The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-11-15
BLACKFOOT AND
ITS MEN
Continued from page four

Continued from page four
for doing good, nor the responsibility
that goes with talent, and leadership
or other ability. They dismiss the
fact that IL the people are to organize
in strong forces to secure something
they all need, there must be leader
ship or there will be failure.
Some people enjoy being lead
ers. and yet most people en-
| Joy having leaders and could
do but little without them.
Therefore. II the town is to have
modern utilities that are created only
by continuous, organized effort, those
who are capable Of leadership, must
consent to devote their talents and
their energies to the task.
Developed Leaders and Followers
The way our war activities have
been handled, proved what kind Of
leaders we had at the beginning, and
what kind of followers We had.
Achievements were slow. But the
progress made in a year and half
showed what the leaders were cap
able of when they put heart and soul
into the work, and proved what the
people were capable of when hey had
good leadership to attend to the con-
tinued, organized effort. Every
drive was easier, Notwithstanding 1t
was raising vastly greater sums. 1t
is a matter of education--a matter
of development with both leaders
and followers, and all must be will
ing and sincere If they would achieve
anything worth while.
Easier to Follow Than Lead
When men who are capable of
leadership, call public meeting or
take any action to set some new un-
dertaking to going, people who would
rather follow than to lead, should
respond to the call and give 1t con-
sideratioE. They make a mistake to
look upon it as a favor to the lead
ers If they respond to the call. For
example, if the mayor should call a
mass meeting to consider taking
steps to build gravity water system
to conduct spring water from some
place in the mountains for use in
the town, the average man who at
tended the meeting would need only
to spend the evening giving his at
tention to the subject, while the
mayor or the speaker or speakers
would probably have to go out and
spend many days investigating and
getting information before going to
the meeting. The man who sat in
the audience listening. would not be
doing the mayor favor to attend
the. meeting. He would not be do
ing the. speakers favor to attend
the meeting. The favor, If any,
would be the other way, but the lead
ers in the undertaking would feel
good about it If there was good at
tendance at the meeting, and re-
spectful hearing given to what they
said. 1t has sometimes happened
that such a meeting has not been
well attended, and some persons who
attended become critical and talk
as if they felt that the speakers were
trying to persuade them to do some
thing and that necessarily, the Speak
ers were going to profit by it If any
thing were done. Showing the spirit
Of suspicion toward the leaders in
such move usually disgusts them SO
thoroly that they cease to offer their
services and nothing more Is done.
~ People Must Join Forces
If the people of the community
want good town, they can get 1t
best by associating themselves to-
gether under somebody's leadership.
If the people living in the heart of
the town want better fire protection,
they should join with those living
farther out, to build something de-
sirable. If the people in the suburbs
want water system and sewer
system extended out to them, they
should join with those living nearer
the center of town, and make condi-
tons such that the town will grow
out to them, with its modern things.
Laying good sewer system and
good water system In the town,
would bring many benefits to the
persons owning farms and tracts be-
yond the reach Of those systems, even
tho the systems do not reach their
property for many years. Lack of
such systems, or the presence of in
adequate systems, reatard the growth
OF the town and people in the sub
urbs block their own business pro-
spects by opposing them or by not
aiding such undertakings. II Black
foot should expend a hundred-thou-
sand dollars a year for the next ten
years.: in sewer extensions, pavement
extensions and building a big, fine,
gravity water system, every piece of
property within the city limits would
be worth more and would yield
more income per year, even tho none
Of these improvements extended out
to 1t within that time.
How to Regard Taxes
Many people are unduIy afraid of
taxes. II some proposed improvement
increases their income $40 per year
and increases their taxes SIS and in
creases their conveniences somewhat,
the mere fact that it adds to their
taxes is the reason why they will be
against it, ignoring all the benefits
it brings. IL leaders go about among
them advising that the increased
taxes will not be felt because of the
increased incomes, they usually dis
credit sincere and reliable men and
vote against it, Experience is full
Of instances where two-thirds Of the
community has forced something
upon the other third, and in later
years all were thankful for the
change but If some other new pro-
ject were proposed, the same third OF
the population would probably vote
against 1t and have to be shown as
before. They simply cannot look
ahead and comprehend future adj