The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-11-03
PROPER cLun ACTIVITY

PROPER CLUB ACTIVITY.
more has been so much Improper activity by
clubs Of ihc so.callcd civic variety. and this
improper activity has aroused such % prelude"
against clubs lu general, that we seize on tho
action of the oklahoma city Rotary Tuesday
as constituting the Ideal club activity
This club purchased and presented to tho
boys and gIrls Of tho city a forty-four-acrc park
Tho purchase price 2l.000. wan subscribed by
the Rotarans without any fuss or Juror Here
is constructive work OF a noncoutroyersh type
that must Inevitably command unstint"d praise.
And the incident affords an opportunity to
clearly draw the line between proper and i'm
proper club action.
We hold that In purchaving this property and
making such disposition Of it STRICTLY
WITHIN THE CLUB MEMBERSHIP. the Ro-
tarIans ac attn great 'topricty Not that
any obligation rested on them to take such
action but merey because any action taken by
Rotarans and applicable only to Rotarians is
proper at an times
But had there been a proposal pending for
the city to purchase this property from the
private oWners--nad tho matter been public
issue in which all classes OF citizens were in
voIvcd--wo hold II would have been an Inn
propriety for the Rotary club to have taken any
proprlety from the academic standpoint, but
an act tending to injuro Rotary The club
might with propriety have heard public dis
cussion OF both sides OF the controversy. MAX
ing OF itself sort OF open forum; hui under
no circumstances should the Rotary amy
other civic club permit vote on any contro-
yerslai subject outside It's own distinct affairs
Nor does this doctrine prohibit mass or or
organized action either for or against a public
issue. The members OF the Rotary, or any
other club. would be acting with perfect propri-
ETY. In attending public mass meeting called
for the consideration Of II park purchase or any
other public matter and such meeting
would be acting with propNcty In finally tak-
ing the sense OF the assemblagc with respect OF
the pending issue.
The point we make IN that membCrF Of any
established organizations should refrain from
action lending color TO the suspicion that they
seek to place the influence OF the organization
behind any public movement ot any kind. There
would be an admitted lmpropriety IN tho Pres
byterlan Episcopal or Catholic church adopt
Ing a resolution applying directly to a contro-
versiol subject of public Import, yet the i'm
proprlcty would be no greater than Cor no
tarlans, Kiwans, Clvltans or other such organ
izations doing the same thing
The Individual may act IN various capacities
with the utmost propriety For instance, John
Doe is within his proper rights In holding meme
bership In various societies and organizations,
He may be member of the Rotarians, by COM
plying with the Rotary requirements, ne may
similarly belong to the Civilians. chamber OF
commerce, Masonic order, Presbyterian church
and republican party. In each Of these organ
izatlons he Is charged with certain obligations
and enjoys certain privileges.
But his duties as a citizen are not dlscharg.
able In either. Each organization presents dif-
rerent duties and confers different privileges
And In neither II Il properly permissible for
him TO act as political agent that is TO cx.
ercisc his obligations and privileges as a mem
ber Of the state. Certainly John would not as
sume to have the Rotary take action calculated
60 Influence the Presby yorian church, nor IN,
Presbyterian church to takc action intended 10
Influence the Rotary. lie would not lug into
his Masonic lodge issues having TO do with IA,
republican party. nor into tho precinct caucus
OF his party issues relating directly to tho con,
duet Of his lodge,
But in each % these organizations, whether
held behind closed doors or out In the broad
light OF day. he may act with perfect ease on
an matters directly and exclusively related "a
The particular organization In session az the mo-
mcnt. This Is precisely what the Rotary az
oElahoma City did do And it was grand
piece Of work From such club action charge
of soyietism viii ever arise And the prejudice
against these numerous organizations will
speedily abate when they all draw the line cor
-ectly.
In a word every club may have such chill
dren as It pleases and raise them as it pIeases
but no club has a right to interfere with other
children seek to influence their upbrnging.