The San Francisco call., 1904-09-17
STUDENTS MUST
ENTER POLITICS
William Kent Advises All
Americans to Take In
terest in Civic Affairs
APATHY CAUSES EVILS
Leader in Chicago Reform
Tells How That City Was
Cleansed of Corruption
Berkeley Office San Francisco Call,
214S Center Street Sent If

berkeley once san FRANCISCO Cali,
214S Center Street. Sept. 16.
William Kent of Chicago advises all
Americans to enter the realm of poll
tics-women as well as men. Only
through the interest of the good folk of
the land, he says, can Americans hope
for clean municipal government. 1t is
the apathy of the American people that
is responsible for municipal evils, and
this must be overcome. Practical poll
tics must take the place of SpaSmodic
reform movements. and the people must
deal with their problems in a practical
way.
Mr.. Kent said these things, and a
great many more, in the presence of a
thousand students this morning at the
University of California, before which
he had been invited to speak upon
Municipal Reform" This is subject
with which Mr.. Kent has had a great
deal to do, for he has successfully
fought the allied corruptionists in Chi
cago for ten years. His knowledge Of
municipal affairs extends not only to
his own great city, but to others. That
he has an intimate knowledge of San
Francisco affairs was manifest when
he referred to the conditions of the new
charter and the Mayor, whom he de-
scribed as weak. In part Mr.. Kent said:
l suppose it was my inherent pugnacity that
prompted me to butt into Chicago politics in
went in to learn things. Before long learned
that the city government was totally inadequate
ana rotten. There were sixty-eight Aldermen
in the Council and there were only ten Of
those who wouldn't steal door mats and milk
cans.
BY hard work we succeeded in changing
things, so that now the city is governed in
fairly economic way and with little or no
corruption. We succeeded in awakening an
infa In rIxf fFoSr Tha ait ig
more hopeful, because the people have been
educated to higher ideals of citizenship.
In the methods of work those hostile to
decency find nothing better than the party to
serve their ends. Now, there are no such
things parties among the grafters. The
grafters are always non-partisan. The par
ties really divided between the men who
steal door mats and those who do not That
about parties doing anything in municipal
politics. The Republican party freed the
slaves and ii looted Philadelphia. The Demo-
Gratis, If they have done anything ad-
mirable. have also corrupted Louisville and
robbed St. Louis.
You will find that rottenness in most all
municipal governments. In Northern cities
the Democrats ordinarily use the police for
graft. The Republicans go in for bigger
things and use legitimate power for their ends.
The commonly attributed cause OF municipal
rottenness is the apathy of the people. 1t
does not seem common sense to be minding
the business of the State when you could be
more prohtablt minding your business.
We found many people appiauding our efforts
Then it was that we dug up the connection
between evil legislation and the business in
terests. There was howl and we were
called anarchists enemies Of the city and
other unpleasant things. This proved that
more people were prohting by the reign OF
graft than was commonly supposed
As for the methods of cleaning a corrupted
city publicity is the most potent. In Chicago
we had some good honest newspapers back
Of US and got the crowd awakened. We
had to get into practical politics. There is
no better educator than practical politics. II
reveals people as they really are: l would
advise young man to get into politics. With
disnterested motives and a willingness to
learn from mistakes great results be
complished. The time is ripe. The people are
ready to respond to higher ideals if you get
them stirred up and in this direction the
press of Chicago and elsewhere is doing ex-
cellent work
The game of politics is worth while. 1t is
a game that | recommend to every one within
than chess and more strenuous than football
1t will satisfy you II you pugnacous. But
1 advise you not to attempt politics for mere
ambitions sake. for a man then discounts
himself. Ii is better not to be handicapped
by any weight or ambition, for then you lose
your influence and people lost their interest
in you
san Francisco offers a beautiful field for
this kind Of work. 1t Is easy field. because
San Francisco with its new charter has the
mechanical foundation for good government
and this makes reform easier. One trouble
is attempt to concentrate power in the
hands of the Mayor. II worked very well
until the people elected weak man. In Chi
cago the aim has been to distribute the power
somewhat.
word to the women. There is no reason
why the women cannot interest themselves.
too / should like to tell you about the work
Of Jane Adams in Chicago. Her services
there. 1 dare say. have been more valuable
than those of the men You who have the
privilege OF an education ought TO have the
strength and equipment to accomplish things
If you we're to analyze what you are here for
you would ind that ii means service. 1t is
the duty Of you all to enter the realm OF
politics and If You do not interest yourself
you had better IN the language of Bill Nye.
wrap your cellar door about you and lie
down to pleasant Dreams
In the absence of President Wheeler,
Professor e. w. Hilgard acted as pre-
siding officer for the meeting. Mr.. Kent
was preceded by Professor Thomas r.
Bacon of the history department, who
was welcomed back to the university