Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1911-06-01
missouri and Its Towns.

terior Missouri, is one of the citiessnow
beginning to feel the effects 81 the pro
gressive movement. in municipal affairs.
From q Artter Of Giasgo@ citizen to
The Star.
For many years the average Of the
small Missouri cities and towns lived
along in the atmosphere of past tradi-
tions. Such towns prided themselves
upon stirring pioneer time, and
did little Or nothing 80 make their
present exstences equally alive and
I praiseworthy.
A certain charm did indisputably
attach itself to these quiet, duh little
cities. Extreme poverty was hardly
known in them. I.eisurely living de-
veloped 'creditab9e degree OF cul-
,ure. An almost universal acquaint-
anceship and a degree Fof mutual in
terests such as the big city does not
know pre- duced general kindliness.
Nature, also leisurely, aided by a
minimum of labor, made the towns
seasonably pretty and attractive.
Yet the towns did, as indisputatiy,
mildcw. They set no pace of pro-
gress to the surrounding farms.
Rather. they discouraged the forward
impulses of the country folk. The
strong intrenchment of stagnation
was the courthouse of the county
seat. And that citadel of the past
was manned by the ''good enough
fer DAd' politicians. They adopted
that doctrine as the one inducing the
least mental and physical effort.
They followed It as the line OF least
resistance l.ading to the incuaibency
70 office. A farmer driving in an un-
paved street to the town hitching
rack felt no reproach of the rutted
mud road of the country-received
no prompting OF example to make the
way to his farm easy of travel.
Happily, it accords with the facts
TO write of these conditions in the
past tense-at least to write with
Backward look of satisfaction with
these conditions. Missouri small
cities, Of which Glaswow on the big
river is an example, are recognizing
that they don't have to get away from
what was charming in the old order
to gain, too, the attractiveness of
modern life. These Missouri towns,
indeed, are waking-if they are not
already awake. There is a state
league of municipalities-activ and
intelligent. There are similar as
'sociations within divisions OF the
state. Many towns are making them
selves centers of good roads districts
paving their own thoroughfares
and aiding the bonds for the larger
sections. The old, politically cult
waited, fear of debt is passing. In
stead of it there is impatience al
the ancient restriction of public
investments for permanent public
betterments. And this is noticeable
When good measure of progress j.
achieved the Missouri townsmer
Like the sample" and want more
No town has changed from a publ,
water system to cisterns-from elec,
trio Lighting to keroscne--from pave.
streets to dirt roads. None has re
linqushed good thing once pos
sessed. A motor car in tow
means more motor Cars--not tn,
Punishment of the first. A count,
seat, or county. which acquires
new courthouse, p creditabe insti
tuition for aged poor persons, or othe
public improvement, is happy for it
brags OF it pardonaHy.
/" The movement fot better rnuni
cipal rule has also taken hold of tn
Missouri towas. "A dilapida+ed legis
)ative system served the politician