The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-03
FOR GOOD GOVERNMENT
Coming Conference of the National
Municipal League.
The Meeting to Cover a Period of
Three Da9s-yariety of Papers on
the Administration of City Affairs
to Re Rena-PrOminent Men to At
tcnd-Objects of the Organization.

questions IN all parts oil the country. Inc
meeting promises to be of exceptional in
terest because of the wide diversity of
subjects that will be treated and the per-
sornel of the men who will attend
There is a Variety of papers to be read
by prominent members of the league,
eussion and the dissemination of new
thoughts and ideas that cannot but prove
of advantage to all those who may attend
the convention.
The programme of the meeting which
will cover q period of three days, includes
the following: The Essential Elements in
Good City Government by Charles J. Bo-
naparte, of Baltimore; The Representation
of Different City Interests in the Council"
by William Dudley Foulke. of Richmond.
Ind; THE Influence of Public Service Com
panies on City Government by the Rev.
Washington GLADDEN., ID. D.. of Coluhbus,
Ohio who was recently elected an alder
man of that city; THE Government of the
City of Glasgow" Sy the Rev. Albert La
I zenby, recently of the city of Glasgow;
"A Years Municipal Development. by
Clinton Rogers Woodruff, of Philadelphia;
THE Model Charter. Practical Expert
ment of Long-tr Principles, Not an IL
noyation; the Model Charter and Wis
consin Cities" by Joshua Stark President
of the Wisconsin Bar Association; Does
the Model Charter Confer Dangerous Pow
ers on the Mayor?' by Charles Richard
son. of Philadelphia; ''The Model Charter
and Small Cities,'' by Prof S. E. Sparkling
of the University of Wisconsin, who is also
an alderman of Madison; THE Growth Of
the Municipal Reform Idea in the West, I"
by DR.. Amos p. Wilder, of Madison, Wis.
Other questions including discussion of
the proper extent of governmental ac
ton in American municipalities, will be
discussed by eminent reformers and stu
dents of municipal government. 1t is ex-
pected that Comptroller Bird S. Coler, of
New York, viii be among the speakers.
Work of the League.
The friends of the league say that 1t
has. established for itself a place in the
public mind and its efforts have borne
abundant fruit; though not always TO the
degree desired by those most actively
identified with it's work. In its member
ship are included many men not only of
prominence in their respective communi-
ties but of national reputation for their
research into and writings on the NUM-
cipal problem.
The National Municipal League has now
been in existence six years 1t was the
outcome of the National Conference for
Good City Government, held in Philadel-
phia in January, 1884, which brought to-
gether from all parts of the country men
and women who had long given special
thought to the municipal problem. Its
discussions showed clearly that the de-
fects recognized in American municipal
institutions are practically the same
throughout the country. They arise from
permanent and general, not from tenn
porary or local causes. Complaints may
vary in form or degree, but the general
situation is substantially identical in all
the great cities OF the Union.
The deductions TO be drawn from the
deliberations of that conference were
these: The municipal problem exists be-
cause a prevalent sense OF right in favor
Of municipal efficiency does not exist.
The National Municipal League was or
ganized and has been working to supply
this lack. From all sides, il is said, came
the same story-wast tefulness, ineiheiency,
all too frequent scandals in public life,
and the rule of the least estimable and
the least trustworthy.
The problem which confronted the
league was: How is a new era for our
cities to be fnaugurated-how are we to
abolish wastefulness and inefilciency and
secure the enactment and enforcement Of
good laws and the selection Of men CT
trained ability and proved integrity for
all municipal positions, and 10 prevent
the success of incompetent and corrupt
candidates for public Office? The answer
to this was by creating and maintaining
a deeper interest in municipal affairs and
by creating a public opinion and senti
rnent that will be intolerant of anything
short of the best in all matters pertaining
TO the welfare of our American munich
palities.
Purposes of the Organizations.
Its purpose thus plainly indicated, the
National Municipal League was organized
with its objects set forth in the constitu-
ton as follows:
First-To multiply the numbers, har-
monize the methods and combine the
forces of all who realize that it is only by
united action and organization that good
citizens can secure the adoption OF good
laws and the selection of men OF trained
ability and proved integrity for all mu-
uicipaI positions or prevent the success
OF incompetent or corrupt candidates for
public office.
Second-To promote the thorough inves-
tigation and discussion OF the conditions
and details of civic administration. and of
.he methods for selecting and appointing
officials in American cities and of laws and
ordinances relating to such subjects.
Third-To provide for such meetings and
conferences and for the preparation and
circulation of such addresses and other
literature as may seem likely to advance
the cause of good city government.
To this task the league has addressed
itself. Since its formation il has steadily
pursued its subject Through its guidance
and insuiration its friends claim that new
local reform organizations have been start
ed and old ones reorganized and both have
undertaken and successfully prosecuted
important work An active, aggressive,
persistent propaganda has been carried on
When the league was organized there
were less than seveIty-fve reform organi-
cations in the country. There are now 11S
affiliated with the league and nearly 500
are in existence in the different cities
During this period some of the associations
have lapsed. but their places have been
taken by others, so that the total has beeE
maintained and gradually increased.
..The Municipal ProGrnmme.D
One of the most important pieces of
work accomplished by the league is the
Municipal Programme" adopted by a
unanimous vote at the Columbus confer
, ence in 1899 Each annual conference of
the league has been characterized by its
distinctive features and the municipal
programme r."Model Charter as it has
been designated, is the logical outcome of
the preceding six years of effort.
II was not until the Louisville confer
ence, in 1897, that the preliminary steps
were taken to formulate programme for
| adoption and to construct platform upon
which municipal campaigns should be wag-
ed. The earlier conferences were devoted
to consideration Of actual municipal con-
ditions, and the papers read at these meet