The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-12-14
ITO WHET GENIUS
Of IOWA PEOPLE.
Meredith suggests Associations In
Each Community Offer Medals
to Those Who Produce Most
for Human Activity.
LIGHT UNDER A BUsHEL
Many Are Doing Much In This Line.
Publisher Holds, But Are Get
ting No Credit
for Il.
LIGHT UNDER A BUsHEL

T. E. Meredith Of Des Moines, 9
member of the Greater Iowa associa-
ton, is the father OF an idea which he
believes will act as an incentive to
producers Of the wealth Of Iowa to
work for better results each year.
His plan is that the association Of
fer medals to citizens Of the state
who have accomplished the greater
results In various lines OF human ac-
tivity during given year. He thinks
that each man and woman who has
lived in Iowa for a period Of five
years should be eligible to enter the
contests.
Many OF our Iowa people are ac-
complishing results right along, not
only in agricultural and horticulture,
but In live stock breeding, manufac-
turing inventions, science, medicine,
and In fact in every department Of
human endeavor, but nobody knows
much about it." Mr.. Meredith said.
Famous Apple Originated Here.
1.-The Delicious apple which Is
making millions OF dollars for Wash
ington. Oregon. Idaho and that north
west country, was originated by an
Iowa farmer at Peru. He developed
that apple and failing TO have it ap-
preciated in Iowa, sold 1t to Mis-
souri, firm which Immediately capital
lied 1t and has made great deal of
money out Of it. That man who orig
mated the Delicious apple should re-
ceive medal from the Greater Iowa
association.
Remarkable developments Of the
strawberry have been made in Iowa.
It Is work OF this kind In agriculture.
and horticulture, as well as IN other
lines, that should receive recognition
from some source, and | know of no
organization better adapted to do this
than the Greater Iowa association.
Other medals might be given to those
who contribute most to the state in a
constructive way-through politics
for instance, Of those who originate
new ideas for the advancement Of
Iowa. connected with good roads. pub
lie schools, and revision Of taxation.
How to Award Prizes.
These prizes might be awarded by
q committee composed OF the presi-
dents OF several OF our state institu-
tons. such as the state college, the
state university and other institu-
tons. We should include on that COM
mittee, believe, the governor Of the
state. and the members Of the SUI
preme court and others. The commit
tee should be the strongest possible,
and It's awards should be anxiously
anticipated every year
at occurs to me that aside from
the incentive to earn one OF these
medals, and the real hard thinking it
would stimulate on the part OF our
citizens, much to the advantage of
the state, there would be considerable
publicity OF the things that actually
have been accomplished In Iowa, when
the awards are made. For instance
when a medal Is awarded to the Deli.
cious apple producer, or to the straw
berry producer, the news OF the award
will be sent all over the state, and
there WILL be an incentive for every
one in Iowa to read the story. This
will create great deal Of favorable
publicity and will bring the advan-
tages, and possibilities OF Iowa to the
attention Of the people. think If
this system could be kept up for ten
years. It would work wonders for
Iowa"