Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1916-04-10
THE KNIGHTS OF LITHIA.
By Leonard Hinton.

nation wide, and organized the order
of Rosarians, the official boostinl
clan Of the city. Seattle, young giant
OF the northwest, reverted to Indian
legend and nomenclature for her pub.
licity element Now every year they
hold Pot-Latch, under the direction
Of the Tiikums, or Friends. Even
places of the size of North Yakima
have not Jagged behind. There, be.
cause apples are the chief source oil
revenue, the boosters call themselves
the Pom Poms, whimsically corrupt.
ing the Latin word for the apple
These cities are representative
Wherever there is chance TO appeal
to the farmer, the homeseeker, the
business man newly come to the west,
cities have adopted the far-sighted
policy of spending a few dollars and
much enthusiasm upon advertising.
A few more details concerning
these "goings-on" among our north
ern neighbors may not be amiss. For
instance, the Rosarians, the Tilikums,
and the Pom-Poms are only indirectly
connected with the commercial clubs
OF their respective communities. They
are held together by the enthusiasm
of the membership. When a pageant
or spectacle is put on at home, the
let us say are there in
body, adding to the impressiveness of
the event by their uniforms, and in
dividually exerting themselves in
every way to make the occasion sue
cessful. II some neighboring city
holds a celebration, then the Tilikums
attend in body, and lend their eff
forts and enthusiasm just as freely
as they would give it at home. AS a
result, Seattle annually reaps a splen-
did harvest from this advertising, be-
ing especially fortunate in obtaining
tremendous convention crowds and
icing wise enough to please them well
while within the gates.
And this same policy is true of
Every progressive city on the coast,
rom Portland to San Diego.
Now let us admit at once that such
Ictivities are wonderfully helpful to
! community, and face ourselves with
he question, "Why cant Ashland
wall herself of this means of adver-
lsing?"
And Immediately many people an
wer that while such organizations
re profitable and natural to cities of
wealth and size, they are impossible
n a city of Ashlands population and
Iurdens.
Why not. North Yakima is not yet
n the hundred thousand class, nor
re towns like Reedley and Sanger,
where boosters clubs, and
ood ones, are fixtures of the land
cape. These towns contain clubs
nat have made boosting a habit
mong the citizens, have backed
very local project of value, and
ave gained a great deal of adverts- {
lg throughout their sections. Bear /
mind, too, that many of these /
,wns are exploiting what Is now the
marketable commodity
efore the pu0lic-real estate in some
)rm or other. They are in the rut
advertising, because they are linn
ed in their resources, yet they are I
Icceeding in spite of this handicap.
AS to the present burdens of Ash I
md. A man is rightly adjudged
,ol who calls his opportunities bur- '
ems. There are many fools. Like
Use there are many cities in the
nited States that have allowed mil '
ons of dollars to 60 to the European !
,sorts merely because they refused
, accept their own opportunities.
nd If anyone dared to suggest that
atural resources utilized to keep
lose millions at home, a great cry s
ent up anent the burdens which that {
ty would have to shoulder. When {
esponsibllity is called burden, oppor- s
unity never waits long for an an
Her.
AS to the practical organization Of !
boosters club, whether we call it
ne Knights of Lithia or what you
ish, could anything be more effect
'e as an initial step than commun- /
y picnic in Lithia Park? If these
usiness men who have had their
eads so close to ledgers that they !
an hardly remember their old !
lends could be lured into the park ]
,r n single day, with lunch baskets, |
nd wives, and families-you see I {
lace the accent on the eats-a spirit ]
I good-fellowship might be obtained I
lat a year Of sharp bargaining could
ever bring about. And not only {
Mould the merchants belong to the '
ooster element. Every man, woman /
nd child in Ashland owes the city a c
post, and should be an active mem
er Of the club. Were Ashland q part c