THE SQUARE DEAL CLUB
Drobnis, Edward
THE SQUARE DEAL CLUB How a Group of Boys Got Together to Study Problems of Democracy and to lay the Foundation of Good Citizenship By EDWARD drobnis HERE is a little story that contains the germ...
...Public or open meetings became popular occasions, at Which time public questions and other topics of interest were discussed...
...Officers were elected amid great excitement...
...WITH this object in view, a mere handful of boys, the oldest of them being only fourteen years, started the first Square Deal Club in Chicago, seven years ago...
...THEY KNOW THE KIND OF DECOYS TO USE ¶It is not sufficient that Aldrich is an authority on currency and banking and has been studying the laws of other governments in relation to those functions...
...The object of this club shall be to cultivate the idea of giving a Square Deal to all, to teach the members the principles of honest and intelligent self-government, and to benefit them socially, intellectually, and morally...
...Before retiring as President of the United States, he sent the club a handsome photograph of himself, with the following autograph, "With hearty good wishes for the Square Deal Club, from Theodore Roosevelt...
...The names of some of England's biggest battle-ships are Indomitable, Indefatigable and Inflexible...
...There is talk of sending Mr...
...There was no hope of gain,—except that which comes from the knowledge in themselves, of striving to do things and so become a factor in the neighborhood...
...A good many of the English people think the next big one ought to be named the "Insupportable...
...How can we get the boys interested in the problems they will later have to solve with their votes...
...Chicago Record Herald...
...They had no capital,—unless one may call a spirit of goodwill and fairness toward each other, capital...
...It is the story of a boys' club in which the members are mutually striving to lay the foundation for useful, effective citizenship...
...This group of youngsters opened up for business in an old shed, which was speedily turned into a club-room...
...Yet, strange as it may seem, most of the work outlined at that time has been accomplished...
...THE SQUARE DEAL CLUB How a Group of Boys Got Together to Study Problems of Democracy and to lay the Foundation of Good Citizenship By EDWARD drobnis HERE is a little story that contains the germ of a great idea...
...Each member is trying to fit himself for a career as a public-spirited and manly citizen, and hopes to see in the coming generation, a country of broad-minded, intelligent and well-informed citizens...
...Considering the age and experience of the members, one would hardly think them capable of undertaking the enterprises laid out in that first program...
...It is regarded as a valuable possession...
...A new constitution and by-laws were adopted, and the membership increased...
...To do this it became necessary to have the advice and guidance of an able and experienced director...
...The Square Deal Club shows one very practical way in which it may be done.—Editor's Note...
...It was Mr...
...This garden has been under active control of the Henry Booth House for the last few years, but to the Square Deal Club is due the credit for starting it...
...So Miss Emma Pischell, of the Henry Booth House, was appealed to...
...The members greatly admire Theodore Roosevelt, not only because of his coining the phrase, "A square deal to all," and on account of the vigorous executive powers he possesses, but also on account of the splendid ideas of citizenship he has inspired in the minds of each one...
...And what a program that was...
...Under his direction the boys made rapid strides, taking up such studies as American History, self-government, etc...
...She also promised to secure a director for them...
...The club was now ready for work...
...An old lot, usually the dumping place of refuse and rubbish of all kinds, was suddenly transformed into a blooming garden yielding a fine "harvest" at the end of the season...
...This picture hangs in the club room...
...The boys were not slow in accepting this invitation, and the next week saw them installed in their new quarters, with an able and efficient director at their head...
...As the members grew older, they sought to expand their work in a more general direction...
...The boy of today will be the voter of tomorrow...
...but in case we were represented at Peking by a former Vice President wouldn't Japan insist on having us send a former President to Tokio?—Chicago Record-Herald...
...At the time of writing, there are in the club fifteen young men, ranging in age from 17 to 21 years...
...So with the active co-operation of the Henry Booth House, a social settlement which was later destined to become its home, it proposed, managed and operated the first kitchen garden of its kind ever seen in the community...
...A. A. Rolf, an attorney in the city, who eonsented to lead them...
...A program was drawn up setting forth in detail the work to be accomplished during the first administration...
...The club soon conceived the idea of beautifying the neighborhood in which it met...
...Such subjects as "Resolved, That the U. S. navy should be increased,"—"Resolved, That Roosevelt's intervention in the San Francisco-Japanese matter was justified,"—"Resolved, That strikes are productive of more harm than good to the working classes,"—are examples of the things considered and discussed...
...After visiting the club, and being impressed with the good order and the businesslike manner in which the boys conducted themselves, she invited them to make their future club home in the Henry Booth House...
...Fairbanks as ambassader to China...
...Aldrich is an authority on the tariff, too, but his knowledge of that subject was used to deceive and betray the people, not to help the country.—Kansas City Star...
Vol. 1 • November 1909 • No. 45
