Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 66, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 March 1913 — PREPARING FOR BIG PUBLIC MEETING [ARTICLE]

PREPARING FOR BIG PUBLIC MEETING

The “Make Rensselaer Beautiful” Plans Should Enlist the Support of Every Citizen.

A meeting was held at the high school building Monday evening to complete arrangements for the meeting in the interest of civic improvement which is to be held in the high school auditorium Friday evening. It was decided to ask Rev. J. C. Parrett to preside at this meeting. A program was arranged, details of which will be announced later. There will be music, speeches and stereopticon pictures. These last will be furnished for the occasion by the American Civic Association from its headquarters in Washington, D. C. An effort will be made to arouse public interest in beautifying the city, in improving sanitary conditions, and in pro' viding pleasing, wholesome and profitable occupations for the boys and girls during the long summer vacation. In connection, with the last an gutumn festival has been proposed, such as has been held in other cities, at which children will be given an opportunity to display flowers and vegetables from gardens cultivated by themselves. At the meeting Monday night it was held to be an important matter to make it clear that the meeting for Friday evening is not to be a “Knockers’ Convention.” Its object is not criticism of any man or set of men, but its object is to awaken interest which the great majority of Rensselaer citizens already look upon as desirable. The program has been arranged with this thought in mind, and those interested in promoting the meeting will be glad if it shall thus result in collecting and focusing the sentiment of the community on effective arganization for the accomplishment of certain definite results which the majority of the citizens already feel to be desirable.