The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-06-12
REPRESENTATIVE
AMERICAN CITY
keokuk Thinks as Nation Thinks,
Writer In New Republic De-
cIares-Best Known
Town In u. S.

No one begrudges New York, Chi
cago. ST. Louis, Boston or San Fran
cisco their claims to being Americas
greatest and largest cities. But
when it comes down to picking real
American city, one that is represent
tatiye of all others in this broad
land, and needs no state tackled on
the end of 1t for purposes of ioca-
ton, Keokuk is on deck for the
honor. KeolSuk is the representative
American city. And SO when the
editors of the new republic cast about
for a city with which to represent
this nations thought concerning old
world politics, customs and aims in
relation to home affairs, they natur-
ally chose Keokuk as the means of
pointing their lesson.
The following article printed in
Yesterdays Chicago Herald under the
heading Interpreting the News" and
copied from The New Republic, a
real highbrow review, will be of in
terest here not only because Keokuk
is chosen as the city Of representa-
tive American thought, but also be-
cause of the excellent review of a
situation that is now confronting this
country:
keokuk Must Know constantinople.
If Keokuk and Constintinople had
become acquainted little sooner the
map of the world might have been
changed. But Keokuk did not care
about Constantinople. 1t had its own
little worries. 1t had the effect Of
last weeks rain on the wheat to
think about, and the new postoffice
building, and may be woman suffrage
and the recall Of the judiciary.
Constantinople? oh, yes. there was
city by that name in Turkey,
where the men wore funny hats
called fezzes and the women lived in
harems. But what had that to do
with Keokuk? How could anything
in Turkey affect anything in keo-
kuk?
That question is being answered
today in blood and iron. The things
that have been happening in Con-
stantinople for the last half a cen
tury-and in Vienna and in Berlin
and in Paris, London, Africa, the
balkans and in the wide sweeps OF
Asia-are now clutching at every per-
son and every industry and every
Institution in Keokuk-and all the
hundreds of other Keokuks in the
United States.
And the prominent citizens of Keo-
kuk. who make up the heart of
America. didn't dream that these
thlngs were of any Importance to
their city and to their businesses and
10 their sons, who now know the feel
OF khaki and presently will know the
ieel of bullets. Keokuk was think
ing about itself. Keokuk let world
politics slide along. Nobody knew
more about wheat than Keokuk-but
nobody knew less about CONSTANT
nople.
keokuk was typical Of America
out typical of an America that must
change Ii the real America is to live.
heokuk must remember that the
wheat crop is of great Importance
ana so are the new bonds for the
country roads and the election fo-
school commissioners next week-but
keolluk must learn that Keokuk's
wheat crop and roads and schools
are nodded by the movements of
world politics. IF Keokuk wants new
roads and improved schools, If she
wants good prices, prosperity, free
uom of human action and happiness
LOT her people, if she wants her very
ne, she must reconstruct her habits
of thinking.
FOR Keokuk is not merely Keokuk.
heokuk is part CT America. and