The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-02-27
A REAL UOOS1fR MEET
Booster Meeting and Banquet by
Leon Chamber Of Commerce will
Brine forth Real Results.

A meeting which will probably
result in more real good to the citi-
zens of Decatur county than any
meeting ever held in Leon, was the
booster meeting and banquet given
by the Leon Chamber of Commerce
byterian church in Leon. A short
time ago the Leon Chamber of Com
merce decided to give this banquet,
and invitations were extended to
the officers and representatives OF
the Farmers Union, the Farm Bu-
in the county to attend as the guest
of the Leon Chamber of Commerce.
The roads were a fright, but the at
tendance was remarkable consider
ing the weather, about one hundred
persons being seated at the banquet
the ladies of the Leon Civic Club,
and they had prepared repast
which fully satisfied everyone who
attended.
At the conclusion of the banquet
Rev. G. T. Ronk was announced as
have always been leary of a preach
er as a toastmaster at public meet
ing, but in this case we were agree
ably surprised. Rev. Ronk was the
man of the hour, he spoke not as
minister, but as a man who had the
best interests Of all Decatur county
at heart stating the object of the
meeting was to promote closer re-
lationship between the farmers and
the business interests of Leon not
for the exclusive benefit of either
class, but for Decatur county as a
whole. He referred to the spirit of
unrest which following the close of
try on the face of the earth, and of
the great danger which threatened
even Decatur county in this move
ment. His remarks were timely
and it was to be seen that they made
deep impression on his hearers.
the evening, DR.. c. A., Henry, of
Farson, Wapello county, Iowa, who
community comm mi HnSSs"'' interests of Wapei.o
county, where there exists a closer
union of the business and, farming
county in the United States. Dr..
Henry made no pretense of being an
orator. He is a practicing physician
in a small town, but he did tell, in
very interesting manner, what had
been accomplished in Wapello
county ae t9G db how tte the qtpmWs Fapmsrs
Union and the Farm Bureau, work,
wonders. Their plan is to have a
grievance committee with represen-
tatives from each organization in
the county, who meet and thresh
any wa'ca men may aaus
'slssunty agents, the Farm Bureau,
county agent, a county Y. M. g. A.
agent, a county agent for the Farm
ers Union, all having central offlces
with the Ottumwa Commercial Club
in one building and working or KIN ,oon1 IN
organizations, meeting regularly and
discussing local matters in their sew
eral communities. They have al
grievance committee consisting of
representatives of all the various or
ganizations, and. this committee
farmers or any community, may
have, and the matter is amicably ad-
justed to the satisfaction of all.
The Leon meeting was attended
by nearly forty representative farm
ers of Decatur county. representing
both the Farmers Union and the
Farm Bureau, and many of them
we're called upon to give expression
of their views, and it was remark
able how they all seemed to take to
the plan of getting together. There
is nothing the matter with Decatur
county, one. Of the best counties in
the state Of Iowa or hey with the Msn3 PEG, o.
stand together to further. the inter-
ests of the county as whole. And
they are willing to meet each inter-
est half way. 1t had been reported
this meeting had been called to stop
the establishment of Farmers I'm
men of Leon did not hesitate to ex.
press themselves on this subject. Ii
the Farmers Union think they can
conduct store in Leon better than
the merchants of Leon, the mer-
chants will welcome them to the
city. The Leon merchants are not
opposed to the Farmers Union Store.
chants of Leon realize that the pros
perity of Decatur county depends on
the farmers. This is an agricultural
community, and the farmers must
prosper if the businessmen prosper.
Live, and let live should be the mot
The meeting developed into an old
time experience meeting. Man at,
ter man made brief remarks but all
agreed that now was the time for
all interests to get together.
The result OF he the III meeting thnt was was
Local and Farm Bureau section ap-
noint delegates to attend meeting
to be held at Leon on March 18th,
for the purpose of formulating plans
for a permanent organization, in.
Guiding a grievance committee to
handle any matter where there may
be a difference of opinion, and that
all business and farm organizations
in the county be invited to partici-
pate in this organization.
The meeting showed there was
need of just such an organization,
and that the organization could sue
cessfully handle any problem COM
ing before it. There Is going to be
a community organization in Deca.
tur county, and it is going to get
results for both farmers and busi-
nessmen.
A pleasing feature of the meet
ing was the musical program fur
nished by the Leon Chamber OF Com
merce quartet composed of Ralph
McGinnfs, Leslie Grimes, Lester
Hutchinson and Lester Gardner,
who sang a number Of splendid Sc
lections, and Mr.. Ralph Petty sang
several fine solos which added to-
the pleasure of the meeting.
The seed has been sown. Watch
It grow and develop into golden
harvest for all the people OF Decatur
oNiynfV tsa4s.- 4Lasa5s. :, "a