New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-27
pETTER CITY GOVERNMENT.
.,opr VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS AT. THE
MUNICIPAL. LEAGUE CONFERENCE.


o,t was attended by a representative assemp.asc
hcb numbered several hundred
rs {, Carter Of New-Ycrk. the chairman OF
~ conference called the gathering to order AT
MA a m and introduced the Rev Dr. "ash'hs
~, cadden Of Columbus. Ohio, who read an ao-
soss entitled "Thc Influence Upon Oinc!ais !"
Office" c,oddo, s,,a.
7, tho course Of his remarks DR.. Gladdeh sau'
on many OF our municpa! governments unpus'v'
an. oothods of administration have crept M iiiicN
,a,,ons with contractors and p,underers OF all
,r.s have been formed: q thousand suo'erra"eah
o,snncs into the treasury have been ulsco'e'eu'
the guardians of the peace are seen 10 De OH 'he
hs., terms with several classes OF prosperous law
s,sakers: many officials are using the patronage OF
80. oecos with small regard for the interests or
AZ c,,v but with constant reference 10 their own
or,ical fortunes. There are honest men IN the
o,e-nnncnt but they find II difficult to resist the
r.nac,ous and anarchicai tendencies. When any
,cb s.o,e Of things exists. it is difficult Tor IN
6,,ysuals 70 bring any effective saving influence 70
go mon the city government. The task Is one
49,. reou~,s the united and sustained effort Of
many good men.
..ro met conditions OF this sort some kind OF mu-
,,cnal LEAGUE is necessary. 1t should represent all
classes Of honest ard Industrious people The work
Of such a league is simply that OF investigation
nnllicaton education. Its main business Is 10 find
on, the facts concerning the work of the public
servants and bring these facts 10 the ight OF Day
such an organization should assume a sympathetic
rather than hostile attitude toward the occupants
Of the Offices Every official must be supposed 10
h. innocent until he is proved to be guilty. The In
yest!gators should be just ready TO praise that
which Is excellent as TO censure that which Is
unworthy The purpose OF such league Is simply
70 act as a generator and dissemination or sound
pubic opinion. An Intelligent. continuous, persistent
discussion and agitation. by intelligent. unbiased
honorable men. Of the problems and methods OF
". iS 10
Or Gladden's remarks were literally appauded.
and when he had finished. Charles Richardson. Of
PHILADELPHIA offered the following resolution which
was adopted unanimously:
Whereas, The elements brought together in this
conference should not be allowed to separate with
ont proyding some permanent agency for continu-
ing its work and promoting the comparison OF
views the exchange OF experiences, the discussion
Of methods and that mutual confidence and SYM
nathy which add so much to the strength and en-
,bpslasn Of fe!low-worxers in a great cause 1t is
therefore
"Resolved That the president Of this confer
once is requested to appoint q representative COM
,n!ttee OF to prepare plan for the organza-
ton Of National Municipal League which shall
be composed Of associations formed in American
cities and having object the Improvement Of
municipal government. Upon the completion Of the
plan and its approval by such associations. or as
MANY Of them as the said committee may deem
necessary the committees shall declare the pro-
posed league to be fully organized and prepared TO
enter upon its work.
Horace E. Deming. Of New-York, then presented
the following which was also adopted:
Resolved That II is the sense Of this conference
tha. the committee, when appointed by the chair
man. should provide for a similar conference IN
New-York in order to bring influence to bear
upon the approaching Constitutional Convention In
that State"
Edwin d. Mead. Of Boston, followed in an address
mon "The Promotion of Municipal Reform by
Education" Mr. Mead said the whole world had
come TO see that knowledge is power. and that
power. which to-day is the people, must nave
knowledge only move TO seif-destrucuoh.
The alternative set for the modern world ne said'
was culture anarchy. and he expressed the be-
lie. that II we could not have one we must have
the other especially in a demo cracy. as under that
form Of government. when blind lead blind both
must fall into the pit.
IF" commented Mr.. Mead. "a democracy cannot
be kept pure and cannot be kept intelligent, then
it cannot exist" The speaker thought that' eX-
cent in Industrial reform there no province
where American people need education more thah
in the province OF municipal government ana ne
asserted that the problem Of the American city was
the problem of American policies
Il rejoice" he said 'to signs everywhere 'hat
we are entering upon era of genuine culture
and education, an Of revived patriotism ana
thoughtfulness" Mr.. Mead spoke highly OF mu-
nicipa leagues and characterized their WORK as
OF education Of the people In municipai pon".'
Henry " Waite of New-York. president OF the
American Institute Of Civcs. made an extempora-
neous speech upon What Constitutes Go9d Niiy
Citizenship" after which the Rev. Dr. j. H. 1cI o..
morning on The Relation of the Church to Munich
pal Reform" The speaker closed az 1oHo% , am
city The travail and labor and mystery OF human i9
NE all done. the gates Of glorious siy ' t wy
geher in one the funded riches and possibilities 81
thac pfri hat ig he
of the things which God has PREPARED TOT r rny
n fs redemption of the city Is the goal OF ''' ''
William G. Low, Of Brooklyn. objected to to, the ne
resolution offered bv Mr. Deming and adopted by
the conference that the committee 70 be appo1s
Of preparing plan for the organization Of
National Municipal League provide for similar s,anas
conference in New DIRK in order TO brng nnu enc
to bear upon the approachng constitutional con- ,Sn,
ven;on in that State Mr.. Low contended s shas
OF NETWORKS citizens for representatives OF oner
commonwealths to influence nem upon me oonss as
tutiona Convention question. lac resolution was
reconsdered, and after 1t had several times oeeh
wTi Sa adqR R the
mIt,ee to consider the advlsability OF calling fu-
When the conference reassembled at o'c lock-
memory his paper How to Bring Public SENT sent,
Bear Upon the Choice q GG 0son P eo
mended the Australian ballot system. and further
declared that occasional independent nomina,Dms
care" The speaker said that It was most IN
natural 70 choose between Mr. Crokers ana MT NJ;
platt's nominees "fOr" he continued, Il 90 not
wish to vote for either POntus PLATE or Bara9
has" lie feared that a decree dlvorcing muhlcI-
psl Marty from National politics would be re,
versed in the court Of last appeal ana
human nature" While the theory or the primary
is perfect he said the practices were nos; ,,s,,ne
the abuse and preserving the use Of the primary
gys,em--the New-Jersey plan and the New, 9rN
ban both Of which agree In the fundamental idea
Of putting the primaries under the protec'2n ,b Oa
the Australian ballot They differ however IN 'he
methods OF carrying out this idee .,..ao. thu
Nemyry Mar the majority Of each party would
mar control ss,Ss hese are tse
its Candidates, make Us Inacnin n 20 reacb thom
Of sos'2R ~n iS H srns Pubic
Sso,,ner, - Pa I-non the Choice OF Good Pub
Y ocasD Means Of paS sslec and i by Means
Of the Occasional Nomination Of indspenaen, C aen
dates" was read BY the Rev. FREDERICK b' -'i'e''
OF Boston. ~,.s ao,iyered nv
The last address Of the session was Gcv per aug