Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-07-20
! LOCAL COMMENT


Two complaints have been made
| this week about the conduct Of people
| in crowd who will obstruct the view
| of others in thoughtless and some
what greedy manner. The first as to
closing in on events at the fair grounds
bore good fruit at the society circus
| where the crowd was kept back so all
could eee But of the two the most
serious was as to automobile owners
who will line Main street on both sides
for many blocks to view a parade and
thereby obstruct the view of every
person who must stand on the side
walks. 1t ought to be made rule in
local police regulation to keep Main
street clear of all autos either moving
or standing while a parade is on. Out
in California people take their posi-
lions in autos on the side streets the
night before the rose tournament ana
sleep in their cars in the streets in
order to hold preferred positions but
people afoot have the sidewalks re-
served for them.
1t is unfortunate that the men who
were the first to volunteer as local
shock" troops in the oat fields should
have come away with the feeling that
the farmer aided was more in need OF
reforming than sick benefit assistance.
1t discourages the enterprise. There
should also be a definite arrangement
as to pay for the services. The farmer
should pay the Marshalltown Club full
price per hour for the labor furnished
and the money should be turned In to
the current war work expense fund Oh
the council of defense. 1t Is too sort
snap for farmers with crops going to
a war market to lie down on the Mar
shalltown Club for emergency help and
then be left free to volunteer COM
pensation to the Red Cross. Let's get
down to business or the sport Of play
ing at Shock" attacks will soon lose
it's zest.
If Marshalltown should get the
Great Western trains shunted down to
the C. & n. w. station and the present
rails abandoned which cross Third
avenue at the foot of the viaduct there
would be some compensation to this
locality for increased rates and govern
ment ownership. A real union station
for all railroads in this city would De
great convenience and death trap at
the foot of the viaduct would be re-
moved The Marshalltown Club should
urge it while the government Is IN
charge.
The ad club has fully proved its pro-
position. There can no longer be any
doubt as to the drawing power or ad-
vertising when a strictly home talent
show can line Main street with
Barnum and Bailey circus crowd OF
spectators and bring 1000 people to the
fair grounds for an amateur show. II
pays to advertise.
The windfall Of 1904 which came to
the county council Of defense from the
Fourth of July committee was most
fortunate surprise as the council was
face to face with the necessity Of rails
ing money by solicitation to pay the
current expenses of it's war service
drives. OF all the drives only the Red
Cross is allowed an overhead expense
All the rest require printing, come
postage and occasionally clerk hire
which the council of defense must pay
without funds other than what can be
raised by contributions.
q
The public will commend the county
fair board for its decision to. build
sanitary public comfort station on the
fair grounds. 1t Is a wonder that II
has required so many years for the city
and the county and tie fair manage
ment to provide in modern way for
so ancient a need.