Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-02
FOR MUNICIPAL REFORM.
Objects of the Convention Soon to Be Held
in Philadelphia.
An Important Movement and thu
Prominent Men Who In
dOrSe 1t.

the Municipal League of that city and the
City Club of New York. These two or
CARNATIONS have the same objects in view
the nomination and election of honest and
intelligent men to municipal offices and an
economical and honest government of their
respective cities. The Municipal League
has devoted its attention largely to the Sc
lection of good councilmen and has won
several notable victories. In New York the
City Club is waging war against Tammany
Hail. 1t began the fight some years ago
and the seed it has sown is now beginning
to bear fruit in the general uprising upon
the part of the people of New York against
Tammany rule.
Representatives of these two organiza-
tons have had several meetings, at which
the question of municipal reform has been
broadly discussed. These discussions led to
the issuing of the call for national con-
ference to which eminent men from all of
the principal cities of the country are to
be invited for the purpose of obtaining
their opinions as to the best methods for
obtaining better government for American
cities.
The call for the conference has the in
dorsement of prominent citizens of PhiIa-
delphia, New York, Boston. Chicago Brook
Ign, Baltimore and other cities. Such men
EFT Hale and Richard H. Dana of Boston;
George W. Childs. Wayne MacVeigh and
ex-Postmaster Field of Philadelphia; Chas.
w. Eliot. president of Harvard College;
X. W. Glider, Carl Schurz and ex-Mayor
Abram s. Hewitt of New York; Mayor
elect Charles A. Schieren and William J..
Gaynor, who led the fight against Nc
Laughlin in Brooklyn; Marshall Field Of
Chicago, Civil Service Commissioner Theo-
dore Roosevelt of Washington, Charles j.
Bonaparte of Baltimore and Charles X.
Goldman are among the indorsers.
The Purpose of the Conference.
The following is a copy of the circular
letter that was sent out by the committee
of arrangements, in which the purpose of
the conference is clearly set forth:
THE Municipal League of Philadelphia,
with the cooperation of the City Club of
New York, has decided to issue call for
a national conference for good city govern
ment, to be held in Philadelphia on the
25th and 26th days of January, 1894.
THE principal objects of the conference
will be to determine, so far as is possible
by inquiry and debate, the best means for
stimulating and increasing the rapidly
growing demand for honest and intelligent
government in American cities, and to dis
cuss the best methods for combining and
organizing the friends of reform so that
their united strength may be made eff
fective.
THE program for the papers and discus
sion, as at present outlined. subject to pos
sible changes. is as follows:
"First-A brief summary of existing con-
ditions in different cities and description
of municipal governments and municipal
officials as they ought to be.
"Second-Methods for obtaining better
government without reSorting to the nomi-
nation or support Of independent candi-
dates.
'.Third-Methods that involve the nomi-
nation or support of independent candi-
dates
Further details will be mailed hereafter
to those proposing to attend.
The Invitation.
.'You are respectfully invited to be pres
ent at the meetings and to take part in
the discussions. 1t is believed that by at
tending this conference those who realize
the vast importance of the problems to be
discussed will accomplish much in arousing
public interest. in raising the popular stand
ards of political morality, and in securing
for the advocates of municipal reform that
feeling of brotherhood and cooperation and
that unity of action and methods which will
multiply their strength and enthusiasm and
inspire the people with the hope and conf
dence essential to final success.
IF you are an officer OF any association
of voters which has for one of its objects
the improvement of municipal government
or the proper management of city affairs.
once do whatever may be necessary to ex-
tend this invitation to such organization,
and procure the appointment of delegates
to attend the conference. 1t is our desire
to have copies of this letter sent to the
secretaries of all associations of kindred
character in the United States. but there
may be many whose addresses are unknown
to US. and We SHALL therefore, be very glad
to receive any that you can furnish.
An early response is specially requested.
as our time for preparation Is brief. Let
ters may be directed to the corresponding
secretary of the league. Clinton Rogers
Woodruff, 514 Walnut street. Philadelphia.
Pa. Very respectfully, Charles Richardson.
Stuart Wood, George Burnham, jr.. S. ID.
Mcconnell, Edmund j. James. William L.
Nichols, Francis b. Reeves, w. M. Salter,
Herbert Welsh, Clinton Rogers Woodruff.
Thomas Martindale George Gluyas Mercer,
Joseph G. Rosengarten, r. Francis Wood.
committee of ARRANGEMENTS Edmond Kelly,
John Harsen Rhoades, X. Fulton Cutting,
committee of City Club of New York
Eminent Men IndOrse the Movement.
1--WE desire to express our cordial appro-
val of the call issued by the Municipal
League of Philadelphia for a national con-
ference for good city government, to - .leld
in Philadelphia on the 18th and 2G, lays of
January, 1894 Approaching the vital i'm
portance, well the difficult nature, of
the problems to be discussed, we sincerely
hope that those who have given particular
attention to such subjects will make special
efforts to attend the conference"
James G.. Carter, president of the City Club
of New York; Edmond Kelly. secretary of
the City Club of New York; Charles Fran
els Adams, Boston; Theodore Roosevelt,
Washington, u. c.; Richard H. Dana, Bos-
ton; Charles j. Bonaparte, Baltimore, Md
Henry C. Lea, Philadelphia; Charles A.
Schieren, Brooklyn; Charles Eliot Norton,
Cambridge, Mass; George w. Childs, Phia-
delphia; Gamaliel Bradford, Boston; Moor
field Storey, Boston; Matthew Hale, Albany,
n. Y; l.. Clarke Davis, Philadelphia; r.
Fulton Cutting, New York; Horace White
New York; William G. Low, Brooklyn; Ed
ward NJ. Shepard, Brooklyn; John Field,
Philadelphia Frederick Law Olmstead
Brookline, Mass; Philip C.N Garrett, Phila-
delphia; r. w. Glider, New York. Carl
Schurz, New York; Charles w. Eliot, Cam
bridge. Mass; Abram s. Hewitt, New York
Lyman J. Gage, Chicago; Wayne MacVeagh
Philadelphia Washington GLADDEN., Column
bus Ohio: Daniel c. Gilman, Baltimore Nd {;
Lyman Abbott. New York; Richard T. Ely,
Madison, Wis; Alexander Brown, Phila-
delphia; Francis A. Walker, Boston; Ed
ward f. Hale, Boston; John Il. Proctor
Washington, ID. c.; Edwin l.. Godkin, New
York; Wendell p. Garrison, New York :;
William Potts. New York; w. Harris ROome
New York; Herbert b. Adams, Johns Hop
kins University; Samuel b. Capen, Boston:
Isaac Sharpless. Haverford College, Pa.
Ansley Wilcox Buffalo, n. y: Finley Acker
Philadelphia; Edward Carey, Brooklyn; John
Il. Garrett, Philadelphia; Joel T. Baily
Philadelphia; j. Andrews Harris, Philadel-
phia; Joseph krauskopf, Philadelphia; Ed