The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1916-05-25


TO make Il something more than Just
n dot on the map7 Ask yourself
the question first, and then ask 9th
ers, and keep on asking until we To-
cate the cause OF our backwardnes'
and take steps to remedy the defects
This is not drifting age, and the
town that is content to Just drift
along will soon learn that there IL
no place left in which to even drift
Il is not lack OF brains. because
our people are blessed with an abun-
dance. II may be. however, that we
lack the Initiative that is necessary
TO keep pace with the more thriving
and prosperous communities OF the
country. II so, we should at once
correct our fault and move forward.
We should grasp every opportunity
for Improvement and expansion that
presents itself. and when there are
none in sight we should 20 out and
hunt them. Drifting will accom-
pilsh nothing but TO bury us beneath
the enthusiasm and prosperity OF our
neighbors. Now who wants to driftY
Not you. we hope.
DO you own a cart II 80, pick up
aome OF your neighbors and drive out
into the country and use your eyes
and your native intelligence. Just
take note OF the prosperous condi-
tion OF the farmers everywhere you
10. Are they making their money
and building beautiful homes and
buying cars by simply driftingG Not
muchl They work. and they use
their brains and their ingenuity as
we'll as their hands. No drifting
with them. II they see an oppor-
tunlty 10 improve conditions by the
purchase OF n piece OF new machinery
they buy II in n hurry and start II to
earning more dollars for them. II
they think they are not getting the
proper returns from their acreage
they dig down and unearth the cause
and 30 10 work promptly to remedy
Il. Good enough" does not appeal
TO them. They want something bet
ter, and they get II simply because
they have the will and determination
TO go after II. They are climbing the
ladder every day, and they have al
ready worked their way far toward
to the top. The never drift.
Why is II that there is 80 much
wealth among the farmers and yet
30 little finds It's way into this town?
There Is a reason. and potent one,
II we ask our farmer friends they
perhaps will tell us. But we should
have braihs enough TO solve this
problem ourselves, We shouldn't
adopt the kindgarten method OF ask
ing some one who knows more than
we do. II is up 10 the commercial
interests OF this town to get to,
gether and find way to bring this
great wealth into this town. We can
not Jusly blame the farmer. because
II we we're In his place we would un-
doubtedly be doing just as he Is do
ing II is his money and he has a
right to do as he pleases with II, and
II is a safe bet that he will exercise
that right to the limit whenever he
spends a dollar.
II will not be difficult to keep the
farmer trade in this town II our bus
iness men go after II in the right
way. But waiting and drifting will
not do IL. The farmer must be con-
vinced by cold facts that II is to his
interest to do all of his trading in
this town, but II will rake something
besides empty words to do II, He is
a man OF facts, and nothing but
facts will have any weight with him.
Hence, we repeat, il is our duty to
get together and remedy the defects
In our commercial system that now
exist and make conditions such that
the farmer will turn to this town in
as the most logical and
profitable place to trade,
Now who will make the start in
this kind OF a forward movement?
II each one waits for the other we
will simply keep on drifting until we
all drift under the sod. Let lead
er step forward, and this paper will
be right behind him and pushing and
showing TO the limit. for we want to
see our home town move forward and
keep right on moving and climbing.
II you know OF a man who would
make an ideal leader. so and tell
him so-puneh him, wake him up,
start him to doing something. Then
do your own share to encourage him