The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-28

Lectures with Object Lessons In the
shape of StereOpticOn Views.

New York Letter in Chicago Post.
The most novel feature of the New York
mayoralty campaign is the organization of
a lecture bureau by the Citizens Union. 1t
is a new thing and, although hardly under
way, has made q wonderful hit. The union
is overrunning the town with lecturers who
discourse on matters pertaining 10 the man
agement of municipal affairs, illustrating
their theme with stereopticon views The
several departments of the city government
are taken up one after the other, and strfk-
irg comparisons and contrasts between the
present (Strong) administration and Tam
many administrations are thrown upon the
canvas and explained. Little studies in fig
ures are presented showing the infinite SUI
periority of the existing government over
the Gilroy and Hugh ]. Grant regimes.
when Tammeny reigned and Tammany
methods prevailed
Pictures are produced of dirty streets,
filthy hospitals, miserable accommodations
for the poor infirm and helpless of the
great city three or four years ago, and then
conditions as they now exist are set forth
in pictorial reproduction. Under Tammany
the money appropriated for the betterment
of streets, the building of hospitals and
pooI'houses and the enforcement of sani-
tary regulations was sQuandered for the
enrichment of heelerS and strikers. For
two years and a half 1T has been spent
honestly. and a marvellous change has taken
place. New York is cleaner to-day than it
has been in fifty years, and the health of
the people is better In the oVercrowded
and previously filthy tenement and lodging
house districts a metamorphosis has Oc-
tricts been cut down more than half In
densely populated quarters parks have been
opened and breathing places given the pant
ing mYriadS of women and children. Whole
sale robbery in the collection and dstribu-
ton of the city's revenues has been practi-
cally stopped and corruption. in hundreds
of places stamped out Police blackmail
has been reduced to a minimum, and the
city is in the enjoyment of a morally and
physically clean government, the first ii
has had in the memory of man.
these things bv
means of sharp, catchy phrases, tables and
pictures, and the lessons taught are start
ling 1t is campaign of education such
as New Workers have never witnessed. The
mystery of municipal government and mis-
government is. cleared up and the simplest
mind is given clear insight into the ways
the business is conducted.
These illustrated lectures are given in
halls, churches, saloons, schoolhouses and
wherever the people ask for them. They
are given to the rich and respectable" and
to the humble workingman. The latter ele-
ment is taking sharper interest in the
pictures tha1 any other class. They are
vitality concerned in the improvement of
their own living quarters and The purifica-
ton of the city, and they like to be shown
the progress that IS making in that direc-
ton. All classes, however are waking IN
to the necessity of increasing their store of
information about the affairs of their own
community. and as the campaign grows
older the value of the illustrated lecture
will make a deeper impression on the popu-
lar sense.
The introduction of the stereopticon as
an adjunct to campaign oratory is a de-
VelOpment of the use of the instrument in
Sunday-school and patriotic lectures, and II
was worked up largely by Arthur W. Mil
bury, through whose persuasions it was
adopted by the Citizens Union. Mibury is
a steam-engine sort of man, of boundless
energy-tireless and inventive TO a wonder
full degree. The fame of the new appica-
ton of the pictorial and illustrative fea-
rure TO campaign work has interested
leading men in other cities. Mayor Quincy,
of Boston is about to take il up. and in
quiries from Chicago indicate interest
there.
when New York gets far enough away