The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-07-07

the culture Of flowers were furnished with each
packet Of seed; but, as the committee was to-
tally ignorant of the proper care necessary To
success with vegetables, it appealed to PROBES
sor shaw, OF the State Agricultural college, who
readily promised to instruct the youthful as.
prans TO agricultural lonors at his home.
The street car company nest came to the
assistance Of the committee with the offer OF
free transportation, and nearly 800 boys wee
thus enabled on several successive occasions, TO
receive practical instruction concerning prcpara
tion OF the soil, proper planting, sucCessoiE OF
crops, and the best method OF conqucring weeds
Good advice was also given on the culture OF
small fruits, and incidentally. the boys were
led through the green houses and museum, which
completed these memorable excursions.
In this connection, also, the children are
given a practical Illustration of the benefits
OF the observance Of law and order. The work
OF the children is protected by the police OF
the city, and they are made to realize that the
law is a real advantage to them, personally, as
it lis on their side" There is much truth in
the saying that "The criminals Of the future
are in our public schools today; we can mould
them now il we wish. The future is now in
now In our hands,
New York and Chicago, Baltimore and Gin
cnnat-in fact, nearly every large city in the
country-have municipal art societies, devoted
to the aesthetic bctterment Of thc city.
Then there are the reform organizations which
| seek to influence political matters such as the
| City club of New York, The Union Voters
league Of Chicago and the Municipal league Of
| Philadelphia. All told there are more than
one hundred of these organizations in various
cities large and small, most of which arc doing
| excellent work.
Cleveland. however, has an organization which
| comes nearest the ideal OF an all around cffec
tive organization for the promotion of civic
health. 1t is called the Municipal AsSocia
| tion," and has a membership which includes
\ men of every stripe Of politics and religion
and yet its efforts are harmonious and decidedly
| effective.
| Its work Is planned and executed along strict
| ly non.partisan lines. And the heaviest burden
| is carried by the executive committee and its
secretary, the latter being the only paid mem.
Der Of the association. The bulk of the original
work is performed by the secretary. lie keeps
| busy all the year through, and takes the part
Of diplomat and detective. lie it is who col.
| lects all the data necessary to the dissemination
of facts about the men who nun for office.
| 1t is not a mud singing institution, but it
| docs state facts openly and iCarlessly As soon
| as man announces himself as a candidate for
| any office, either county or city, his record is
! looked up and stated in a special bulletin TO
| all the members, and the local press gives it
| wider publicity 1t will state. among other
|
church and business relations; his official record,
and everything which could have a bearing one
| way or the other upon the case, which would
| show his fitness unftncss for the office he
| seeks.
The association very seldom makes any rec.
| concentrations, either for or against candidates.
1t states facts and permits the voters to form
| their own conclusions. A notable exception 10
| this rule occurred during the mayoralty cam.
| Mi NJ hon rht 40, dot tle
reelection of McKisson, and it is generally con,
ceded that his defeat was due to its efforts.
One Of the o1shoots Of the association is the
| Citizens Improvement league, an organization
effected in every councilmanic district, of which
there are eleven in the city. Its chief object
| is the bcttcrment Of that part of the city in
which it may he located, and to increase the
general intelligence in municipal affairs It Is
regularly organized and holds monthly meet
ings, at which discussed the various quos
tions relating to the district. At all these
gatherings the CounCilmcn representing the dis
trct are notified that their presence is desired
Any they make it a point to get there, whcr,
they are given seats of honor and. from time
to time asked for a public pledge to faithfully
represent the voice of the people in dealing will
the various questions coming up in the council
The first district associations were organized
year ago and they have been at work Ions
| enough to successfully demonstrate to the salts
| faction of the COunclmen that it is wise L
| follow the suggestions Of their constituents
| The people, including every class Of labor, arr
| becoming more and more interested in the gen
era subject of good government, and cnthusias
| tically so about their own local affairs.
| Occasionally the reform in a town is achieved
| by the practical minded women. Tcaldshurg
Cal, affords an interesting example of such
case. The women of this little city, becomin!
dissatisfied with the progress Of affais, gent,
but firmly took possession of the rens and ar
now driving the municipal coach their owl
1 way. Their organization is called the Ladies
Improvement club of Healdsburg, and it wa
formed in August last year. Since that time
in the short space of nine months-this is wha
| the club has accomplished:
| A municipal water system.
municipal electric light plant
Comfortable seats placed in the plaza.
Names given to the streets.
| Sign boards with street names placed at stree
| corners.
| drinking fountain for the plaza costing 5000
All these Improvements had been discussc
for years by the men, 1t remained for the VIC
men to make them realities And with the cX
ccption of the electric light plan and the waite
SYSTEM the city taxes have not been increase
by as much as a farthing to pay for thes
| things.