The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-09-10

Two hundred members were present
at the first monthly meeting Monday
night OF the Commercial club follow
ing its summer recess.
In opening the question of military
training at Earlham college President
Howard A. Dill of the Commercial
club said: "Earlham college wants
Richmond and we want Earlham. 1t
is builder of men and women and a
part of our community life that we
can not overlook. The imperative
matter before the college and us now
Is military training at Earlham. With
the 1S-45 draft we are experiencing
what England has experienced before
us-an outlook on wrecked education
al institutions: but our government
hopes to profit by England's expert
ence and has devised the scheme Of
military training in the colleges Of our
country. Now on account OF its prtn-
cipals this has put Earlham in a more
or less difficult position, but we must
not forget, gentlemen, that Earlham
is a Quaker institution, built on Quak-
err principals. Tonight in order that
the public might have the attitude OF
this college put straight before them
we had asked President Edwards to
come before us, and explain Earlham's
position. This be was unable to do
having been called out of town, but he
has published a statement In regard
to the matter which we shall have
read to us by the secretary"
After the reading Of DR.. Edwards
statement the men were urged to ask
any questions they desired Of men,
bers of the Friends church who were
present The club members showed
no inclination to do so, and the meet
ing passed on to other business Of the
evening. although Captain Roberts OF
the Richmond army training detach-
ment when asked to speak later in the
evening again referred to the question
and said: I'm regard to Earlham col
lege, gentlemen, l agree absolutely
with the position taken by the faculty
and officers of the institution. / am
a military man-have been trained to
be one since l was Is years old--but
that does not mean that l cannot be
broad minded enough to appreciate
the fact that Quakers who have lived
up to their ideals should have these
ideals respected. / have, however, the
upmost contempt for the man who has
acquired Quaker tenets as a way OF
slipping out Of his duty. That man is
an out and out coward and should be
considered as SUCH
Giles Speaks for Fairgrounds.
]. T. Giles Of the Richmond schools
brought before the club the question
of public Fairgrounds in Richmond
during the summer months. THE pre-
vious levy made for the Fairgrounds
was for seven years and with this year
the fund has been used up. The ques-
ton is sircply this; II a levy is not
made by council for next summers
playground upkeep, the grounds will
have to be closed"
George Seidel moved that a new
one-cent tax levy might be suggested
to council as desirable. This was sec
onded by Timothy Nicholson, who
spoke briefly on the general good re-
sulting from Fairgrounds. President
Dill was then authorized to appoint
committee to present the matter to
council.
A suggestion was made during the
evening relative to the opening Of
skating rink this winter on either
Hawkins pond or Morton Lake.
S. E. Swayne explained the insur-
ance surcharge question as it stands
In the state Of Indiana. He read to the
club a letter to Governor Goodrich
from the State Chamber OF Commerce
relative to this matter.
This club is not an organization
confined to any one thing said Presi-
dent Dill during the course OF the eve