The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-20

Interesting Address Before the San
Francisco Civic Federation.

San Francisco Chronicle.
Prof. David Starr Jordan delivered an ad-
Gate Hall to the members Of the Civic Fed,
Grafton. The Stanford University president
was introduced TO his audience by /. w.
subject was out of his line: that he did not
come before them as a statesman, a re-
former or orator.
states As being undignified. There was
ptuung. on the one hand In foreign af-
deal OF careiessness was shown In internal
affairs.
'sThe original intention of our government
VAS to make men. The government OF cities
IS different. and deals with questions of
business. health and strength. The govern
uent OF this city Is far below the standard
and should be raised. James Brice, whose
the State or California Is working under
~. wcrss. Constitution of any State in the
"The trouble with us Is this: We are not
very serious. Bad government or bad man.
asemen Is q sort OF a joke to US We can
work IL OF In our comic papers because II
- on as. There is a lack OF seriousness, q
lack OF pefmanence. Families live In Eng
country. and no matter how bad a thing
taste may be In certain respects. II is good
IN thisEthe selection OF people TO govern
we don't stay in cities long enough 10
oulId public opinion. which always governs.
We have isnorsnt psoPle; as other c2untsies;
80" - tttAt nv otahts lDtl a NC Adln-
cred into blocks Of five. then ten, then TWEEN
~ and so on Then we have the Indifferent
rich. IL has been seriously proposed In New
York to disenfranchise all people who do not
vote. The nonvotsrs tacitly stand for bad
government. You have the greed Of the rich
70 contend With. A great many rich men have
Interests which force them 70 favor bad gov
erarhcnt and wink at corruption.
There are Il certain number of citizens
OF good government. Good government is
quiet and sober and anything which tends
10 take men of their feet and excite the
minds leads TO bad government.
The purpose OF our government Is educa-
tien. IL Is a big training school. Those who
Tor II they 10 not the mob Will rule. Mob rule
has been the destruction OF all republics ex-
I'm ali governments there must be two no.
Efical parties. Those led by cranks or which
are the result OF sentiment cannot last. There
never will be much difference between the
two great parties OF any country. and they
see-saw. as far as getting into power Is con-
ctrned- We have to notice that the idea of
At our Congressmen. They are simply our
asepts or attorneys in Washington. The peo-
pie think for themselves and want people to
act FOR thern who think as they do
Professor Jordan compared the English and
American governments and said: IF the
Premier makes a mistake, In a day he Is out
OF power. That Is why the brightest and
most clever men are pushed TO the front.
There have been things done-by our Presi-
dtnfs-tnat would deprive a Premier OF his
p7ver IN a day. For instance. bad appoints
The speaker said he believed in universal
Suffrage. and. 10 reference 10 Anarchists.
sad they were vastly less dangerous when
permitted TO meet openly and I'm public halls
than when driven into obscure places. He
said that in the long run a government by
the people would be a better government
than had ever been devised
The interests OF a city are Ike those OF
q big corporation. and the same methods
should govern them Capitalization OF pow
er Is absolutely necessary. The Mayor Of
~AA CIR r.aut afnA1 IfkA A.,2-r
army, must be clothed with power. Tho
d<ffcuify al present Is the lack OF RESPONSE
btl'fy. An army cannot be run by a debating
socIefy."
The Professor concluded his remarks by
saving a few words In favor OF civil service
n municipal affairs. and arguing that II
was more Important IN a municipal govern
EftIf than n a national one. he also said
tie city should have better teachers.