The record-union., 1895-05-11
THE NATIONAL MUNICIPAL
LEAGUE.
THE

THE NATIONAL MUNICIPAL
LEAGUE.
There is to be convened at Cleveland,
o., on the last three days of this month
the first annual meeting Of the National
Municipal League, in conjunction with
the third annual conference for Good City
Government
The occasion and the societies moving
for it are not of small Importance. We
understand the purpose to be such public
discussion and agitation as will con-
tribute to the giving of the nation better
city government and better citizenship.
Surely these objects are not utopian or
cranky. Certainly they have in view the
good of all and tine wronging of none.
When we reflect that the greatest of all
our debts is municipal, the heaviest of
worst of all our politics municipal. and
the origin and stimulation of seven
tenths of all crime is in and out of
municipalities, the effort of any body of
good citizens to minimize these evils is
worthy of commendation.
The men who are leading these leagues
and conferences are not the great politi-
clans, the foremost statesmen nor the
most conspicuous of publicists, but they
IL.
their activity the less worthy of at.en-.
ton by the people. They are men
pr ointment in their communities, many
Of them are OF national reputation, many
of them are of the best thinking and
most patriotic and loyal sentiment of the
day.
Let US see, then, about what these men
are to concern themselves at the close of
May, for from the subjects to be debated
and upon which views and experiences
are to be exchanged, we may be able to
gather something of the possibility of
their movement.
Primarily, then, the promotion of good
citizenship and of good municipal gov
ernment is to be the topic. Related to
each of these will be discussion upon and
statement of the municipal condition of
Chattanooga, introduced by a paper by
its Mayor. George w. Ochs; of the mu-
nicipal condition of Indianapolis, with a
paper by L. B. Swift of that city; of New
Orleans, with a paper by w. B. Spencer;
of Louisville, by f. N. Hartwell, and so
on in this order of papers for debate: Of
Cincinnati by c. B. Wilby; of Columbus
by D. E. Williams; of Jersey City by
Dr. Quimb by; of Pittsburg by Mayor w.
NJ. Kennedy; of Allegheny; of Seattle by
Z. o. Graves; of Buffalo by f. M. Loomis;
of Omaha by Rev. G. j. Rowell; of AL
bany by Melvil Dewey, Secretary of the
University of New York; of Portland,
Oregon, by Thomas n. Strong: of San
Francisco by l. T. Milliken: of Detroit
by Rev. d. d. MacLaurin; of Washing
ton by F. L. Siddons, and of Denver by
Plat Rogers.
Then there are to be papers for debate by
Rev. Washington GLADDEN. on "Civic Re-
ligion," on "City Government From the
Physicians Standpoint" by Deputy
United States Surgeon General Billings;
on "Civic Federation" by Professor A.
w. Small of the Chicago University; on
Parties," by Charles Richardson; on
"Law Enforcement Societies." by George
Z. Elliott and so on.
If it be conceded that these Mayors, ed
ucators, clergymen, Presidents and Sec
retaries of good city government clubs,
municipal leagues, law enforcement So
cieties, civic leagues and universities are
one-half radicals, are one-half extremists
and verge upon mpracticability in their
which they are giving momentum can
not be ignored, nor will any impartial
mind deny that there is broad field and
ripe harvest open to them.
1t cannot be that such convocations
shall be devoid of good. No such discus
sions aud exchange of experiences can
fail wholly of benefcent results. For the
municipal problem to-day really under
lies the national question; it is at the
tap-root of American civilization and
systems; it is the heart, the blood pump
of the social and political organization.
Achieve great reforms by wise and tenn
ment, and the effect upon social and ma
tional life will be direct and benefcent
in all parts Of the land.
We cannot, therefore, look upon the