The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-24


Yeomen strength in the tri-cities Is
about 1900. Mr.. Farmer affirmed.
What the Yeomen order hopes
to establish" he remarked, "is a
.children's republic I mean by
that that the government will be
shared by the children themselves.
There will be no such thing, OF
course, as an exploitation OF child
labor, but when a child really
works, he will be paid for it. We
aim TO erect from 120 to $50 cot
tages TO house them. They will
have their own play grounds. gar
dens, school buildings, banks, shops,
library. postoffice, railway station
and their own chapel 1t will be a.
community by itself"
Probably IL will be a year be-
fore the board of directors will
reach a de6nite decision. Wher-
ever the home is located. will be the
mecca for Yeomen. The national
conventions of the order will be
{ held at the home, where a large
auditorium will be constructed Tor
that purpose"
MI. WIS at OD
erintendent of the public schools
in Evanston. During the World war
he was associated with Herbert A.
Hoover in food conservation work,
being later associated with the Fos-
dick commission in charge of train
ing camps throughout the United
States.
Rock Island homestead, No. 6S.
Moline homestead. No. 2297. East
Moline homestead, No. 6102, and
Davenport homestead. No. 1923, will
unite in welcoming Mr.. Farmer.
Factors Determining Site.
Requisites for the site of the
home and school, according to a
statement issued by the home com
mittee of the order are healthy
climate, beauty of surrounding
country, nearnesS to railroad CEN
ter proximity to the center of Yeo-
man population. and availability of
suitable ground.
Eventually the Yeomen expect 10
house 1.500 children in the build
ings to De erected after a progress
sive scheme has been inaugurated.
Plans for thu institution were ap-
proved at the general convention in
Denver in June, 1921, by unanimous
vote.
The purpose of the home is to
care for the children of deaceased
members of the organization. Each
of the SOC, 900 members of the order
will pay q special monthly assess
ment of $110 for the financing of
the movement, and in addition a
large endowment fund will be Gre
ated, the income of which will be
added to the resources. These funds
will be wholly independent of the
insurance funds of the society.
Steps will be taken for the es-
tablishment of home for the aged
and infirm members of the order as
soon as the children's home is we'll
started and operating successful
ly. Approximately 100 sites have
been suggested from every part OF
- the United States.
m Extremes of climate will be avoid
w ed, especially regions which have
excessive rainfall A location where
the four seasons are distinctly
marked is preferred. Tree and
plant growth will be indispensable,
and lake or a river will be con-
sidered an asset Gently rolling to-
Biography is preferred to a fiat
stresses the value of the beautiful
in the determination of the site.
Produce Own Supplies.
Soil on at least a part of the
site must be rich and productive,
according to the committees re-
quirementS, as vegetables and other
farm supplies will be needed and
dairying and stock raising will be
necessary activities The value of
real work with a recognized pur-
pose, such as manual and industrial
activities for training purposes is
emphasized by the committee.
1t is specified that the home must
be within an hours travel of a good
sized city, which must be a railroad
center. Well paved roads must con-
meet the institution with all nearby
cities and towns
The site will be chosen with a
view to its central location with
reference to the membership of the
order at large
The amount of land needed will
be determined somewhat by the
character of the soil and its pro-
ductivity. A tract of 1900 acres
to $500 acres will be none too large.
the committee says. to meet future
needs and permit the development
necessary. 1t is desirable also that
so far as possible, control of ter
Titory Immediately adjacent be Sc
cured to prevent the establishment
of undesirable stores and shops
that might prove to be harmful
influence.
The above, according to an Off
cial statement issued by Mark T.
Mckee, of Des Moines. chairman
of the home committee, are regard
ed as the minimum essentials in the
determination of the site.
Build on Cottage Plan.
The home will be built on the
cottage plan. the idea being to de-
velop an independent community
or miniature village. These cot
tages will house IL to Is children
each. Each unit will be in charge
of foster parents who are to be
chosen for the ability to create a
home atmosphere for children Or
phans. or those whose families can
not afford to support them, will be
beneficiaries.
In us essential details the plan
follows closely the idea worked out
by the Moose. which maintains
home for children at Mooseheart.
near Aurora.