The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-30
THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE.
Opening of the National Conference at
Cleveland.

Cleveland. May 29.--Although a few of
the famous Americans who are on the
programme OF the first great conference
OF the National Municipal League have
not yet appeared. the meeting began to-
day with good attendance and pros
poets for profitable Interchange OF
ideas. The meeting room of the Chamber
OF Commerce was well filled with dele
gates and prominent citizens of Cleveland
at o'clock. when the convention bel gan.
J. w. G.. Cowies welcomed the league on
behalf OF the city. and a letter OF vel
come was read from Mayor McKissen.
who Is not in the city. Hon. James W.
Carter. OF New York. president Of the
league. made a brief response. He was
followed by Clinton Woodruff. of Phila-
delphia, who read paper on "A Years
Work for Municipal Reform" Mr.. Wood
ruff began by referring to the rapid prog
ress of municipal reform. the unparall-
eled civic awakening and truly extraordi-
nary development of interest In munich
pal affairs during the past fifteen months.
and the encouragement the movement has
received. After discussing the success Of
the movement II many cities, he con-
tlnued:
mo account OF municipal reform prog
ress would be complete without a refer
ence TO the increasing activity and CO.
operation OF women. They are rapidly
coming to the front, both IN their own or
CARNATIONS. like the health protective as
sociations or women's clubs. and in organi-
cations like the Civic Federation of Chi
cago. composed OF men and women. We
find them contributing largely 10 the
study of the complex problems OF the
cities. There are few communities In
which women have the right of municipal
suffrage. hence their activity Is OF neees-
sity limited TO educational and agitatory
nd he a at
municipal housekeeping. Wherever their
efforts have been properly and persistent
ly directed I'm these channels substantial
results have been accomplished. for I'm
these directions women have exceptional
capacity to Judge.
Pack OF all the diversity OF forms we
see a steady. rcsolute determination 10 re-
move the stigma that is resting upon
American municipalities. II is the spirit
OF i77s and 1850 manifesting itself in new
way Some OF the efforts are crude some
destined TO failure. all TO temporary de-
feats but as surely as our Independence
was and the Union Is preserved. just so
surely will the evils OF municipal msgov-
eminent he eventually conquered anu
American cities placed where they should
be. in the very front rank Of we'll governed
cities
What the coming year may hsve in
store for the movement cannot be fore
told, but OF one thing we are assured
thu whole question, has come 10 he dis
cuSsed as never before. and its import
ance has been brought home 20 n large
number OF those who value their pollti-
cal heritage. and those interested in their
country's highest development Some
thing more than this. however. is neCes-
sary-a deep seated determination to sac
rince everything IL need be rather than
permit the deadly earned liberties and re-
putation transmitted 20 us to be sub
merged by selfish incompetencv and fr,-
efficiency. The present situation may not
lie so dramatic as that a. las or Of Isso
but it ia equally as portentous 10 the
future welfare and maintenance OF our
republican states"
James ". Pryor. secretary Of the CITY
Club OF New York, made - report on the
reform efforts in the metropolis. Hon \
Butler. representing the Milwaukee
league. reported that the work In that
city was being prosecuted on a definite
plan and that IL had probably aetermin-
81 the character OF the next legislature
Charles a B0nsparte az Baltimore. re-
ported a condition OF standstIu in his
City, With a healthy boss IN power. due
he believed, 90 the fact that all % their
taxes committee were apporttOnod nv ia
partisan council Geurge Burnham. o.
Philadelphia, reported eoo3 progress
Ns he C4d corps ~ officers we're "a q
Eastern men. the uesysnizri tios7 }ssv %
the lesa8u Wsssa - charged iha- The mum
or - vice preSa dents was iTlSwDassesf =,
1--we ant the n1Nu1ssrs % th.s exe-sytl i've
'Touynyaetea NJ nine s8 order that he Wezat
tsc'Ild ese reIsVssesa5ei- Ti1s old uffcexs
vrsse rs,-eiectg'i and IN aiet.4or ssere are
she Western officers chosen as fCToasx.
For thiri N1ce president. TY,vsTxss Y.
StzVeEE. Portland, or. president OF the
Mtzahfyxs2 Lea que 81 .rNors ls nj. fog foslr;h
vice Tsresidenr. Mr. l.. r Holden. az
Cleveland. eor asa vis,s pressas.f,s. TNr
u. II. Dckson, 81 New Orleasss. OF III,
ballot VefovSn leaGSee - louisiana. exc
cg'tvs s~oznusssNs. 4. l.. Crozier. prssz,ssrt
~ The AanussaEso lsrssVi Of T-gt%e. Frank
y HArSWeG. praeistns7t x ne Coed GOV
orDnseus Css4a. 81 I~,uasv Fsle.
ssghsls' rtess-sizzg WAS held ia thss ever
is1E 81 ere Fsrvss Mezho-lEs5 ctsgrs+al Pres
tieelt Wilson M nay. - the Cleveland
CllaEnbe< q Cosn-serce, II re ctat-. NJ