Omaha daily bee., 1912-07-02
GOOD CITIZENSHIP is URGED
New Observance Participated in by
Many in Omaha Parks Sunday.
PROMINENT SPEAKERS HEARD
Day, Which is Inaugurated by Local
Minister, Brings Out Many Citi-
zcns to Herr Addresses ....
and Music.

and Music.
Programs were rendered in observance
OF Good Citizenship Day. at Hsnscom
Miller and Riverview parks yesterday aft.
ernoon at $3.50. Between 500 and 1900 peo
pie gathered around the grandstand a,
Hanscom park to hear the speaking
Henry Kieser presided. &
He called attention to the fact that the
day was originated by Rev. Thomas NJ
Evans, an Omaha pastor. Lee G. Kratz
as chorister, led the crowd in singing
America" and the audience stood with
uncovered heads while. the chorus o,
voices rang through the trees. Rev. e
b. Crawford offered the invocation.
T. j. Mahoney, as speaker Of the day
mentioned some Of the criticisms that
had been directed against our govern,
ment by those who say we have no laws
that we are bound to respect, He said
those who made such statements then
compared this government with other gov
ernments pointing out the strictness with
which laws are enforced there. Those
who held that European governments
were better than ours. he said, had seer
the question from but one side, and had
not taken into consideration the immense
tax burdens necessary to raise revenues
for the strict regulation maintained on
every hand. -.-- ..... ....=,
He then took up the subject Of the
United States supreme court, and the
criticisms that had been directed, against
It as being body OF mine old men who
read the constitution and overrule acts
Of congress when in their Judgment such
do not conform to the constitution as laid
down by body of men now dead for
over 100 years" He pointed out the danger
OF such view of the court
The speaker pointed out that, granting
It might become necessary to pass laws
in this country contrary to the constitu-
ton as adopted, II was possible for US to
change that constitution In an orderly
fashion and after due deliberation. Slav-
cry was settled in this way. In conclu-
sion he urged that whenever we striye
for changes that are to be beneficial we
should strive to bring them about In an
orderly fashion and not In violation OF
the constitution, In order that we might
avoid the danger that popular hero
might suddenly lead us to such disastrous
excesses as those OF the French revolu-
ton. tEs
Quinby at Miller Park.
Laurie ]. ouinby. editor Of the Chan
cellor, fired shots at the Omaha water
case and condemned the Omaha city coun-
ellis proposed occupation tax at the Good
Citizenship Day" meeting at Miller park.
Mr. Quinby declared for equal suffrage,
saying we never can have government Of,
by and for the people until women are
given the ballot.
City Councilman John j. Ryder pre-
sided Rev. Carl g, Bader and Rev.
Thomas M. Evans. originator OF Good
Citizenship Day" offered prayers and
Isaac Carpenter spoke for higher citizen
ship He urged obedience to the ten COM
mandments, Sabbath observance and
religious conviction as elements Of good
citizenship and said nothing should be
allowed on Sundays which will tend to
draw people away from church He said
young raople should not attend moving
picture theaters on Sunday because the
pictures shown frequently are bad;
neither. he said, should any other theaters
be attended on the Sabbath.
Lincoln as a Model.
Abraham Lincoln was held forth as
a model OF good citizenship by e. U.
Graft In brief talk at Riverview park.
A large number Of persons heard the
speeches and the music. Besides Mr..
Graft, w. j. Woodrough spoke on good
citizenship. F, s. Baxter presided and
Rev. J. s. Ebersole pronounced the in
vocation.
Every person in the country can be-
come a good citizen. no matter what
his or her standing may be- said Mr..
Graft. II think the greatest citizen the
United States ever knew was Abraham
Lincoln. He was man born In poverty
and raised In poverty. but by continu-
GUS struggle rose to be the greatest man
the United States has ever known. His
motto was i do the very best can,
the very best know how How many
men of today can safely and truly say
that he does the very best he cam"
Mr.. Woodrough broke from tho usual
talk on national citizenship and spoke
on city citizenship. He said: Every
great problem is worked out In the
cities. Every city has Its own prob
lens and good citizens are needed to
solve these problems. The brains Of the
country are in some cases discovered in
the small towns, but the ideas are
brought to the big cities to be worked
out. My idea of one of omaha's best
citizens was e. J.. Cornish. He has left
Omaha now, but he has Omaha in his
heart and 1t was his love of Omaha
that made Omaha the beautiful city 1t is
He worked for years for Omaha and
never drew a cent Of pay for 1t and
even now he comes to this city to help
make 1t more beautiful. What we need
in Omaha Is more men like Mr. Cornish" ("