Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 April 1917 — HOME TOWN HELPS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HOME TOWN HELPS

HARM IN “KNOCKING” TOWN

If City Government Is Not What It Should Be There Are Other Remedies, It Is Urged. It is easy to fall Into a habit erf petty criticism and detraction either of Individuals or institutions. Intheone case, when directed by one person against another it is commonly and rightfully classed as malicious gossip or slander,.... Id the other case it is sometimes loftily designated as an exhibition of public spirit. Both are alike, a shame and disgrace to the perpetrators, an evil that should be suppressed, says the Indianapolis Star. Men, naturally enterprising, who, under favorable circumstances, would push the interests of the community, are deterred by the feeling that they would meet with criticism and have no encouragement, and saying to themselves “what’s the w?” remain passive, leaving other cities to go forward where theirs makes no headway or goes back. Outside capitalists who hear the echoes of this detraction go elsewhere with their factories and shops. If a city government is not what it should be, there are formal and orderly means of reforming it. If a police force is inefficient, a remedy is possible without giving to the world the impression that crime is rampant and life unsafe there by day or night. 11 public service corporations de not act squarely and fairly by the people# there are legitimate remedies for such conditions. If any public officer! makes mistakes, there are other way® of reaching him than by branding hind as a rascal of the blackest dye. Mod in public otfice,being human, have! been known to be open to friendly rei monstrapfe. But the corihnon scold, either in prl-| vate or public, never accomplished good.