The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-05-09

be one of the most important eras in the
 history of our country. Broadly stated, | the problem to be determined Is, whether a free people are capable of good self-governmen in our cities. | The new civic movement accepts the task In the firm faith that the best
 results in municipal government can by persistent effort be wrought out on
 American soil. But these results can not be won without organized vigilance and combined effort on the part of a large number of citizens who shall
 be willing to give personal attention
 to municipal affairs; and to work to-
 gether to free our cities from neglect
 misrule, and the demoralization of par tisan patronage and plundet.
 "The time seems to be opportune for
 the organization of a Good Government club in order to secure combined, per- sistent. and confident action for those objects and Ideas which in our cities
 the growing civic reformation Is push ing to the front
 The support which the local Law and Order league has received, and the
 measure of success which has followed
 it's work in exposing existing conditions
 and needs to public view, justify us
 in seeking to enlarge and broaden our
 work. Indeed no one can lay hold
 vigorously of any specific form of evil
 or la.w1essness In a city, without find ing himself confronted, sooner or later,
 with the whole problem of good local
 government. The more limited and
 specific work, which it has been the
 aim of the Law and order league to
 perform, can be continued. and with
 even better hope of reasonable results,
 as branch of the activity of a Good
 Government club. Tn the plan of reor-
 ganization this work of securing the
 fair enforcement of reasonable law is committed to a. special committee to be appointed for that purpose. Other committees are contemplated to whom other important phases of the munich pad. problem shall be referred. One general organization. embracing these various branches of the work of local good government, 1t is thought will be more effective than several organiza- tions for these different but related purposes might be. It is believed that many citizens who are interested, some fin one, others in another phase of these local qustions, will be glad to unite with, and to support, an organization of this general civic purpose and char acter
 "The constitution, which has been framed after a comparison of many similar plans for the organization of municipal leagues, explains the objects of the association. It is hoped that through such association and discus sion, for which the proposed constitu- tion provides, intelligent citizens may be prepared to meet with intelligent leadership, as we'll as with some prae- tical efficiency, the varying problems which are sure to arise in the better development of our municipal life, So far as the work of such a Good Gov ernment club may bring it into contact with local politics, 1t Is evident that the name of the club should not be used for the political benefit of any of it's members; but in securing non-partisan action, where the interests of the city and business administration of this corporation require 1t, the club may have a wholesome and at times decisive Influence; and within both parties 1t may help to secure higher standards of public trust and the nomi- nation of responsible men as candi- dates for office. It may also serve to persuade some of our first citizens that a large man Is sometimes needed by his city in small office Our best known and most successful men ought | to be found upon all our boards of commissioners.
 "As this plan for civic organiza- tion has not developed out of the air, but has grown from root which has been struck down into the ex- lsting conditions of our municipal life, and as 1t Is the natural and logical development of good work already done, think we may engage in 1t with an conviction that whatever | Is necessary to be done to make things | right in New Haven, can be accom- | plished, and that ten years, more or | less, of persistent effort in req asonable directions will ensure ultimate re- | sults."