The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-11-16

The objects Of the organizations Of city
officials In the United States are htgnv
commended by Secretary WOODRUFF. VINO
saysi "When our oity officials come 20
ssthsr for consultation and conference
CONCERNING the interests committed 10
their care then indeed We have an evil.
depcs OF an arouseu interest In municipal
affairs which 10 mcst promising. Imagine
q meeting Of city officials 10 or 10 years
ago to DISCUSS city affairs, and yet now
not only have we League Of Ameri-
can Municipalities, but there are az least
manifesting a marked degrees OF activity.
Ia Ohio, Indiana. Illinois, Michigan.
Wisconsin, Kansas, California;, Conneoti-
cut Florida and Pennsylvania We Ind
the city officials meeting In annual session
20 debnte municipal topics and IN ex-
change ideas rs TO municipal adminis'
tration. The evidence Of municipal pro
gress. however. Is not oounned to officials
In Office aud their activity. The citizens
Of the various cities throughout the
country have not teen wanting In intelii-
eence and comprehensive effort to pro-
mote municipal reform"
Secretary Woodruff refers TO the efficient
work OF the City Club and the Reform
Club 10 New York; Of the Trenton
Moyemsnt," where an eight days CAM
psian to arous re the people OF that city to
their duties IS citizens, was successfully
conducted by the League fer Social Ser
vice, of the enviAble reJord OF the Munich
pal League of Philadelphia, and Of the
results accomplished by the Baltimore
Reform League. Encouraging news Of
the progress of the good government
mcsement 10 presented from Richmond,
Va; Chattanooga, Tenn. Cleveland, y.
Detroit, Mich. Milwaukee,. Wis. Mime
apolis, Mimi. Portland, Ora (; 81. Louis,
Mo-, and other cities
WxlNUrH
"The forces making for better govern
ment In some sections are defeated In
their sarly campaigns, but they persist.
Workers come and 20. and are diverted
from their original purpose, but the
movement for good government persists.
The candidate elected on a reform ticket
may prove untrue to his pledgss, but the
reform movement persists some organ
izatiuns may dishand. and In others the
active mem bers may drop out; but the
movement persists. Critics and cynics
and spoilsnen will say, What have you
doneP The answer Is, We have persist
3D.
its affiliated orgar izations stsnd for per-
sistence Ia this matter OF securing better
city government. Men may come and
men may go, but the movement for good
city government will 60 on and persist.
When the American people are aroused
us to the Importance Of any problem, and
when they realize the necessity for itt
solution, It IL only question OF time
when the matter will bs settled. VI
history IL full of illustrations OF this trait
Of American character, and while at the
present time there are many depressing
facts in connection with our municipal
govern ment, and there are many instNno o.
ga which arouse our indignation and
make our blood boil and many othei
things which make our hearts sad, yet
on the other side we must not overlook
the fact that the tendency points towards
brighter days; that the Indications are
that the dawn of new era of municipal
government Is not AS far distant as some
OF us thought tive years ago when VIZ
came together In our 1rst conference fo'
good city government
The report of the treasurer, Georg,
Burnham, Jr., Of Philadelphia, showed
receipts for tina year of 81, ass.
DI. Delor K. Wilcox OF Michigan, reac
n paper on IAN examinat lon OF the pro
posed municipal programme"
The meetings continue until Friday.
The following officers were elected
President, James q. Carter OF New
York; first ioe-president, Charles Rich
ardson of Philadelphia; second vice
presideIt t, Samuel b. Capen, Boston
secretary, Cir ton Rogers Woodruff Of
philadelphia ;Itreasurer, George Burnham
Jr of Philadelphia; executive commit.
tee, Joseph A. Miller OF Providence, and
others.
TONIC hts session was devoted to Ohit
municipal Affairs. Hon. Edward kiblei
of Newark, meiub Der Of the Ohio Munici
PAL Code commission, spoke.