The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-05-05

1 Judgment on the character Of It's
citizenship as manifested by what ia
in sight. Blackfoot wants a Carne-
gle library, and 1t ought to have 1t,
but If it had one and took care OF
1t as 1t does the average piece of
property, 1t would cease to be a IL
brary because Mr.. Carnegie has rules
barring that rough stuff.
Received No
Inspiration
A short time ago the city council
took a ten days trip to see how they
do things In some of the principal
cities of the northwest, and 1t was
hoped that on their return they
would be SO impressed with the Rose
City and with Missoula, the Spotless,
that they would hump themselves,
| (figuratively) and say, "Bedad this
little burg will be cleaned up" But
they did not. They simply sat down
and accepted the recommendation
that the chief of police be instructed
to get slips of paper containing the
law regarding nuisances, and pass
thru the alleys and leave clipping
with those who had ignored the proc
lamation to clean up. That reminds
us of how certain executive sends
another note" And the slips are
probably received with about the
same contempt.
The Editors
Joke
The editor of this paper has q
joke on the town Of his adoption.
For ten years he has been wanting
to see the town cleaned up and kept
clean. Seven years ago we persuad-
ed the mayor to sign cleanup proc
lamation after the council had re-
fused to adopt the resolution. A year
ago we hit upon better plan. We
got busy agitating for chautauqua
in Blackfoot, and now there are SO
men signed up to deliver $1,75O
guaranty fund for the said .chautau-
qua. That is about $25 apiece, and
now we are bound to work hard to
get good attendance at the whole
weeks program or pay the forfeit.
If these So men and the editor have
the nerve to ask people to come to
town for week and see the manure
piles back of the homes where the
paper says such nice things of the
owners, and the parties they give
and the popular things they do, If
the owners of the said dunghills and
brush heaps will stand by and ex-
hibit them and confess that they are
as slOyenly in their home surround
ings as the city council are in their
government, the joke will be ON the
town and we will willingly pay our
little Is plunks and let it be said
by such visitors as come this way,
that Blackfoot is wanting in the
standard of citizenship. That fine
feathers do not make fine birds; that
fine churches may have two-year-old
ash heaps at the rear and fOur-year-
old heaps in the basement; that
lodge halls may have all kinds of
rubbish at the rear of the building,
and the members may own all the
fly hatcheries in the town. That
untidiness of premises is not confined
to any, religious sect and the stables
Of the well-to-do may have Matched
the fly that is just now in the vault
Of an old toilet and may be ON the
baby's lips next minute and in his
milk next The lack of cleanliness
is not confined to the residences; IL
one walks two or three blocks thru
alleys in the rear of stores and Of
fees he will find all brands of junk
and debris. Only half of the town
has the pride that is born of orderly
living, and the other half being blind
to these things think all is well be-
cause such worthless as themselves
permit it.
Lofty Ideals
Needed
We don't think the city council
will resign. They do not appreciate
the level to which the positions have
been reduced. And If they should
resign they would not accept each
others designations and nobody else
would have the jobs. That would
leave everything up to the chief Of
police, the fire chief and the city
clerk, and it would not do to give
them free rein to cover themselves
with glory operating the town on
something bordering the commission
plan. The council will remain on the
pay roll. They will draw their little
old salaries at regular intervals
whether the chautauqua meets or
not In the meantime we are en-
joying the spectacle and taking note
Of what the other So fellows will do
to meet the situation, for some of
them are blood relatives Of the own
ers of dung hills and brush heaps on
the thorofares.