The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-03-08

i
democracy west of the Allegheny
mountains, and became dominant
, in all American civilization.
"But il has It's limitations. When
so many people are brought together
into large cities, it becomes mech
anism, and we see people suffering
who are not to blame. | realize that
we are not living common life.
, We must have some new sense of
working for common life and not
each one look out for himself.
}, OF late, however, the sense of the
, city has begun 10 grow in American
communities. There are certain stages
in this development. Conflict and
rivalry between cities has made Chi.
cago, for example. aware of itself
as contrasted with st. Louis, or
Minneapolis as set over against Saint
. Paul. This rivalry quickly goes to
a higher plane of emulation in bust
; ness, city identifying, education, art
and other higher phases.
Boosting is an interesting phe-
nomenon. It is Enthusiastically
American. Boosting falls into three
, progressive types; First, protective
boosting which aims to keep a
community contented with it's con-
ditions; second, aggressive boosting,
which attacks another community
and by thrusting it down gives the
aggressor a false sense of being
| itself elevated; third, constructive
boosting when we'll conceived plans
are carried out with spirit of CON-
mon loyalty and enthusiasm
'In the development of this sense
For the city, attention fixes itself
successfully on different interests.
Industry and commerce being means
Ito many ends are naturally at first
!; given precedence. There is always a
tendency to proceed from externali-
ties to things below the surface. Main
streets are usually cleaned and light
ed before the alleys and the tene-
; ment districts are attended to.
But the commercial clubs are do
ing a great work, and this means
for the economic efficiency. They
are means to an end that means a
happier Mankato, looking forward 10
getting more factories, to making
. it a hospitable center, and catering
to the welfare of the city, because
i Mankato is a part of their life,
for work hand in hand with the
community. The club will bring the
outsiders here to be citizens that
, they may introduce a larger life to
this community and that they may
be loyal to their ideals here.
, The fundamental idea of COM
mercial clubs is the splendid COM
radeship of men resolved to do fine
things. Even Boston, that old con.
! sentative city, is waking up to the
, benefits of a commercial club, and
the citizens there are boosting. 'Bos-
ton in 1915 is their slogan now to
which they rally.
Increasing City complexity.
with increasing completely of
, city life, more problems demand solu-
ton. The imagination of the COM
munity expands. Organizations for
, service multiply themselves. A sense
of responsibility deepens. The old
individualism is compelled to yield.
| The community becomes more vivid
ly aware of it's duties and oppor-
: tunities. Gradually men are conscious
of the common life as something
, which transcends individual interests.
i The city becomes not field to be
worked for individual profit but a
cause to be served by individual
sacrifice Men gradually come to
think of the city as Aristotle de-
scribed it, as place where men
, live a common life for noble end.
When City Sense Is Developed.
when the sense of the city is
I developed it makes little difference
whether tasks are, performed by the
city itself or by private individuals
and corporations. 1t is the American
habit to let individuals and private
groups work out experiments. When
, the experimental stage is passed the
community often-times takes over
the successful agency. The American
city is an interesting laboratory in
which individual enterprise may work
out new methods of public service.
"a commercial club is an out
growth of the deepened sense of
the city, In spite of it's unitarian
title commercial club is not mar
rowly utilitarian, but finds it's inter
ests going out to every important
undertaking of the city. If a COM
mercial club were to depend for
it's success solely upon a hard-head-
ed calculating of business profits it
would soon lose its power. The true
source of energy and enthusiasm
displayed by an organization like
this is the growing sense of the
city and an increasing loyalty to
it. Business men, for all their af-
fectation of observation-disclosures and cold
calculation are in reality quickly re-
sponsiye to ideals and find intense
satisfaction in the thrill of loyalty
evoked by a common purpose. The
commercial club is one of the i'm
portant agencies by which in Ameri-
cans is deepened true sense of the
city, y"
Mr.. Vincent's closing remarks con-
sisted of a plea for a clean game.
"Be a clean sport, a good loser and
a fine winner. Love the game for
the JOY in it, instead of for the hope
of some reward or trophy. The only
way to get joy out of life is to do
a thing with such a spirit of en-
thusiasmg that you fairly lose your
self in the undertaking. The farmer
of today who uses his brains as
we'll as his hands is not doing a
thing because he has to, but because
he likes to. Play the game and
play it hard. This is sound philoso-
ply" .&.
| Made Fine Irnnression