The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-18
The Civic Awakening.


which we have SO long waited seems t.
be at hand, II we are to believe ]. Horace
Mcfarland, president Of the American
League for Civic Improvement. Writing
In the Outlook Mr.. Mcfarland calls at.
tention to the evidences in every part Of
the United States of a desire for an i'm
|proyement Of the conditions Of life in vii
lages and cities. This awakening is not In
evidence only in the rising Of an honest
people In the great cities and the turning
out OF the brood Of parasitic and corrupt
rascals, but in the evidences of a general
and earnest desire for the Improvement
of physical conditions. We seem as q
people to be getting ready to shake off
the slouchiness which has naturally fas-
tened itself upon us with the huge task
we have had to accomplish of occupying
and utilizing wilderness. We have been
SO much occupied in building great rail :
roads that we were Indifferent to wretched
wagon roads. We have been in such a
hurry. to build houses to live and do busi-
ness in that we have ignored the litter at
the door. We have been SO busy dealing
with the large-looming essential physical
elements Of life that we have not cared for
it's refinements. So our cities have had
shabby and rough streets; broken side
walks and a general appearance of dirt
mess. So our villages have had their
yards full of weeds, their cattle wandering
thru the streets and their dusty, ragged
roads. The new feeling of improvement
that is showing itself everywhere is well
put in the constitution of the st. Louis
league for civic Improvement, organized
TO unite the efforts of all good citizens
who want to make st. Louis a good place
to come to and a better place to live in ~
Mr.. Mcfarland gives a number Of sam
pies of the calls for help the American
league is receiving. Shreveport, La, wants
to know how to enthuse population of
22,Q00, many of whom are negroes. Chip
ley, Fla, cries out for help against the
aided and abetted. by local
less vote by promising free range for the
hogs. Calvert, Texas, permits the cattle
and hogs to run at large and sidewalks
are used for dumping refuse. 1--WE want
to take up the work of improvement"
cry the Calvertians. Seattle reports f1f-
teen improvement leagues and a wish to
stir up more enthusiasm. From Wahi-
ava, Hawaii, comes request for help.
Ark, is anxious to live a bet.
ter life. Florence, S. c.. is ready to get
to work, and asks for advice. New Eng
land towns call for help and so also do
middle western towns and towns every
where. Even our Canadian neighbors
have caught the spirit, and in some in
stances are cooperating with the league.
Much more testimony does Mr. McFar-
land cite that tends to prove that thruout
the republic men and women are begin
ming to feel as he feels when he says:
In some way, in some place-ofttimes in
several ways and places-it is the duty of
every man and woman who believes that
God has set America in the forefront of
human progress, and who wants to make
this great, growing, powerful country the
very best place in the world for the very.
best people, to join hands with those who
are trying to hasten the day. Combina-
ton, federation, unity *of effort mean
power and efficiency in plilanthrophy as
Well as in business. @s5* ~ ~
,,g.4- 81 s.ss