The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-29
THE MAGAZINES

Municipal Situation Not So Bad as 1t
Looks.-Henry Jones Ford regards the
conditions in American cities much as
Matthew Arnold regarded his first buck
wheat cakes-"not so bad as they look"
He regards Lincoln. steffens' opinion as
exaegerated In the Political Science
Quarterly for December, he says: !: {
The municipal situation is not really SO des-
perate! as :one might thinls from pernsai OF
works like that Of Mr.. steffens Genuine i'm.
provement 49, going on thru the Undermining OF
stress. Of practical necessity. In such charters
as those OF New York and Baltimore the dis
connection of the executive and legislative func-
practically overcome by the creation Of boards Of
estimates and apportionment, which really unite
executive and legislative powers In the same or
gan Of government Such appliances Of govern
men r will gradually spread to other cities from
| the effect of example. In most cities, how
ever, matters are likely to be worse before they
are better; but even at their worst there are
mitigating circumstances. = Our despised
politicians are probably to be credited with what
we call the wonderful assinilating capacity of
American institutions. They are. perhaps, man.
aging our affairs better than able to
Judge We certainly do not know how to man
| age the politicians, but that is branch of
| knowledge which people acquires save as the
result of long course of education in tho school
| of experience. ~: > : '.-e..
| The Quarterly for December includes
discussions on several papers Of great in
terest to students Of political science. =
After the War-What 1.-THE future OF
the world is to be Influenced by the Russo
Japanese war to greater extent than
by any other war since the overthrow OF
| Napoleon is the view Of N. T.. Bacon,
who Celebrates this thesis In the January
number Of The Booklcvers Magazine. Mr..
Bacon points out that while Japan has
succeeded, and is likely to succeed in
checkmating Russia, she knows little OF
nothing, as yet, Of the service Of civil ad-
ministratfon, and that is the problem that
will face her when the war is over and she
attempts to reorganize China. In addi-
| ton to this Japan will emerge with Sc
we're handicap in the shape OF heavy
debt and increased Internal taxation The
third difficulty that will confront Japan is
the rivalry Of foreign nations. ALREADY
the commercial susceptibilities Of other
! nations have been aroused Inc mer-
! chant class of Germany are pro- Russian
and even England, Japan's ally, would
hardly look with equaninnity on Japan's
moves toward supremacy in China; ane
/ France would be sure to object on hel
own account as we'll as on Russia's.' New
European alliances are In the air. Ger
many is already seeking the friendship o.
Russia in order to break upon the Franco
j Russian alliance. Out of Russia's defea
: Mr.. Bacon expects to see spring the no.
blest fruits Of progress.
St. Marks Not So Bad OLA letter
written from Venice by William Henry
Goodyear, the curator Of fine arts OF the
! r,l1seum of the Brooklyn institute, or
/ st. Marks, holds that the condition O
/ the basilica is not so grave as it ap.
peared to be-.