Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1899-01-28
MuDieiPal
Socialism,
iD Boston,


Ia to not less than half dozen
ideas of municipal development
which are distinctly fresh in their np
plication to the government ofAmeri-
can cities. Municipal Socialism" is
the phrase which others have employ
ed to describe his plans; he himself
has been content to continue planning
and presenting, and hasnot attempted
to label his work. When friend said
to him a year ago: "You are Social
ist," he replied at would be more
accurate to say have some socialistic
sympathies, if | may be permitted to
define my kind of socialism, About
the same time one of his most trusted
political associates, to whom was eX-
pressed doubt of the mayors continu-
ed success in politics, replied energeti-
cally: Josiah Quincy is proceeding
along the lines of municipal socialism,
and the municipal socialist in politics
will be the success in the future" Of
another distinguished and learned
supporter of the Mayors municipal
policy was asked this question: Does
q Mr.. Ouincy's socialism proceed from
the heart or from the head ?" From
the heart" the gentleman said, land
| believe he is too sympathetic Mr..
Quincy himself forbears TO enlighten
the public as to whether his plans in
volve a wide and general application
of sociological principles in which he
believes, or are isolated experiments
for municipal Improvement; perhaps
they have started as thelatter and are
ending as the former
Therei is no doubt that Josiah Quincy
knows all that anybody knows about
municipal socialism, as it is defined by
it's friends and promoters in European
cities. He is a close and careful stud
ent, and still more an observer and
enquirer, and the extent of his range
of thought and observation is a sub
ject of general surprise. Perhaps it is
fair to assume that every one OF his
plans is the result of a comprehensive
survey of the whole field of municipal
quickening and growth, and is conse-
quentlv only a cautious and tentative
expression of large andcaretully cal
culated scheme of municipal deve-
lopment.
When he was nominated in 1885, he
promised in his letter of acceptance
that if he should be elected he would
try to furnish public baths free for all
the people of the city and for use all
the year round. His opponents at
tempted to use this statement as the
text for satirical criticism. After he
was elected, in his first address to the
City Council he referred to the subject
again as a "proiect for encouraging
social and sanitary improvement"
This was the first of his plans in what
NAV be called the line OF municipal So
cialism. 1t has now succeeded beyond
the most Sanguine expectations.
A Committee on Public Baths was
appointed, and its report was sent to
the City Council in April, 1896. This
report recommended that the baths
should be absolutely free, that a series
of district bath houses be established,
and that the first experimental bath
inc station be located near the corner
of Harrison Avenue and Dover Street,
a point near the geographical centre
ofBoston. and within reach OF more
than $1,000 persons who were With
out bathing facilities in their homes.
The Committee, which was composed
of men and women prominently lden-
titled with projects OF municipal re-
form and development, fully treated
the subject of public baths for both
sexes, and made the special RECOMMEND
dation that steps be taken toward
placing simple outfits of spray baths
in school buildings in various parts OF
the CITY, for the use of school children
and of people living in the neigbor-
hood of the shoots. Mr.. Quincy pre-
sented to the City Council the findings
of the Committee with the RECOMMEND
dation that 500. 900 be appropriated
for the purchase of a lot OF land and
the construction of public bath
house. Before the contract for the
erection of this building had been
awarded, Mavor Quincy recommended
in his annual address 70 the City
Council, in January, 1897, q loan OF
100000 toward erecting baths IN
Charlestown, East Boston, the North
End, South Boston, and RoXbury.
With this recommendation he enter
ed more fully into the subject OF free
public bathing, confessed that 1t was
his hope and wish that III twelve
months Boston might surpass any
other city of the country IN free publc
bathing facilities, recommended the
adoption of plan for free instruction
in swimming, particularly for the
ha,aft of the scholars in the public