The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1901-12-09
EDUCATE
A MAYOR
Dr.. Ely Believes In a Science
Of Municipal Government

pr. Richard T. Ely. OF the Uni.
versity OF Wisconsin. spoke TO a
crowded house Ia tho Grand yes
teruay morning on the subject.
~The Twentieth Century City
Although the speaker read his en-
tire address. he held the attention
OF his audience perfectly and his
rather dry economic subject was
made Interesting 20 the youaEsst
by the wit which enlivened Il aad
the common sense which was It's
chief constituent.
The speaker began by saying
that he had been accustomed at
one time to give this address under
the subject. "Some Neglected
Phases Of Municipal Reform" I'VE
Phases OF Municipal Reform "ne
had changed his subject however,
- he believed the condition OF
American cities WAS no longer a
subject for pessimism. That more
attention was being given every
aay to the subject and that many
municipalities were undergoing de-
cided Improvement
Dr. Ely said In part:
The importance OF the city "a
= national factor Is becoming more
apparent every day. In this we are
only returning to the same condi-
lions that once existed In Rome
and Greece. The Athenians when
speaking Of their nation said "our
city" We speak OF "our land" or
"our country The cities are now
growing 30 rapidly that their re-
0Drm il problem Of national sig
nificRnce.
'Ttnrailying cries under which
the sorm forces have gathered
have undergone a decided change.
krom 1878 TO 1880 the watchwords
we're: Wanted. Business Admin
tstrntion.' Get Rid of Politi-'
clans and Retrenchment' 1t was
IN these platforms that the reform
battles were carried on In New
York By Tilden and Parkhurst.
msnlcipsi Rsferm
~The best examples Of municipal
reform movements are given by Flu.
rppean cities. Comparing our cit
lee with those OF Europe we see a
direct contrast In the mode Of gov
ernment- German cities advertise
for mayors For example. eBrlin.
after advertising for an admins
tration leader. chose the mayor OF
Brcsiau for the position. as his rec
ord In governing municipalities
Vas tine best.
The plan Of German cities calls
Tor three suggestions. First. mu-
nicfpal government Is profcs-
aion. second. Il Is hard profess
sion, and third. man should give
HIS life to IL
himself along such lines as santa
ton. he should have liberal edu-
cation which would 1T him to So
lect experts to look after these dh
" ferent phases Of municipal activity
gduests . Mayor
IT follows thar N the bushes
- governing . municipality Il
profession that the mayor shouIi
b educated for mis- position. II !
Inevitable that there must b.
class Of Office holders in the com
munity and X Is the fault OF the
latter II the ONCE holders are no
experts- This class should be con
trolled By these citizens The eity
administration SHOULD be sharply
divided into legislative and admin
iskrative. the former controlling
the latter The isgislattve bod
can then BE- selected from repre-
sentative citizens
We'll orssrss nssssheld
The old ralIving cry OF the re
form forces. that the adminisfra
ffon should be ran on business
principles. has been changed &c
read: The city should be a well.
ordered household, This IL broad
~ than the business viewpoint. Is
the latter does not include the i'm
provement Of schools. parks and
public institutions such as baths
and libraries.
Women have taken an active
part Ia municipal reform In New
York city any innovation In city
government which has been start.
ed during the last twenty years has
been started By woman.
The two big questions which
must be settled hy American cstieg
In the near future are those OF tar.
ation and control Of monopolies
no apatay Of the so-called better
class Of citizens to the problem OF
the control Of civic corporations is
explained BY the fact that present
conditions ara more advantageous
20 them. II Is only when these citi.
zens put city above pocketbook that
such reforms can be successfully
tnaugurafed.s