Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-26

| course, to the military sort of prepar
edness first. but our lesson is only hall
learned If we fail to realize that pre-
paredness has others than its military
significance.
The present situation in America
and throughout the world is without
precedent. We can do no more than
speculate on the business and financial
conditions which will exist as the wal
proceeds and after 1t closes. This un'
certainty alone is enough to convince
us that we must leave nothing undone
to be prepared to meet the new bust.
ness conditions. not only with ability
to withstand reverses but also with
readiness to avail ourselves OF every
opportunity for growth, improvement,
profitable investment. progress.
These facts are true in a community
sense as well as in the case of the in
dividual And 1t Is with the commun-
ity phase that we deal now.
In Ottumwa the Commercial club is
the community's bureau of commercial
preparedness. 1t is more than that, OF
course, but if it did nothing but keep
finger ON the pulse Of business and
served as the community's business
diagnostician it's existence would be
amply justified.
Called by various titles, the orEani-
cation which is now the Ottumwa
Commercial club has had hand In
Ottumwa's progress and the progress
OF Wapello county for many years.
Never has 1t been stronger nor more
capable than now, and never has 1t
been more important factor in the
community's life.
In days gone by, community effort
generally was developed and directed
by half a dozen of each community's
prominent citizens" urged by local
pride and aided by their natural quail
ties Of leadership.
Then the commercial clubs came in.
to existence and all over the country,
as in Ottumwa, these organizations
centralize community effort and direct
progress.
Each Commercial club is Just as
strong as Its support in the commun-
ity. It can be no more powerful in do
ing good for its people than they make
1t by their united encouragement. It's
strength depends on its solid backing
by business men, neighborhood organ
izations, corporations and individuals.
These observations are prompted by
consideration Of the Ottumwa CONNER
cial clubs excellent record of service
and the prospect that 1t will be able.
with united support in the future. to
write new record Of increased ser
vice to Ottumwa in this period of ma
tfona1 and local wartime stress.
The Red Cross and Liberty Loan
campaigns, which recently have been
conducted with such signal success
through the Commercial club and its
committees, serve as instances of the
importance Of the organization just
now. It's activity in connection with
the local phases of the war situation
has been notable since the first order
was issued for the dispatch of the Of
tumwa guardsmen to the Mexican Dor
der
Notwithstanding the demands made
by the war, the Commercial club has
continued It's normal activities without
interruption. and has centralized and
directed individual effort for Ottum-
was good The new hotel will stand
as one monument to the Commercial
clubs energy.
The Farm Improvement bureau
came into, being at the Commercial
club; the club is responsible for the
oiling of streets and roads; it has
brought several automobile tourists
routes through Ottumwa: it has guard
ed the city's interests in freight rate
negotiations and litigation: 1t has TAX
en- the lead in making Ottumwa a con-
vention city and already has been in
strumental in obtaining ten conven-
lions for 1918: it has obtained soils
survey of Wapello county through the
state and federal governments; it has
found Jobs for farm hands and sup.
piled help to overworked farmers.
1t has done and is doing much more,
and 1t is ready to direct the commun-
ity's energies along any line that may
present itself. today or next week or
next year.
1t deserves the fullest measure Of
confidence and support from every cit.
izen, for it is working to make his citi-
zenship more valuable.