The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-04-30
ENTHUSED BY STUDENTS
COM M ERCE DRIVE is
GIVEN IMPETUS
Young Folks Appear At Dinner
rendered Solicitors; Address
BY William Paden g.

That enthusiasm in the campaign
for membership in the new Civic and
Commerce association is growing was
evidenced this noon when the cap
tains of the several teams now
soliciting memberships in the new
organization, were completely sur
prised by the boys and girls of the
local high school. while they were
partaking of dinner at the Masonic
temple. The young people marched
into the dining room unannounced
led by Harlow Lack, who led the
boys and girls in giving the school
yells. When the young folks had
taken positions about the sides of
the dining hall. The captains of the
soliciting teams We're ably addressed
by William Paden on behalf of the
LEGAL high Scheols. In his address he
urged the staunch support of the
movement looking toward the or
ganization of the Civic and Com
merce association. This speech was
responded to by DR.. John Hancock
of the Normal school faculty, who
urged upon the older people to catch
some of the enthusiasm displayed by
the high school studets.
Address BY William Paden.
The address delivered by William
Paden vas as follows:
MEN and women of Mankato, we
apologize FOR the seeming disturbance
Of your meeting, but we have heard
and read much about your plans to
make Mankato a bigger and better
place in which to live and we want
you to know that We, as future citi-
2ens of Mankato, are interested in
what you are doing today"
"Mankato is fair city which we
all love; but she is not so great that
she cannot and should not be made
greater. While we appreciate the
many things of which our city can
well boast, progress is not built upon
Boosting, nor upon resting upon our
laurelS OF the past, nor self content
ment with the present"
"Mankato must grow not in num-
bers alone, but in quality of man
hood and womanhood. She must elm
mate many defects from her civic
commercial life, if she would pre-
sent the most worthy picture"
1--WE should have not only big fac
tories, but the best schools, the most
progressive churches, and the finest
parks, as well as in every respect the
cleanest and best city in the State.
We can have it if we will and the
young men of the high school have
come to you to urge you to do these
things and present to us the leaders
Of tomorrow. our rightful heritage"
1--WE pledge you that when we
receive the city, we will undertake,
not only to maintain, but to enlarge
and ennoble whatever institutions
and presidents and ideals you may
hand over to us. Our thought could
not be better expressed than in that
famous oath taken by every young
man of Ancient Athens which we
have adopted as our creed for Man
kato."
The Community Sing.
The usual community sing was led
by Miss Cornelia Mansfield
The report of the captains of the
several soliciting teams was much
better today than yesterday The
number of memberships obtained to-
day were 1872, which added to yester-
days memberships of 17S makes a
total of $50 memberships in the two
days Of the drive, which is taken as
very encouraging
The Athenian oath was taken by
all Of the high school boys and girls
before leaving the dining hall at noon
today. Every boy and girl has pledg-
ed complete support to the movement.