The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-28
MUNICIPAL REFORM

Municipal reform, if it is to have per-
manent value, must begin by dislodg'
ing the politicians, routing them horse
foot and dragon" The places that know
him shall know him no more. The COM
munity are tired of seeing host of men
seeking office before every election. Let
us try how it would be if the Office
sought the man. A politician is an
ignorant man that seeks Office for the
SAKE of the salary-or the stealirgs. A
heinous offense thar we lay at his door
is that able and reputable men shrink
from accepting office. Why do they?
There are some branches OF city govern
ment that would be notably improved by
the assistance of women. Will anyone
argue that q man is better fitted to super
Intend the eduaction of chiidien than q
woman? Is not the mother the natural
educator uf child? Are we.getting suit
able returns for the great sums OF money
that are spent on our schools?
woman's ministry to the depraved is
better because she is SYMPATHETIC, and
still more important. it is individual.
Men pass laws and turn their attention
to their business, fondly hoping, perhaps
believing, that everything Will go well !;
they have done their best, but their best
is not good enough for the com munty.
What is nee ded is q LOWING care accord
ing to the needs of the individual, going
down to their level to rescue them.
Good city government is good mouse
keep ping on wider scale. If she knows
thoroughly how to k.ep her huuse
clean and wholesome-not all women do
know-sne will know how to keep the
city clea.. The Woman's Health Pro-
tective association in Philadelphia has
made marvellous change in that city.
Not only in the best streets is the i'm
81, ft,t ha ell md
alleys. They work in cooperation with
the board OF health and are wholesome
restraint to the Ignorance and defiance
of law shown by the average contractor.
In New York City the woman have a
wider field. including the sanitary condi.
tion of street cars. the hygiene OF school
houses, tenment houses, stores, slaughter
| houses, the dispoal of stable refuse, the
GARBAGE prohl EN-, etc.
To the women and children who are so
miserable as to be dependent on the pu D.
lie purse for daily sustenance and medi-
cal care-tne inmates OF the county hos
pital-sureiy it needs no argument. it is
demanded by common sense that women
should share in the direction Of the in
stitutlon.
In the eastern cities the politician is
being relegated to his native obscurity.
slowly, very slowly bat perceptibly he ia
beng laid aside. In Boston of twenty
four school directors. 1OuF are WON gu.
In Philadelphia with school BOARD OF
thirtv-seven, two are women. Another
step is the appointment OF police mat
rons. New lork has ten, Philadelphia
fourteen.
1t is claimed that woman is governed
too much BY her emotion and cannot
Judge of a matter disrassionately. She
can Learn how. And she will learn more
quickly than you can fl. the politician
for an Office for which he has no natu raj
fitness. Not only by crushing out her
emotional nature but by developing more
fully her reasoning powers, her tact and
a nigh ideal of uprightnrss. She must
study the civil service law and find out
whether 1T is enforced; learn of the pub
lie school system by questioning the men
she knc VS. and the actual condition OF the
schools by personal visits. She must
learn how contracts are awarded and
whether thew are fulfilled.
A prominent schnol director in another
city-a woman-says: 1t is OF no use to
expect her to seek this place, which she
is inently fitted to ii !, through the
contests Of the primaries, and the bust
ling of political parties, nor even as the
political favor of dispenser of patronage.
Make it an office which politics cannot
touch and she will serve you with ready
faithfulDess'