The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1911-10-19
N ~. OK
Madam Olive Fremstad.

her cities, of the common brotherhood
and purpose and destiny of her citi-
gems. We are beginning to take joy in
the success of others, 1t is no longer
held as disloyalty for the man of one
city to say that rival city is beautiful.
and public-spirited. and orderly and ee-
cent and law abiding. the home or civic
virtues and a fit and good place. in
which to live A man from a distant
corner of the State may even return
| from visit to the capital city and ex-
press his admiration for its character
| istics and the quality of its citizenship.
without mourning the scorn and arous-
| ing the antagonism of his fellow towns
men.
| mo man liveth until himself alone
That is the social gospel of old. What
of the city? Has not every city of
Indiana common needs, common prob
lens, common duties to its citizens and
to the State? In the old days of self
sufficiency, city scorned to look at
others. to profit by their experience or
learn by their example. We know bet
ter now. Our cities are children OF
the same State, their rights and powers
are prescribed by the same statutes.
their progress is accelerated by the
same intelligence or retarded by the
same fatuous stupidity in legislative
halls, the burdens of constitutional in
hibition fall alike on all; all must
struggle alike for permission to grow
and develop, for the granting of the
new privileges and perogatives that be-
come imperative as the necessity APP
pears for more and more powers of
home rule. The cities stand or fall to-
gether.
/
| ism. So be it. 1t is no longer consid-
cred smart to sneer at idealism, bu.
woe be it to him who permits his ideal
ism to bear fruit only in words, words.
and a phantasm of ideas. Then what
may we do?
In general, I venture to say that the
Indiana Federated Commercial Clubs, If
it so Wills, and If it perform the func-
lions for which 1t was born, may be-
come one of the greatest powers for
| the advancement of the good of the
State. This is not because the needs OF
the cities overshadow those of the
country, but because the country cam
| not. in the very nature of things,
achieve that unity of effort and perfec-
ton of organization which the cities
may accomplish. And, perhaps, fore
L point out in what directions our
the things that have actually been done
taht illustrate the interdependency of
our cities and the good that may be ac-
lcomplished by united effort, even with
out the help of such an organization as
this.
The time has passed when one city.
asking of the Legislature for help in
the solution of one of its problems.
must be looked upon with suspicion by
/ all of the others. as though. indeed. in
the language of the street, 1t were try
ing to slip one over on the rest. The
! time should be past when the legisla-
iture. at first Indifferent and somewhat
annoyed to be bothered about mere
ly civic matter. than with bored and
lpreoccupied if not peevish air, finally
tsays, 20. very well. If you want 1t.
take it. 1t can't hurt anybody but
yourself Go ahead and try it,"
! The time should be here, now. when
that which is the need of one city, IS
instantly felt to be the need of all. ex-
cept in matters peculiarly of local sig
nincance. The united action of an or
ganization such this. when all the
cities of the State are made to feel the
value of joining in its work. would de-
mand Neutrality-suspicious., thoughtful
and deliberate attention--from the
most preoccupied legislator. And more.
/ 1t would accomplish that which must
always precede legislative action--it
would educate the public mind. not In
il one section of the State alone. but in
every quarter at the same time And. in
q good cause. with educated public
opinion to back it. who can gain say
the force and power Of such co-opera-
4 tior