The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-04-24
HOW TO run CITIES
The Municipal League Convention
Listens to Various Papers
To-day. ..
Ideas on Training Citizens and on
Instruction in Government
+ Officers Chosen. ~"

Instruction in Government
Officers Chosen.
Detroit. April 24.-At the meeting of the
Municipal League convention Wilson l..
ellis spoke on 1.-THE School City, a Remedy
for Civic Apathy lie said:
To Train Citizens. -
eff our nation is to be one of citizens
and not Of subjects, 1t must train It's
children as citizens and stop training them
as subjects. Governments belong to one
or the other Of two kinds, democratic In
which the citizen helps to determine It's
policy and laws and to carry them into
execution and Inonarchical, OF which lie IS
a. subject without such participation.
Monarchy in America has grown large and
strong and the sway of its head Is as alb
solute as that Of any tyrant OF the old
world We call him BOSS or leader,
but he, good or bad. is no less our king
or car. We have the form Of a demo-
crate republic but from some cities and
states the spirit of democracy has ned.
IF this disease of the municipalities and
states is to be cured, it must be by teach
ing citizenship as practically as reading,
writing and arithmetic; by having ell
children, from the youngest to the Oldest.
made into citizens instead OF subjects, and
guided by teachers in the defense OF their
rights and performance Of the duties or
faithful ideal citizenship. The school city
is q. thoroly successful method Of accom-
plishing this object.
"A school is given a charter ana organ
lied as city, each room has a Ward. All
the children elect q city council, mayor
and other officers. A police department,
and others when wanted, are established.
MI. >l,;) or md their
and have their own judiciary. Improve
ments in government such as the initiative
and referendum, are taught practically.
1.-The moral results are fine and civic
knowledge is impaired rapidly. chill
dren's respect for teachers and for au-
thority in general is increased. as are the
comforts and pleasures Of school life.
The teachers la.bors and expenditure OF
nervous force are decreased. The general
introduction of the school city, under
competent supervision, will restore to our
cities and states. the spirit and the fact
of a democratic republic
instruction in Government
John N. Fairlie spoke on obstruction in
Municipal Government
1.-The necessity for teaching future vot-
ers the fundamental principles OF Amer1-
can government is very generally &C
knoWledged Municipal government
course or a. special subject in the curri-
culum; but must be included as a part of
a general course In government or poll
tics. which every student should be at
least expected to take. The emphasis III
this general instruction. must be laid, not
so much on the form of government as on
the functions Of the officials and on the
rights responsibilities and duties Of the
citizen.'
Municipal leauue Officers.
Detroit Mich. April 24.-At yesterday S
session of the National Municipal League,
the following officers were elected:
Honorary president, James c. Carter, New
York; president, Charles J. Bonaparte, Balti-
more: first vice president. Charles Richardson.
Philadephia: second vice president. Samuel B.
Capen, Boston, third vice president, Thomas N.
Strong, Portland, Oregon: fourth vice president,
H. Dickson Burns. New Orleans: fifth vice presi.
dent. Edmund j. James, Chicago; secretary. Gin
ton Rogers Woodruff, Philadelphia; treasurer,
George Burnhanl, Jr., Philadelphia
Executive Conlmittee-IIorace E. Deming, New
York chairman: William G: Low, Brooklyn;
George W. Guthrie. Philadelphia; Harry A. Gar
field. Cleveland Hector McIntosh.- Philadelphia;
William p. Bancroft, Wilmington; Dudley lib.
bits. Troy, n. Y; John A. Butler, Milwaukee;
Oliver McClintock, Pittsburg; Harry r. Atkins
Cincinnati; Harry B. French, Philadelphia AL
bert p. Hart Cambrfdge; John Davis. Detroit;
James L. Blair, st. Louis; J. Horace Mcfarland
Harrisburg. Pa: David II. Lawrence, Duluth;
Situation In Chicago.
Frank II. Scott of Chicago spoke on
1.-THE Municipal Situation in Chicago
He said:
"The Municipal Voters League entered
the field in 1896, with the avoWed purpose
Of endeavorng to secure the election of
progressively honest men to the council;
and employed surprisingly simple means
to effect its aim. The once powerful gang
has been completely overthrown. but three
of it's fifty-eight members remaining In
the council. and they are wholly discredit-
ed and without influence.
"There are important elements entering
into the present municipal, situation in
Chicago. Chief among these is the move
rnent to secure amendment to the con-
stitution Of the state which shall permit
changes in the laws relating to local gov
eminent. The city rs gricvously embar-
: raised by constitutional restrictions en-
tire1y unwarranted by present conditions,
and by the illogical system which gives to
the state legislature a. control over pure
ly local concerns. 1t is also proposed to
accomplish adequate changes in the reve-
nue. laws. and a, reform Of municipal and
local minor courts
In San Francisco.
Frank j. Sims Of San Francisco spoke OF
'The Municipal Situation in San Francis
CO." He said:
1.-The celebrat ted new charter Of San
Francisco is now three years and three
months old. The charter was a. very radi-
4 cal instrument. It's radicalism had -four
important points Of departure from the OLD
order, besides some minor ones. First il
sought to centralize power in the mayor
second, it sought to check him in the use
Of this power by the most far-reachine
civil service laws of any American city
third. it declared a purpose to acquire
public utilities, and, fourth, it, provided
for the operation Of initiative and referen-
dunn in order to facilitate the acquisition
of public utilities and prevent the bar
tering away of franchises dishonesty.
"While municipal conditions in San
Francisco are far better than they were
before the adoption Of the charter, there
Is still much to be desired and some dan
ger Of a, relapse. The present program OF
improvement is a good one. If we car
sustain the awakened public interest il
the city as a city. and prevent the gov
eminent falling into the hands of po-
litical schemers. much may be done.
Sherman D. Calender of Detroit spok.
.