The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-05-16

One might ask: why d0eSnt the
farmer get acquainted with the busI- /.
ness mani" Possibly, of course, but
the farmer fees he has been abused
and neglected, and he is. in a state of
mind that deters him from taking tbs
initiative. 1t therefore is apparent
that if this chasm is to be bridged,
the business man must be the bridge
builder.
All Of which leads up to the meat
of this story.
1t was to take the lead in this get
acquainted movement that the Tulsa
Rotary Club, following the recon-
mendations of International Rotary,
undertook a series of ru~ral-acquaint-
ance meetings during last year.
At each meeting there was a we'll
arranged and rendered program of
music, speaking, refreshments, with
| frequent athletic contests between
| farmers and Rotarians, with their
women folks as interested spectators.
The second item, speaking, was given
a minor position in the lineup, Ro-
| tarians having been confident that
long-winded speeches would not be
appreciated by their guests.
Farmers at first were a bit reluct-
ant to attend these meetings. They
had a preconceived idea that they
were to be solicited for the purchase
of something, they knew not what. 1t
was difficult for them to understand
that Rotarians came not to sell any
thing, but only to form acquaintance
and mingle informally with the rural
population.
The guests were agreeably sur
prised. Reports of the first meeting,
held in the yard of a country school
house, spread rapidly over the county.
There had been an entire evening
of vocal and instrumental music by
amateurs and professionals, patriotic
songs enthusiastically sung by the en-
tire ~assemblage, a radio concert re-
ceived from Kansas City and Tulsa,
foot races and other contests, timely
but brief talks by agricultural ex-
perts, and lastly a basket lunch char
acterized by entire informality and
lack of restraint, where first names
were heard on all sides.
Attendance increased with each
succeeding meeting. The FARMERS
quickly found their suspicion of Ro-
tarians was unjustified and that the
meetings were extremely enjoyable
from a social viewpoint.
Remember, fellows, you don't go
to get acquainted with Rotarians,
but with the farmers of Tulsa coun-
ty," President Ralph Talbot admon-
ished the club. "You know each 9TH
er by your first names-see if you
, can become as well acquainted with
Bill, Jim, and Pete, who live at the
fork of the creek"
: The presidents advice was followed
6 ~religiously. Rotarians found that
! farmers are confronted with yexing
problems which cannot be solved in &
moment, but which could be reduced
in number with the business mans co.
operation and assistance.
) Concommittantly, the farmers
: reached by these meetings discovered
, the hitherto distant city business mar
, as typified by the Rotarians to be {
likeable chap who also had his up.
and downs and who is not as grasp
ing and greedy as he had been paint
ed by artists using poorly mixed
colors.
A long time ago, someone, prob
ably after an unfortunate love affair
declared familiarity breeds contempt
1t does not, and substantiation of thi
positive denial is easy to find.
Familiarity breeds friendship. 4
sympathetic understanding betweeI
two human beings or among a grou,
is impossible without the latter
Many close and lasting friendship
between Rotarians anu farmers an
their families are a direct result o
these rural-acquaintance meetings i
Tulsa county.
The Tulsa Rotary Club has defir
itely and enthusiastically placed thi
activity OF its already well filled pro
gram for 1928, realizing it's fruitful
ness will increase with each passin
year.
Terminating the 1922 series was
monster afternoon and evening NEE
ing and barbecue at the home of R
tartan Cyrus S. Avery, eight mills
east of Tulsa, where the happy CROW
gathered after witnessing dog al
rabbit races at the White City JerSs
farm, managed by Rotarian Hem
Stebbins.
Rotarians and farmers standil
side by side and thoroughly enJoyn
themselves, sliced hot beef while R
tary AIMS and farmers wives pr
pared the i~mprovised tables erect
in a meadow near the farm hon
Not less than six farmer az II
meeting, whose previous knowled
~ RnfnTxy wvnc .or--I L. -o-IS