The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-09-28
CALIFORNIA; IOWA SOCIETY.
Nebraska Paper Offers Near
AnolouY for the Expatriates.

Apology for the ESpa1rlates.
Omaha World-Herald: The Iowa
Society of California must be get
ting on the nerves Of the Iowa edi-
tors.
In the Iowa press recently have
been several querulous references to
this society. If just one editor should
complain of the existence and the
"doings" of the society the matter
might be regarded as ill-considered
fault finding by a writer who did
not understand very well the object
or the motives Of the society, but
| when this criticism becomes a chorus
| one wonders why it Is that an or
ganization of such simple and harm
| less aims is the subject Of remarks
so unkind.
The Iowa Society of California is
purely social organization COM
. posed of those who came from Iowa,
and it's only purpose is to hold a re-
union every year to celebrate the
fact, not that they left Iowa. but
that they once lived in Iowa. The
occasion is, of course. largely de-
voted to "reminiscences There are
similar societies in almost any west
! ern state There is an Ohio society
and a Pennsylvania society in Ne
braska, and in other states in which
there has been some considerable
immigration from Ohio and Pennsyl-
vania In New York city there is a
New England society, composed Of
those who came from New England
and who like to get together once a
| year and talk over old times.
| But a very positive dislike of the
Iowa Society of California is observ-
able In Iowa. 1t happens that the
Iowa colony in California, chiefly in
| the vicinity Of Los Angeles, is very
| large one. 1t comprises those who
while on visits have become enaHi-
ored of the southern California CHI
mate, elderly people who have gone
there to escape the rigors of the
winter in this latitude, and those who
have had to go somewhere in a
milder climate for the sake of
| health But, ill or well. they are a
! live bunch, and when they get to-
gether in their reunions they make a
noise that is heard clear back to
Iowa. It appears to have wounded
Iowa state pride, and mthe editors
seem to think that the members of
| the society are In a sense renegades.
It cannot be so, for the members al
ways display a great deal Of Iowa
patriotism and indeed their actions
seem to say: "If you don't think
Iowa is a great state just look at
us" Many speeches in encomium of
"the old Hawkeye state" have been
made at these reunions and picnics
and no doubt auld lang syne has
caused many tear to fall, though
it Is possible that sometimes the eli.
mates of southern California and
Iowa have been compared in unma-
I Iignant disparagement of the sum-
mer and winter storms that occa-
sionally make this latitude a trife
unpleasant.
These petulant Iowa editors seem
to think that IL SO many people have
| left the state they should not en-
| phasize the fact by meeting, several
thousand Of them at a picnic and
having jollification. The Iowa editors
\ should remember that perhaps also
these exiles offer some mutual con-
doIences and cheer each other up.
Iowa is still good old Iowa" to them
and they make the state the further
compliment of fond memories and re-
grets. Present Iowans ought to be
glad If these former residents are
happy and contented where they are.
They didn't shake the dust Of Iowa
OFF their feet except in sorrow, and
amid orange groves they have many
a rauturous dream Of the Hawkeye
cornfields.
In certain parts Of the far east the