Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-04-12

CAuuC dlu W uGCldt0 tudG Sf0dG u0ldyS
were necessary to all great work. But
President Roosevelt had done nothing
of the kind. With characteristic force
and execution as soon as he had salts
fed himself that the commission was
delaying the work he began the effort
to change it that has resulted in the
appointment of the new Commissioners.
He did not make specific charges
against the Commissioners. 1t was
not necessary that they should have
embezzIed or attempted any graft.
rhe simple charge that 1.-The practical
esult Of the operation of the lsthmlan
Canal Commission appointed and act
ing under previous executive orders
has not proved satisfactory" was sutfi-
cient reason to him for making a
change aud the people of the United
States abundantly justify the unusual
and radical action. Statesmen of the
|
the proceeding. but the President is
little affected by their surprise and not
at all disposed to stand still for fear OF
stepping On their toes. He wants the
Canal Dug now, while he still has the
power to say and do something.
Washington is now taking up in
earnest the problem that is confronting
other great cities and that has already
become such a serious question in Lon
don. the establishment Of public play
grounds for children. One Of the hap
piest examples Of the broadening Of
mems ideas since the time Of the Puri-
tans is seen IN the growing cnnsidera-
day when the training for the Young
was summed up in the maxim that
children should be seen and not heard
is rapidly passing and if children are
both seen and heard a little too much
for peace now it is because men and
women are becoming aroused to the
Importance of allowing children free
expression. No one who studies chill
dren can be long unaware that next to
food and sleep their greatest need is
play. Statistics are constantly being
collected to prove that the country
bred boy has more and better chances
in life than his city brother but it is
doubtful if this proved would mean
anything more than that the boy who
has had all the play he needed and the
consequent development of body and
faculty is better fitted for work and &C.
cOmplshment. AS land values in
crease in city the playing space for
children decreases and with the ad-
vance of the apartment house and the
blocks of tenement houses the child is
crowded out altogether. In London
new ground is being taken up and ex-
pensive buildings pulled down to make
room for Fairgrounds. Forty years
ago the land might have been had for
thousands that will now cost millions.
The example OF London's delay may be
the means of saving our great cities
from the same shortsighted policy.
The time to establish Fairgrounds for
children is when the city is young and
any town large enough to need a park
is already in need of a playground
Washington has already delayed too
now about the work and it may not be
long until in this respect also the Cap
ital may be able to exhibit model city
to the country.
| Commissioner Garfield is now en-
route to Kansas preparatory to the work
of the Standard Oil investigation which
he will conduct personally. He will
not say how much time he expects to
spend on the inquiry but he proposed
to make it as thorough and comprehen-
sive as possible.
A notable gathering to be held in
Washington next month will be the
Southern Industrial Parliament which
will be attended by the Governors OF
the Southern states, mayors of cities,
boards of trade, boards of health, bank
ers, railroad presidents, planters and
manufacturers. Their object will be
the discussion of plans for the develop
ment of able investment. The Secre-