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Show Commercial Clubs Increase the Value of Farm Lands each community. On election day, were It not for the politicians many citizens would not vote. In municipal elections (for instance in 1917 )-in the Uintah basin there was a woeful lack of interest. The average man or woman will readily admit that "the greatest enemy "of a free government is the non-voting class." It may truly be said that, even though we are working work-ing hard under great disadvantages, the first duty in public activity in to take interest in such activity. What we need most right now is a 500 per cent increase in public work being performed by the Commercial' Com-mercial' clubs of the basin. There may be men in charge of the affairs, in some cases, who do not draw the support of a majority, or perhaps a club is not run to suit a large number num-ber of people. It Is some times thought that the less worthy and the less moral forces- have charge of all Commercial club business. Some people think it is all right to let such people go ahead and run the club and do whatever they can. Often times one feels as though a common critic says, ''Let "em go ahead and have their club, and if they do some good, all right, but I'll keep out of it." We don't know of anything immoral im-moral or unmanly, and therefore nothing un-American, taking place in our Commercial clubs. If there should bo great compunction of conscience con-science aroused against a club, it is (P.y J. P. May, Secretary Confederated Commercial Clubs) ''Commercial clubs! Yes, these d - Commercial clubs! I dont' see what good thes clubs are. They don't amount to anything and they don't do much. Yes, I own 160 acre of land and you oet I'm interested inter-ested in the increasing value of property prop-erty of course. But I can't see anything in these clubs. My land haji just growed in value naturally -it couldn't help It. No these Commercial Com-mercial clubs don't amount to anything any-thing at all. I don't need 'em." Many a time have I heard some such remarks as above quoted. Many farmers living near the principal trading centers of the basin have little or no interest in such centers., although such towns must provide amusements, and be the center for much activity, and is also the center to which many people gather often for religious advise and instruction. Any live Commercial club, with a reasonable support from the community commu-nity and from farms near by can increase in-crease the value of the farm lands at le&st 1.00 per acre per annum. After giving the matter any fair consideration', con-sideration', the- anti-Commercial club people, and the luke warm don't-care-people would admit that this estimation, es-timation, of the value of the good Commercial club I rated very low. The clubs of the Uintah basin, during 1917, have mailed out replies to personal letters amounting to several sev-eral thousand. These clubs have the duty of those so inclined to object ob-ject in an intelligent manner. But, as it is in politics, so it Is in operating operat-ing Commercial elubs, that is. the crowd hangs back, most of them showing a listless dis-interest, a few showing radical disagreement, while a few lead out and do something. Fellow citizens let's look at this matter as intelligent members of a free democracy. Let's get together more in that non-religious and nou-jolitical nou-jolitical atmosphere of a Commer-c Commer-c al club. We may not be able to commune together under such auspices, au-spices, but surely we can talk over the welfare of our districts and this ,ivut inland section. Kind reader, give the matter a little thought. Bringing a few capitalists Into the basin along the main road, may or may not be readily converted Into increased in-creased values, etc., but, bringing from one thousand to three thousand thou-sand farmers each year will bring all that we ask for and in a very short time. The above facts are not over-drawn and they seem to us quite self-evident. Anyway visit your Commercial club, and no .doubt by taking some interest yourself you can do some good instead of staying home and sulking about how hard life is. sent out a very much larger number of pamphlets and leaflets to those who were more or less interested in many interesting features of this ' Inland Empire." Th people who have been doing this hard work have received nothing for It. The average citizen does not realize what has been done, and, the worst of it is he does not care. Dis-intcrest is the curse of any free government, and It is certainly ov weak point in our mutually developing develop-ing the Uintah basin. This letter is written for the press of the basin with the hope that many of those who will read it shall think over the facts above stated. A farmer, farm-er, living five miles from Vernal, Roosevelt, My ton or Duchesne, wih scratch hi head and shake that necessary nec-essary part of his anatomy, showing a doubtful and pessimistic countenance counte-nance when you ask him for $1.00 per month to be spent In helping to make himself worth more money. The writer knows that our local club has, In 1917 increased the value of land $1.00 per acre within a radius of six miles. We have carefully noted the many results of our efforts and we know tha,t farmers and the citizens citi-zens generally do not appreciate the necessity for a Commercial club In |