The Detroit times., 1917-06-22
A Fine Object Lesson In
I Flint of the Spirit In
! Which We Go To War

Il
Our primitive fathers were i'm the
habit Of using flint. asolid rock, to start
something.
The..early residents Of our state who
founded Flint, Genesee county started
something which later generations have
finished.
They started what has developed TO
be one of the most solid of Michiean's
cities
A fine public spirit there recently con
ceived the idea of public stadium
This same fine public spirit conceived
the idea Of everybody turning out and
doing his bit toward a start for the sta--
dunn. which at once insures its perma-
hence.
A field day was declared q field day
of work, to clear the ground and get u
in readiness for the playground that
represents an idea far advanced along
that line, and the men Of Flint went TO
it with shovel and pick.
1t was a rather remarkable turnout.
too.
There were no Democrats present.
There wasn't a Republican there
Not a Socialist put IN an appearance
and not one Prohibitionist.
All were fellow citizens of Flint, with
their coats off for Flint, putting in their
best licks for Flint, perspiring for Flint
with party lines, personal prejudices and
individual ambitions forgotten generally
lin behalf Of Flint
Have you ever taken notice Of this
busy. growing city, out there among
those murmuring hills that slope so
gracefully down to the Genesee valley?
Has it ever been called to your atten-
ton that this home of some of Michi-
gan's best-known men and most honored
sons, has been going ahead by leaps and
bounds the past few years, and that 1t
stands for the last word in successful
city building?
Not only has Flint grown fast--a city,
the same as a child, can grow too fast
its growth has been healthy.
Among her citizens she numbers in
fuential men Of progressive thought and
tendencies who have unselfshly made
their city their first concern and the rea-
son for their pride.
These are big, broad business men
whose activities have resulted in making
Flint big, broad business city, never
neglecting, however, the moral side up
on which so much depends in building
both wisely and well.
Flint stands on a foundation as solid
and secure as the established Gibraltar
qualities of the rock itself, because it IS
a foundation built of the good names
and the fiber of men of excellent charac-
ter, pronounced civic interest and lofty
and ably-conducted ambitions.
The manner in which the city is do
ing its share, and more, in the war, hav-
ing contributed literally in men and
money and standing ready to do more
bespeaks the democracy characterizing
both the stadium field day and its con-
ception.
Ever-alert Flint has been quick to
sense the great purpose for which her
men are going into the trenches over
seas, and is putting real democracy into
practice.
If the rest of US fail to sense the
great purpose at home for which We
fight, we will have to toe the mark and
stand convicted as laggards.
For, verify, it is the march whose
drum beats quicken us all as kin, or
should
The idea of a city turning out as one
man, with classes forgotten for having
woven themselves into the masses, looks
ahead to a more united, more contented
people, with nothing absolute but free
dom and to a newer and fuller meaning
of the word LIBERTY"
We follow Flint, our Inspiration.
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