The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-05-14
FOR CIVIC RETIREMENT.
YESTERDAYS MASS MEETING AT
WOOLSEY HALL.

the Rev. A. j. Haynes-The Modern
Free Library by John @. Dana of
Newark.
The concluding meeting Of the series
for the season of the Associated Socie-
ties for Civic Betterment was held in
Woolsey Hall yesterday afternoon.
Considering the warm and pleasant ma
ture Of the weather, the crowd was
about as large as could be expected,
but fell very short in numbers of those
attending the previous meetings held
in the Same place. Professor Harry B.
Jepepn presided at the Newberry organ
WIN his customary fine ability, and Mr..
Zimmerman delighted the audience by
rendering a sacred solo.
Professor Charles w. Kent presided
and introduced the speakers, who were
Rev. A. J. Haynes and John G. Dana,
of Newark, N. ].
Professor Charles w. Kent, in open
ing the proceedings, spoke as follows:
If the biblical doctrine, Whom the
Lord loveth He chasteneth," be as true
of civic movements as of individuals,
the Associated Societies enjoy an I'M
usual degree of divine favor. Our mass
meetings have been compared to Sun
day baseball, the open saloon and the
White City. We have been accused of
entertaining socialistic ideas and have
been credited with having invited Mr..
Jack London to Woolsey hall several
weeks before our organization was
formed. The community has been
warned of political aims, the most sim
lister, lurink beneath our modest efforts
for corporation for civic betterment.
"a few who have not attended our
meetings may have been momentarily
terror-stricken by this cry Of "Wolf,"
but the community in general, as one
should expect Of such community,
has shown that it possesses that pre-
cious commodity known as common
sense, We would not ourselves have
chosen this somewhat unusual way of
kindling interest in civic betterment,
but, whatever the method, We are very
thankful that New Haven is now thor
oughly aroused.
We sincerely deprecate the hot dis
cussion that has ragged about the use of
'Woolsey hall by the Associated Socie-
ties next year. 1t is especially unfor-
tunate that the attitude of the univer-
sity and the words of the president
have been wrongly interpreted. The
members of our executive committee
have not yet had time to formulate in
detail the programmes for next year.
When, they do so, 1 have good grounds
for believing that their request for
Woolsey hall will meet with the fair
consideration heretofore accorded to
them in the arrangement of the series
of meetings which close to-day.
Frank discussion, however, in the end
always clarifies the atmosphere. I'M
less indications fail, we may look for
ward from this time on to a rapidly
growing interest in all our civic affairs,
and to a closer and more intelligent CO.
operation between town and gown,
The character and importance Of the
field that the Associated Societies
should occupy is also becoming very
clearly defined. Your committee has
been almost overwhelmed by the num-
Der Of subjects that have already been
suggested for consideration in future
meetings. We are also able to report
that several leading spakers on public
questions, and two or three of the MAX
ers of present-day American municipal
history, have already pledged their
time and services to us during this COM
ing year.
It is likewise interesting to note that
our experiment in civic education and
cooperation is being watched with
keenest interest and approval by the
leaders in municipal betterment
throughout the country. Already two
other eastern cities are hoping to adopt
our plan.
The primary aim of the Associated
Societies Is, as repeatedly announced,
to develop an intelligent public opinion
and to make that public opinion effect
i've. We anticipate that most of the
really valuable suggestions offered on
this platform will be put into force by
some one of the many societies here
represented. The central organization
will seek to cooperate by developing a
more general public interest and a
deeper appreciation of what they are
each doing.
If, however, certain other important
suggestions-the wisdom Of which is
self-evident-are to be successfully car
ried out, the united cooperation of all
our citizens and societies is obviously
required. Here the responsibility of
taking the initiative falls upon the GEN.
trail organization. To this class belong
several of the excellent suggestions
made to us six weeks ago by DR.. Max
well in his public address and in the
informal discussions which followed.
Before formulating these definite rec
concentrations we conferred with SUI
nerintendent Deeds and Mr.. Moran,
chairman of the New Haven board OF
education. AS was anticipated, we
found them heartily interested in the
proposed plans, which were discussed
IN detail with them. The school board
has since extended a formal invitation
to our citizens school committee to
meet with them in the near future.
Mr. Beede has further shown his COM
plete sympathy with the movement not
only by conserving to act on our school
committee, but by presenting, at the re-
quest Of the board of education, Sc