The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-05
LEAGUE FOR
VILLAGE
SOCIETIES

ment associations in different parts of the
state assembled at ST. Luke's parish
house at East Greenwich yesterday In
answer to an invitation from the Kent
Improvement Association Of that place
and took the preliminary steps for the
formation of a state league OF improve
ment associations I'm Rhode Island.
on motion OF Vice President W. f.
Longfelow of the Pawtuxet Old Home
and Improvement Association. seconded
by Mr.. H A. Gordon of the Kent Asso-
citation, il was voted after much dis
cussion that ii is the sense OF this meet
ing that a league of Improvement asso-
Citations is desirable" 1t was also voted
that a committee OF three be appointed
TO formulate a scheme for the organ
ization of such league, the plan TO be
submitted TO the associations Of the state,
and IL at least seven societies concur to
arrange for such organization.
The committee includes President Ken
yon l.. Butterfeld Of the Rhode Island
College OF Agriculture and Mechanic Arts,
representing the Kingston Improvement
Association; w. n. Noyes of the Kent Im-
provement Associa tion. and w. r. Long
fellow OF the Pawtuxet Improvement As
sociation. and they will meet here next
week 10 outline the scope of the proposed
association. The plans will then be set
before the other associations OF the state
and passed upon by their executive
bodies.
Mr.. Wells of Kingston association, from
which came the invitation for this league
spoke Of the previous attempt at a league.
made Is years ago. and said that an effort
OF this kind should be well considered.
PRESIDENT BUTTERFIEID SPOKE.
President Kenyon Butterfleld was intro
duced to speak on proposed field work for
the league:
IF village improvements are worth
while, the arguments work out them
solves for league.
Il have two suggestions for village i'm
provement associations. There ought to be
more of them; they ought To do broader
" ork.
"If state association is formed, they
ought to have broader plan Of work out
lined.
Some general system should be adopt
ed, such as an active village improvement
association In every town In the state.
Some of the associat tons attend to TIE
physical features OF their village work
only, and others branch out in higher citl-
zenship and intellectual betterment."
He quoted from Secretary Hartman of
the Massachusetts, Civic league. who said:
Too much stress might be put upon the
mere physical betterment The higher
citizenship should not be neyi. ted, even
government clubs.
THE mere fact that this association is
formed would arouse interest and ,he
fact that the meeting is being written up
for the press will stir up interest also. for
we are imitators and we get many OF our
best ideas from suggestions.
Then in this state association we will
be able TO spread abroad advanced ideas
II would enable the association to give
local societies new notions. up-to-date for
village betterment.
81 don't now how far an association
such as this that Is planned might take
the initiative in moulding public opinion
and influencing the passage OF needed
legislation. Take. for instance. the Gypsy
moth and the Brown Tail moth case,
with which Massachusetts, has had such
n hard and bitter experience.
Now Kingston village has been dis
cussins the advisabilty OF getting a
village charter. III several villages want
charters there would be an influence
for IT,"
THE LIST OF DELEGATES.
The billboard" nuisance is a thing
which the Massachusetts Civic league Is
taking up. and Il might be fruitful
field for an association OF this sort.
There is also n movement on foot for
the making OF the conference on rural
progress n permanent institution In this
state. and the village Improvement so
cieties should have part In this con-
ference. The societies should have
part I'm this work and prominent part.
The delegates present Included the fol-
lowing:
James Moss. Lonsdale Botanical Audu-
bon Naturalist society
I Thornley,. South Woodlawn I'm
movement society OF Pawtucket.
Herbert ]. wells. Kingston Improve
ment association. Kingston.
&. Abbott Davis. secrtary Auhurndale
Iu,provetnent associat tion. Joseph u Fits.
Auburndale Improvement association.
w r. Longfenow. first vice president.
Pawtuxet Improvement association.
l.. n. Burlingame. secretary Miss HUI
dah n sheldon. Walter Crocker and
Fremont Rounds of the Fairlavn I'm
provcment society
n Gardner. secretary of the Kent
Improvement association
W A Moves ~ the East Greenwich Inn
provement association presided. y. ".
Brown and " I. Gardner. secretarys,
were present also