The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-27

to movement in the city OF Boston, tho
success or failure OF which Is fraught
with important consequences for Amerl-
can city development This movement
centcrs around the formation OF an union
called the Good Government Associa-
tloli.' 1t was formed last spring BY n
combination Of the Boston Chamber Of
Commerce, Merchants Association. Bar
Association, Associated Board OF Trade.
Fruit and Produce Exchange, Real YES
tatc Exchange and the New England
Shoe and Leather Exchange
The Association has a primary and
secondary object. First, to reform the
citizens OF Boston-to arouse them to a
sense of their political duties, to awaken
their civic pride. Secondly, to aid the
voters in practical way to secure he
election OF aggresslyely honest and cap
able men. . 4
Here. MS elsewhere. the belief is con-
stnntIy held that the citizens at largo
wish to see honest and capable men In
office. But the Good Government AssO-
citation realizes that the wish must crys-
talze into action. The Association be-
licves that the need OF some dislntcrcst-
cd Organiza ton, composed Of men who
seek no office and have no axe to grind.
B is permanent need. Therefore head
quarters have been leased; IL permanent
secretary and assistants, who give their
whole time to the work, have been Sc
cured. Y
Light Turned on Records.
"Thcy have opened n ledger account
with every man in public life, or who as
pires to public office, in which his good
md bad deeds will be impartlnlly record
Cd" Young business men, clerks, law
8Sers. doctors and students give unhesi-
itutingly much OF their time to invests.
eating tho records of every man pro-
posed for public trust. The man himself
is hunted up, talked to and questioned.
Ills reputation in his community is fer
reted out, the place or places OF his
employment arc visited. And every re-
liable bit of information is brought to
hook in tho most honest and candid way,
Whencvcr, then, u candidate Is to be yot,
cd Tor. his record Is published In tho
newspapers and otherwise. In such y
manner as to be conveniently accessible
III every voter In the city, Thus the pub,
lie is Informed reliably concerning tho
capacity and integrity OF each candidate
SEES him; II not, 1t does all 1t can to de-
feat him. During the campaign Just closed
the Association endorsed nine candi-
dates, and five Of them were elected. z
gratifying result for the first effort.
or course 1t Is needless to add that the
Association endorses or condemns with
out regard to the party affiliations of
any candidate, -Four Republicans, ona
Republican citizen. three Democratic
citizens, and one Democrat were en-
torsed In the first campaign. Only the
candidates personal fitness Is considered
and made tho basis Of a report about
lin. The costs Of the organlzatlo arc
met by subscriptions; and, excepting the
clerical force, the work Is done entirely
by volunteers.
THAT tho Association has q practical
as well as Theoretical justincatlon for eX-
.istence Is easily revealed from the raet
TINT II Is conceded that,of all who draw
pay from the city only 20 per cent. earn
it, Fictitious names md claims are USED,
every species of pgra fist is fourishlng,
all city contracts under $4,000 are let
without bids. and the MAYOR and SUPER
Intondent Of Streets appoint practically
MI Of the city employees The Good
Government Association Of Boston has
good ground to work on, Its ultimate
SUCCESS seems assured, and IS to be re-
joicel mt by every American.
The South Is Concerned.
The South has no cities SO large even
ms ISoston, but the Census Reports show
that they are soun TO be expected. South
crn cities are growing by leaps and
bounds thpir government As an lnlmcd-