The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-12-07

contract oDl1gatlOn5 and the redress
of numerous annoying inconven-
fences. They have served at the best
to palliate certain of the symptoms
of bad government, but the evil cank-
er of partisanship and the spoils sys-
tenn remain untouched. Their work
is carried on mainly by their attor-
neys or by paid agents, whose duties
involve scrutiny of public work and
official methods, and through COM
mittees in charge of special lines Of
inquiry.
The title I" Good Government
Clubs" was happily chosen by the
active men of the New York City club,
through whose efforts and energy the
present network of clubs in New
York City has been brought into ex
istence. The fundamental idea of
the New York plan is the provision
for the social intercourse of those in
terested in reform, potent factor in
the creation of that esprit du corps SO
necessary to successful effort. Clubs
of similar names have been formed
all over the country, but all are not
organized on the same plan. The
New York clubs set forth as their
cardinal principle that there must be
a separation of municipal affairs from
State and national politics. These
clubs did admirable work during the
anti iTammany campaign of 1894, and
it was due to their efficient manning
of the polls on Election Day that the
vote was so clean, honest and free
from dispute. Every Assembly Dis
trict has it's club, with clubhouse or
headquarters, and each club sends
delegates to a council, known as the
"Confederated Council of Good Gov.
ernment Clubs to take action upon
all matters that lie within the legiti-
mate activity of the clubs and to call
a convention to nominate or indorse
candidates when such a course of
action is necessary" Systems of
Good Government Clubs have been
organized in Buffalo and Niagara
Falls, N. Y, and movements having
for their object practically the same
end have been initiated in Brooklyn,
Baltimore, Columbus, Ohio, and
Jersey City, N. j.
Civic Federations have recently
been organized in Cleveland, Ohio;
Detroit, Mich; Galesburg, Ill; Ash
land, Wis; and La Crosse, Wis;
which represents the adaptation of
the Chicago plan to local needs and
conditions. The best illustration of
the general municipal reform organi-
zation is to be found in the Baltimore
Reform League. It's purposes are
typical of all other bodies of this
class, and are described to be "to Sc
cure fair elections, promote honest
and efficient government and to ex-
pose and bring to punishment official
misconduct. 1t will adopt all legiti-
mate and honorable means to effect
these ends. Such associations are
usually formed to remedy any evil
which may for the time attract speci-
al public attention.
Most of the organizations have COM
bined educational methods with po-
litical and agitatory. There is, how
ever, class of associations with pur-
pose almost exclusively educational,
as, for instance, the Civic Club of
Philadelphia, which has for its object
the promotion of higher public
spirit and better social order, by
education and active cooperation.
This it does by careful study of and
reports on the city's departments,
problems and needs, and through
freq uent publications and public
meetings. This club is composed
entirely of women, as is the Civic
League, of New York City, the
Civitas Club of Brooklyn, the Good
Government Club of Pueblo, Col,
and the Civic Club of Buffalo. The
Civic Clubs of St. Paul, Mimi, and
Beloit, Wis, and the City Vigilance
Leagues of New York City are, on
the other hand, composed of men, al
though organized for the same ends.
A growing class is composed of
the Christian or Good Citizenship
Leagues and Unions, largely the out
growth of Christian Endeavor activi-
ty. During the past few years the
various young peoples religious So
cieties, through their Good Citizen
ship Committees, have been studying
this question. In Newark, N. j., the
result of this work has been the for
nation of the Christian Citizenship
Union.
Unions in Camden, n. j., Blooming