The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-06-26
ROTARIAN IDEA AND WHAT

An idea now in tie nineteenth
year of remarkable and increas-
irg prevalence has had results to
which the attention of st. Louis
will be pointedly directed in COM
ing days. The Rotarian organiZa
|tion whose international assembly
will convene here this week had in
its recognition of the occupational
status distinctive feature which
has since become basis OF several
other organizations. One member
from each line of business or pro-
fLsSion or trade was made eligible
to membership in each local club.
Local organizations became, in
consequence, peculiarly represent
alive Of their communities and the
manner in which the people OF
those communities made their
living. From foundation 50
bl Dad and practical, it has been
sought to make ideals Of high qua
lty a vital force in personal con-
Duct, to cXemplify approved bust
ness and occupational standards,
t. promote private ends important
individually and collectively and to
serve public-spiritcd purposes OF
general value and usefulness.
For Rotary Club is essentially
a philosophical organization and
almost every community has had
reason to appreciate the extent to
which it's membership is composed
of public"spiritcd citizens. TO rec
ogEize and dignity all useful occu-
nations and to Undue those engaged
in these occupations with the idea
Of service to others-to fellow
workers in ones own occupation
and in occupations generally, to So
ciety and to state-has truly been
said to express the aim of the RO-
tartan movement. Economists
have said the manner in which al.
nation or people make their living
determines what such nation is,
what such people are and may be-
come. Occupational eligibility
and, through such eligibility, repre-
scntation for the occupations as
such, embody, then "a principle OF
such justice and logical nature that
we cannot now be sure what further
development it may have. We may
recall that as the Rotarian move
mcnt spread in this country, we
began to hear Of delegate bodies in
Russia made up in the ratio of the
strength of various trades, and the
one innovation Of the present gov
eminent of that country which has
seemed to students to have promise
end to be worthy of test under far
better circumstances, is the feat
ure of representation distributed
in accordance with occupations or
Cccupational units, rather than in
accordance with units Of territory
or unit of population.
Because st. Louis finds interest
and appeal in this type of civic
club, with whose aims it is familiar.
though it may not be prepared for
a showing on the present number
CT its enthusiastic adherents, it
gladly gives hospitable welcome to
the assembly of this week. Such
organizations are an antidOte to
narrowness in viewpoints. They
cultivate breadth of vision. cOun-
tcract Indifference and laXity in
puDIiC 'illdiio anu tiItl NiHS Soou III
tentions which, without impelling
force, might remain nothing more
than good Intentions We may be
confident that those who come to
the gathering will find equal inter
est and appeal in what st. Louis
has to offer for their observation.
This is a typical American COM
munity. with problems typical of
those of other communities. How
some OF these problems have been
and are being dealt with may be OF
instruction. There are recent un-
dertakings Of unusual scope which
We would like to have brought to
minds of such special discernment
and marked public spirit as those
of these clubmen coming from
twenty-one different countries. 1t
s men of this sort whom we want
to know what this city is doing.
A point of contact established
between the spirit Of the extraor-
binary Rotarian movement and the
spirit of the New st. Louis will
have profit for both.-St Louis
Globe Democrat.