The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-04-04

for the state thru making it's towns
better places to live in is shown in
the answers of 600 Kansas editors,
who replied to QUESTIONABLE sent
out by student of the department
of journalism of the University of
Kansas.
Killing blue laws (which would
have made blue town bluer" is the
favor one editor admits having done
for his town. Another declares "our
paper has exposed crooks, unmasked
hypocrites and turned the search
light on fake reformers and moral
uplifters and has fought the world,
the flesh and the devil, in it's efforts
to make this better world to live
in" Still another man confesses
"our object is to make this commun-
ity so nearly like heaven that it will
be impossible for a citizen to tell
when he is transplanted from one
place to the other. At the present
time we figure that we are only
1,897,673,533,SO4 miles from our
object, and making Central branch
time"
Eighty-six entirely different re-
plies were made by the editors in
answering the question. Among
municipal improvements the most
popular appears to be that of local
school systems and buildings, nearly
one-fourth of the editors saying their
influence had been used in that di-
ron In inn vprn int o.
for paved streets, lighting systems
and water works.
Nine per cent of the editors state
they have aided church benefit, and
like number park improvements.
Four per cent have brought about
better sewage systems, while 8 per
cent have struggled for Libraries,
more beautiful cemeteries, new in
dustries and city manager plans of
government. Two per cent men
toned what their papers have done
to promote better hospitals, street
car lines, improved telephone SER
vice, sidewalks, bridges and plans for
city beautiful Other municipal
improvements mentioned by lone edi-
tors include the promotion of
suburban addition, the establishment
of better Fairgrounds and the OBJ
tanning of system of motor car
drives. One editor strove for more
trees, while one other cried aloud for
a court house clock.
Many of the efforts put forth in the
state newspapers are classified prop
erly as welfare drives" These in
clude Red Cross drives, memorial
drives, better train service cam
paigns, drives for more pay for
school teachers, and clean city cleo
lions.
Two per cent of the Kansas papers
claim credit for fighting public util-
ity raises, boosting local industries,
fighting the Nonpartisan league,
helping clean out vice and exposing
crooks. A few of the editors have
urged their readers to have money,
have put the town on the map by
means of publicity and have sup
pressed unclean news.
Other efforts in behalf of better |
communities, as listed by editors, in
clude trade at home" campaigns, a |
drive for better chickens, the pro-
motion Of community halls, the or
ganization of commercial clubs and |
commercial harmony, the boosting of
a city band, advocating uniform clos
ing hours for stores, campaigns for
more economic living and child well
fare movements. One editor helped |
bring grand opera to this community,
and in contrast, another helped pro-
vide pavement dances. Others aided |
in the institution Of art clubs,
women's clubs land country clubs.
Many editors are shown to have
spent much time and effort in bring
ing about cooperation between the
farmers and townspeople. Twenty
one per cent mentioned they had put
over campaigns for improved or hard
surfaced roads. Five per cent were
in putting agriculture
on a frmer basis in their districts.