The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-11-22
Is WINNING ITS WAY.
George d. Hale Has Some Valuable
Ideas
ON CIVIC FEDERATION MOVEMENT.

some Pertinent Thoughts That AR
" ell Worth EZewain@

some Pertinent Thoughts That Are
" ell Worth Isenain@
George D. Hale is strongly in favor of
the organization Of the proposed Civic
Federation in Topeka In talking about
the organization to a JOURNAL reporter
he said:
81 understand Civic Federation to be
an agreement or united opinion of the
citizens of a place for its good govern
ment, and as there j. always a diversity
Of opinion among the citizens, both in
politics and religion. it presupp0ses the
Ignoring of such differences and Of unit
ing upon a purely business basis. This
is no experiment nor any new thing. 1t
has been successfully tried IN other states
and ID other countries Much attention
has been given to the maladministration
Of cities in the last few years, as the
evils of it became SO notorious, and in
which our American cities seem to have
an unenviable prominence.
AT the national conference for Good
City Government held at Philadel phia.
Jan. p and 20, 1894 practically all the
eastern cities were represented and it
reached as far west as to include Kansas
City, Mo. Their proceedings were
deemed Of sufficient importance to be
published in a book of 1856 pages which
can be found in the library of our State
Historical society. There seemed but
one opinion in all the literature we have
na4 upon the GuDJ6CL LndL pOllClcc Is the
Dane of good city government and its
elimination from our municipal elections
is absolutely necessary in order that our
city's affairs may be managed for
the good of its citizens and
not for the benefit of city
officials and their henchmen. One of
the speakers at the conference says: The
doctrine that a municipal corporation is
but a subordinate branch Of the general
governmental power or the state is az
false in principle as it is detrimental to
progress in its operation"
do you think the Civic Federation
movement viii be permanent IN its char
acterG"
s.The movement for Civic Federation
is deep seated, and it is spreading as did
the Australian ballot system. We may
move slowly in Topeka, for we have SUI
fered so far but little from mis- govern
ment and our b0odlers have been few
and petty scamps; and our present city
government is a respectable one, better
than some we have had, and better than
some we are likely to have in the future.
Our annual tax in this city, general aud
special, exceeds $34O O0O The magni-
tude Of that sum gives Us a relative idea
Of the importance of our city's business,
and the necessity Of its being managed
by clean, capable men rather than by
ward politicians, Is too apparent for com
ment
another hindrance to good municipal
governme mt, perhaps next in order to pol
tics is tile Indifference Of so called good
citizens. really bad citizens though. per
haps estimable in other relations of life.
They do not seem to appreciate that
there are civic duties as we'll as civic
rights We may IN time adopt the rule
IN force in Berlin of compulsory accept
ance Of affice by these neglectful citi-
zens under penalty Of disfranc hisement
and addition to their tax assessment.
Claw is a restriction of freedom A
country may be too free when its citizens
are permitted to neglect their duties TO
the community in which they live"
Edward P. Elliott is an artistic imper-
senator. In his burlesque characterize
tion his work was on par with any Of
Sol Smith RusselTs. Cincinnati En-
quirer. At Washburn college Friday
evening.
Prescott 6 Co. have removed to No
rs West Eighth street
IF you want an evening Of fun, 60 and
hear Edward p. Elliott in his imperson-
ations. Friday evening as Washburn col
lege chapel
$50 calls up the Peerless
Good work done by the Peerless