The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1902-03-13
DUTIES OF CITIZENS DEFINED
Municipal Government IN All It's Aspects
Discussed People Must Be Taught
to Govern Themselves.

cant seats; there should have been
none vacant. The lecture deserved a
much larger hearing. The audience
gave Mr.. Taylor rapt attention and
frequent applause throughout the en-
| tire lecture.
Mr.. Taylor was introduced by Mr..
Peter Fisher. BY way of introduction
Mr.. Taylor spoke of two important
facts or matters. First, that the
greatest failure of the American
Democracy is that of municipal mis-
management; second, that Christianity
in its fullest and completest expression
has bearing upon the problem of city
government. He defined city politics
as ''city house-cleaning" and remark
ed that there need be no apology for
the entrance of the church into the So
luton of this paramount problem of
modern urban communities in the
American States. He disclaimed
speaking from knowledge of local
municipal needs or political issues and
therefore could not speak with the pur-
pose of directly influencing political
action in the coming city election.
But nevertheless, because he spoke
from knowledge and experience gain
ed in dealing with the problem Of good
government in his home ward in Chi
cago, he said many things applicable
to local conditions.
The general purpose of Mr.. Taylor
throughout his lecture was to lodge in
the minds of his hearers the duties of
a good citizen. He defined these as
three-fold: First, the possession Of a
high ideal of what city should be;
second, to educate those not yet quail
fed for the wise use of the privileges
of citizenship; third, to organize for
political action in order to secure de-
sirable municipal administration.
Mr.. Taylor spoke of the various
ideas of what city is as entertained
today. "Some'' he said, s.entertain
the territorial ideal, that is, that a
city is certain territory in which
municipal government PREVAILS He
showed this to be an sinadequate ideal.
He referred also to the business ideal,
which regards the city as great cor
poration, in which every citizen is a
stakeholder, and it's officers directors
in great stock company. This ideal,
while worthy in many points, Mr..
Taylor said was responsible for the
reasonable use of the power of the
city officials IN betraying the rights of
the people for d money consideration.
The remarks at this point were SO well
taken that no elaboration was neces-
sary.
The third ideal of city in its gov
ernmental aspect, which Mr.. Taylor
discussed, is that which prevails in
most American cities, namely that the
offices are the spoils of the party in
power. Municipal governments
should be divorce from all National 81
State political considerations. City
Aldermen and the Mayor of a city
should be selected irrespective OF
whether they are Republicans or Dem
ocrats. Blind partisanship is the cause
of the dep1orable condition of modern
cities.''
The true ideal which Mr.. Taylor of.
fered, as to what city ought to be, is
that of the ancient city, which was a
compact of tribes and families, living
together, tremendously seeking to con-
serve the.scomnon interest. Accord
ing to this ideal the good citizen is he
who will take his share of the work of
city house-cleaning.
The lecturer at this point admins
tered a singing rebuke to those who
claim that politics are dirty, and that
their hands are too immalculate to
touch them. Mr.. Taylor said: .sSuch
people ought to be.ostracised and scan
da1ized for their sel6shness." Gas we
need clean homes forsthe family, so we
need clean city home for the city
family. No one is too good to help to
save the city life in ali its relations.
To save life completely is to save its
surroundings" "City government, .
said Mr.. Taylor, sis to know how to
live together as decent men and wo-
men,"
In order that this high ideal Of a
city may be realized, the masses must
be educated in the art of municipal
living. AT this point Mr.. Taylor en-
phasized the great importance of Sc
curing the cooperation Of the laboring
classes. A city should not be gov
erned by the business OF professional
classes. The masses should be brought
actively into touch with the problem.
It is at the point Of education that the
church and the public schools can be
utilized.
"At the present time," said Mr.. Tay-
lor, the educative function of good
citizenship is paramount" He advo-
Gated the extension of the public
schools for teaching the adult popula-
ton of the city how to govern them
selves. Political vampires and bosses
are possible because the people know
too little.
Mr.. Taylor finally showed how good