Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1914-03-12
OINfARM TO Town
COMMUNITY PLAN SPREADING
OVER KANSAS COUNTIES
Franklin County, Which Originated
tho Idea, Finds II Big Help
How About Dickinson?

his crops.
| The merchant Is an agriculturis
to the extent that his success de
ponds upon the success OF the cropi
on the farm.
The town cannot succeed without
the farmers. any more than the
farmers can do without the cities
Since the ends and purposes Of
farmers and merchants are the same
why not work together instead ol
pull apart when pulling together
will accomplish better end In
shorter time?
Realization of the truth OF the
first three statements and a desire
to answer the question following
induced Ottawa, Kan, and franklin
county to try a community plan,
which has been known generally
over the state as the Ottawa idea.
1t is a plan to bring town and conn
try closer together, and the work
ing purpose a big family social and
commercial club that includes farm
ers, Ottawa merchants and business
men in the smaller towns in the
county.
More than one town in Kansas
has followed ottawa's lead. Here at
home a plan similar to this is being
considered and within few months
some method of uniting town and
country to mutual advantage may
be evolved. J. M. Worley of the OF
tawa Herald, in response to inquiry,
has furnished the Reflector infor-
nation concerning Franklin coun-
TVS successful action.
The Retail Merchants association
has a membership Of about 500 men,
nearly half Of whom are farmers.
The experience of Ottawa had been
that of every other city that has
tried to maintain q commercial club
with half willing members and Off
GERS. paying dues and pleading for
quorums. When q quorum was
found for a meeting there would
usually be a long discussion about
how to make the farmers work the
roads or how to make the farmers
trade In town instead of with mail
order houses.
While this was going ON the
farmers were storing up animosity
for the commercial club, which they
an organization formed
10 "bleed the farmer and make him
work the roads for the use of the
,ity mans pleasure cars" Each was
Misunderstanding. the other.
Farmers Institute Helped
Then another organization sprang
lp. 1t was practically the old COM
nercial club which affiliated with
he Kansas Retail Merchants asso-
iation. l.. C. Jones, elected presi-
ent, said he would take office only
[ the members promised to attend
he meetings. Mr.. Jones was rear
d in the rural Franklin county and
e knew that farmers were not hos
tile to those who were not hostile to
hem. He had several influential
armer friends who likewise knew
lat not all merchants are cutthroats
nd thieves. He talked with these
lrmers and told them there should
3 no division between city and
,untry except the imaginary line Il
'lled the city limits. q
Then came the annual fall meet
g of the Franklin County Farm Q
s. institute. These farmer friends 81
the city man were boosters for "
e institute. They wanted to inter- u
t the city men in the farm prob
ms. They told Mr.. Jones. He in o.
ructed the members of the asso- W
alton to attend the meetings ut II
asst part of the time. He also CALI Il
upon the city's band and a con- Al
1T preceded the institute. City a
otor cars took the farmers chill ve
en- on a sightseeing Joy ride over Sc
wn. al
1t was primarily at that meeting g
the court house that the Ottawa = =
"a" was born. For when the us
,eting was over the first day tive ~
-mers had asked to join the Re- e
1 Merchants association. In %
Elk Is had Joined. Before Christ So
IS there were so farmer members
every one OF them was and is Y
II an ottawa booster as well as
county booster. EE
Small Town Merchants Join
with the coming Of the farmer m,
mbers there came the small town AZ
p,afa ne MT tn fha countv aas4 -.