The Dickinson press., 1911-06-10
IRVING WAS DISAPPOINTING
But TOLD MANY TRUTHS

new and better stunts to propose and
could be of great benefit to them in its
work. a large majority were in favor
of raising the 500 asked and having
Mr.. Irving come. He came but it is q
great question in the minds of most of
the business men who heard him if he
was worth tile price.
While MI. Irving told many new and
good points and his summary was inter-
esting, most of his two hours talk was
but rehash Of what he said two years
age. as then reported in the PRESS, told
in such a rambling way and with sc
much repetition that he himself felt
that he did not have the sympathy of
his audience and said so from the plat
form, although of course, lie was in
clined TO think the trouble lay in the
indifference and ~callousness of Dickin-
son people toward civic improvement.
Mr.. Irving went out of his way to
take a stab at the First National bank
and was not content with doing it once
but went at it again and then, lest
somebody should fail 70 know whom he
meant, called the bank by name. He
also took occasion to rap the secretary
of the Commercial Club and brand him
as absent and not doing his duty, when
Mr.. Burnett was present at the regular
meeting of the club Wednesday and
is always ready and willing to do all
that is asked of him. Mr.. Irving's per-
sonal remarks are felt by all to have
been unwise to say the least, tending
to disinteerate rather than cement the
forces of, the city. The St. Charles
management will probably be glad to
give him a back room if he comes
again.
The PRESS believes, however. that
these things should be overlooked, as
coming from an outsider, who had
nothing to lose and whose advice was
necessarily Given from incomplete
knowledge of people and conditions.
Dickinson people are slow to take
advantage of their opportunities and
will probably wake up some fine day to
find their opportunities gone unless they
get together and do things. Mr.. Irving
did not, to any great extent. tell what
to do but he did tell the people many
things that are, needed. He urged first,
last and all the time patronizing home
industries. Every dollar sent away
helps to build up some larger town and
give the men, women and children of
that place advantages the people of
Dickinson do not have. A point was
made that the business men of Dickin-
son. who help a good cause, like the
hospital, along by liberal donations
should be the ones to receive the patron
age of the people and not those who take
and give nothing.
The country is changing from rural to.
urban power and the large cities are in
thehands of d%emagogues. Unless Dickin-
son and other small cities shake off their
lethargy and the curse of inactivity
they will lose out in the race for power.
Patriotism should be shown in paying
taxes, in obeyine law. in keeping sacred
the school. Aggressive. Teddy Roosevelt
patriotism. will bring large economic
returns.
The auto will make or unmake Dickin-
son. With it people can 20 elsewhere
to trade if conditions are not right here.
A railroad north and south is q neces-
sity to Dickinson and SHOULD be obtained
before all her territory is cut off by
parallel lines.
The city daily and the magazine with
their attractive ads are n bid for money
to be sent from home, the moral being,
home merchants should. advertise largely
and attractively at home. Industries
carried on with home capital should be
fostered, where the profits are kept at
home and the manaaemment are local
men. e
The speaker said Dickinson was starry
ing her young people and her old people.
They have no parks, drives, play
grounds, lake or Y. M. C. Ain fact.
no place to go.-and this is sadly true.
He urged a landscape plan and a sys-
tematic arrangement of public build
ings to form a civic center. the removal
of fences, better care of lawns and war
TO the death on the low.
Boys and girls should moi have to 60
away for a job-the JOB should be here
ready and families kept together.
Mr.. Irving said Dickinson had in Mr..
Heaton the right man in the right place
as president Of the Commercial Club and
should have $50 of the best men in the
town in the club, giving Of their none
and better of their time and energy, to
see that things are done and done right,
to read the riot act if necessary, to Sc
cure q guaranteed industrial fund, to get
new industries, to conserve the health,
homes and democratic intercourse Of the
people and to pull together in every way
II y -E- 49, ---- >