The Washington times., 1905-05-31
Not Sl.000-S /.

equipment of Fairgrounds for its chill
dren: the procura1 OF ground for city
gardens; the construction OF an audi
torium suited to the requirements of
national bodies attracted by the Cap
ifafs national position and its arehi-
tectural beauty. Each of these move
ments is now in the keeping of a
comparatively small group of enthusi-
asts, and each OF them now depends
Tor support chiefly upon that same
small group.
Yet, every one Of these movements
belongs in part to every reader of
these lines. Every one Of the three
concerns him intimately and person
ally He will do well for himself il
now, today. he weighs that interest
in them and examines into his pres
ent attitude toward them.
Washington will thrive or stand
still as each OF her citizens is inter-
ested in her. AIIthe money Congress
could appropriate for her use could
not make out of her anything more
si2StA1 - IAdSC 4Si llC 4sdllOl1G1
Government sort OF administrative
.Viadiyostok or American Omsk-if
the people who live here, who make
1t city of homes instead of a city
Of offices. did not take an active part
in her affairs and keep their shoul-
ders TO the wheels of her government.
The true American never lives under
a government without being q factor
in il.
Choosing between two cities, one
in which the burdens are Largely
borne by the rich and another in
which the burdens are widely dis
1ributed among the whole body OF its
citizens. the latter will indisputably
rejoice in the more active public
spirit. the higher development Of its
institutions Tor the making Of good
citizens, and the better government.
For when the load Is carried by the
rich alone the voice heard is that
OF the rich alone, and where many
shoulders bear many small loads,
many voices make themselves heard
Thus there is no widows mite as
peet to small contributions for public
enterprises. The only situation which
bespeaks condescension is that which
permits a few to seize a great CO.
operative enterprise, like the propos-
ed auditorium. and convert 1t into
an eleemosynary institution by bear
sxe cTT he
ferring ii On their fellows Among
men experienced in public affairs 1t
is automatic that 1000 subscriptions
OF 81 each for any given project will
do it more good than two subscrip-
tons of 81 600 each; because, In the
first case, the 81 GOO speedily becomes
$1,000, and IN the second case there
are only two persons yitaIly interest
ed in the cause Furthermore-and
this is consideration which applies
particularly TO Washington - every
citizen who would read an editorial
Ike this Is subject to the same intel
leetual responsibility as the man who
subscribes-o could subscribe-SI. 900
for each of these three enterprises.
What Washington needs today more
than almost anything else IS more of
that spirit which moves the clerk.
the small merchant. the teacher, the
student, the professional man. the
Skilled laborer, the editorial writer,
the everybody else to put down his
name for 81 whenever the community
IN which he lives and works enters
upon 2 project which concerns all
It's citizens. This proposed auditorium
is such q project--if 1t suits the
purpose 1t will further the coming
hare of national bodies, representing
ene clerk. the small merchant. the
skilled laborer, and everybody else.
4 share OF stock IN it costs exactly
$40. Yet. SO far are the 81 men
there is no shadow Of reproaeh in that
this stock by the share that not even
one man has had the courage to sub
scribe for one share, and no more.
II half Of those in Washington who
could subscribe 81 each fer each OF
these three enterprises were to dc
so-yes, If fourth 81 them were to
do so-their success would be estab-
llshed beyond the possibility of fail
ure.
The blame for this lack Of 81 sub
acriptions rests more largely with
those who have managed our munich
pal enterprises of this nature than
with those who have failed to sub
scribe The canvass has been toe
nearly confined to citizens OF large
means. When a committee asks for
500 the average man hesitates te
subscribe 81. And no one can blsme
him. Americans are an extremely
= proud people. and the kind Of Amer
lean bred here in Washington is
prouder than most of his fellows. II
his dollar is not wanted. he is not