness to dig deep down into
their pockets and do their share If
such method was adopted.
The largest mass meeting ever held
in Keokuk In recent years, was the re-
suit Of the call issued by Mayor Elder
for the citizens meeting last evening
in the Grand opera house. Every
available seat In the house was oc-
cupied and many were standing up
unable to get seat.
The meeting surely gave evidence
that the citizens of Keokuk are awake
10 the opportunities which confront
them. Their attendance in such great
Numbers proved this. Their applause
and interest in the meeting shows tha
mere is united desire that Keokul
not only meet these. opportunities hal
way, but go forward and meet i
before 1t gets half way in this direc
llon. keoknk intends to go forward
meet opportunity before it even start
.hls way and accompany it hand Il
hand from its starting point to th
gates of the city.
HAD the meeting lasted but fly
minutes and been adjourned OWN
% fhe absence Of Mr.. Cooper or
preak in the heating plant. or TO
any other cause. II would have az
complisiled at least one good purpose
Tue iact that the opera house coul
pe hlied from orchestra pit to roof b
caii Tor mass meeting to help Ket
huk, shows that the booster spirit
abroad. The citizens of Keokuk ar
awake They are alive to the stu;
Won and they are ready and willin
- axe mold, stand togather, do an.
Hlhg necessary to advance the con
mnnity.
'''S ' idfi t~TOHoSCb'
Maile no action was really take
= 'he meeting as to the method
pursue, there seems to be an unwri
.sn resolution in the minutes OF IL
",eeung that Keokuk follow the pla
~ otner large cities who have bui
themselves up commercially by Il
wv booster plan of hiring an indu
'a' agent, advertising the eli
throughout the country. offering j
aueements to factories to reno,
4efe and spending large sums
money each year to carry out th
Program.
sum of from $4,000 to 5000
~ year would be required for SUI
p'ah. There seemed to be a unal
nois agreement between all, that Il
u.osfam NJ, had already been made o,
10. me only thing for last evenint
se'ing 70 decide upon, was how 10 {
the work,