The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-04
For Better City Government.

For Better City Government.
Beginning tomorrow the city of
Louisville, KY, will have the honor to
notable conventions of eminent and
public. spirited men recently assembled
in this country. We allude, of course,
to the third annual conference of the
National Municipal league. an organi-
zation which numbers in its member
ship the most efficient of those Amerl-
can citizens of our time who are earn
estly addressing themselves to the task
of reclaiming and improving the gov
ernment of our cities. Begun at Phila-
delphia in January, 1895. this league
has already done much to focus public
attention upon notorious abuses in eX-
listing municipal conditions; and a
survey of the programme which has
been prepared for the Louisville con-
ference gives assurance that great good
will yet result from its discussions and
determinations.
In addition to the annual address of
the president of the league, James G.
Carter, the programme calls for the
following subjects and speakers-a
range sufficiently ample to offer large
possibilities of instruction:
"The Greater New York Charter"
Francis NJ. Scott; Municipal Reform Dur
ing the Past Year." Clinton Rogers Wood.
ruff, secretary National Municipal league;
THE Results of a Victory for Reform
Charles j. Bonaparte, Baltimore "Muni-
cipal Condition of New Haven, Conn
George l.. Fox; Municipal Reforms in
Rochester, n. "" Joseph II. Allng,
president Rochester Good Government
| club; Municipal Condition of Kansas
City" the Rev. DIR. Henry Hopkins;
Municipal Condition of Charleston, ;.
c." John r. Kicken, eX-Mayor of Charles
ton; Municipal Affairs in San Francisco"
j. Richard Freud, secretary Merchants
association; Municipal Affairs in New
Orleans" Charles Janvier, president Citi-
zens' lcagua; Municipal Condition Of
Providence, r. L." Edwin D. McGuinness,
mayor of Providence; Home Rule in
American Cities" DR.. Edr1und j. James,
University of Chicago; 'rhe Powers of
Municipal Corporation Professor
Frank j. Goodnow, Columbia university,
| THE Exclusion of Partisan Politics from
Municipal Affairs-The Democratic Euro
pean Method Frank NJ Loomi5, Buffalo,
n. Y; THE Relation of Municipal Activ-
iy to the StaEGard of Life of a Communi-
ty,' Professor Leo 5. Rowe, University OF
Pennsylvania; 1.-The Wage-Earner in Poll
tics" George Chance. president Labor
League of Pennsylvania, THE Business
Man ir Municipa. Politics." Franklin Mac
Neagh. Chicago Commercial Organiza-
tions AMI Municipal Reform" Rycrson
Ritchie. secretary Cleveland Chamber Of
Commerce; address by Charles A. Schicr-
en-, eX-mayor of BROOKLYN: address by
Horace f. Deming, New York; THE Leg
islature in State and City, i797-lS97," Will
lam B. Hornblower, New York.
The paramount aim of the League,
as explained by the chairman of its
executive committee, Charles j. Bona
parte, of Baltimore, is not to effect
changes of municipal administrations
but to change the whole tone Of public
| opinion; to make misgovernment and
abuse of power appear in it's real light
and hold up to contempt the people
| who encourage the perpetuation of
the bad system. 1T is as true now"
says Mr. Bonaparte, "as it was when
Burke said it, that there was never
long a corrupt government of virtu-
| GUS people, Sooner or later every
community obtains as good a govern
ment as it deserves" Changes in ad-
ministration occur as incidents of the
| Leagues work. but they occur simply
| because they are needed in order that
cities may have better government.
There was a time, not many years
ago, when gatherings like this one
We're sneered at, That time has passed.
1t still Is true that chronic intriguers
and malcontents often steal the livery
Of municipal reform to vent personal
spite or crafty a morbid craving for
notoriety. But the movement for bet
ter city rule has broadened far beyond
the control or power of such men to do
it permanent injury. Today much of
the best brain and conscience of the
land is at work to lift up municipal
standards. and purify municipal re-
suits. Progress is slow and there are
numerous discouragements; neverthe-
less, it is a labor of patriotism certain
OF ultimate reward, and meanwhile
worthy 70 be held in honest respect.