The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-11-19

y friend Taft said. as they are re- :
y ported to have said. that the de- :
y feat of Tom johnson was neces-
| y sary for the success of the Re-
y publican party. Il was irnpudent I
y impertinence."-W Kent OF (
Chicago at Central Union church I
y last night. I
go \ \ y \ \ y \ = \
There was a large audience at Cen
trail Union church last evening to heal
William Kent. of Chicago. speak on {
subject on which he is justly entitled
to be considered an authority, the re-
form of great cities, and particularly
the story of the redemption OF Chi
cage. Mr.. Kent spoke at the invita-.
ton of the Civic Federation EXTENDED
by DR.. Scudder. the pastor Of Central
Union church: He was introduced by
President Griftiths of Oahu College
and held the attention of his audience
for an hour.
Modestly deprecating his lack OF
preparation for an address before such
an audience. he said that the invita-
SAVA CANCAOC0 " IN4Al llcQ lkletQc TIE
field broad enough for a good deal OF
straying and he should stray. He said
he knew nothing OF local conditions
and local problems and therefore he
did not want to be understood as APP
plying anything that he said to local
conditions or problems.
The civic reformer,'' he said. has
an abiding belief that the social rela-
tons of mankind are OF the very great
est Importance, and that good social
relations depend on good laws. They
are more than cranks in that they be-
lieve law can be made respectable and
law making reputable. Aside from this
they are no better than other men, and
they recognize that the curse of bad
politics can only be removed by be-
coming politicians themselves. and like
the politicians keeping everlastingly
at 1t, being square, keeping promises,
dealing with average human nature
on the basis OF common sense, assured
that such a course is right because in
average human nature there is a great
deal more good than bad. In standing
for what is right. square and decent.
you will get help from unexpected
quarters until you will come to look
on it as providential-
Don't be afraid to be called politi-
clans! It is the motive and purpose
that determines whether a politician
should be opposed or not. The qIes-
ton is not whether a man is a politi-
cal boss or not, but whether as boss
he is working for the good of the
community or for his own selfish in
terests.
I'VE Americans have been slow TO
put our moral emphasis on the COM
mon interests and the common proper
~ OF the community. There has been
tremendous wastage because we
forest entered as agricultural land,
and in coal lands fraudulently taken
up as homesteads, and in petroleum.
These ought to have belonged 10 all
Of US instead Of being appropriated by
some Of US. And the waste has been
to the damage of all OF us
Many of you have. 1 hope. read that
great book. The City the Hope of De-
It points out vividly how
wealth is produced by mere propin-
guilty. Congestion of population, ir it
self. economically considered, is a
labor-saving device. Think of the
convenience, means of educa-
ton and enjoyment Of life that are
in the country, but are ere
ated by the eity-one cent newspapers,
good theaters, good schools, art GAL
leries.
why should you or 1 be permitted
TO take up a piece of property in a
city and simply hold it until the. COM
munity increases its value many fold
and then compel someone who must
have il TO pay US that increased value?
The community creates the value; the
should have it. The growth
Of population gives value 10 charters
for public utilities greatly beyond any
investment of capital 1t enables own
ers TO water their stock many times
any actual investment they ever made,
and when. after twenty years or more
Of drawing dividends on values the
itself created. their fran
,hises run out, they insist on the COM
giving them twenty more years
1f the same kind OF thing, because,
they aTlege. their stock is held by wild |
1ws and orphans. and not TO give them
another chance 70 take what is the
,ommunity's, is confiscation-
Two years ago in Chicago there was
1eld a convention made up of men who
lad actually learned Of the corruption
II cities BY lighting it. From every /
arge city the story was the same The
titles had grown mp in heedlsssness-
rhe value Of their public utilities had
-rown with their growth, and was
uch that the man who could not water
he stock Of a corporation owning one
4 them is not much Of fnancier-
3ur in order 10 continue this inordi-
ate profit they must continue to own
nd control the wealth that the COM
nuniry creates. and TO DO this they had
o resort TO corruption and bribery
they poisoned the law al its source
IF the teachings Of the Master mean
lnything. they mean that We must get
long together IN peace, and that pre-
imposes justice. and justice Is pretty
yroad thing. II means that II we
would Be happy our fellow men must
= happy. and can be happy only under
ustfce- This idea Of commonwealth
as led to the highest self-sscrifice-
Zen have always been more ready 10
light and die for the interests Of the