The Washington herald., 1908-07-28
A Clean and Orderly Capital.


The cleanesL best-behaved, and most
attractive city in the land. That is what
the city OF Washington ought 10 be.
That is what II is to-day in many re
spects.
Every right-minded citizen possessed Of
q proper amount Of prIde-both local and
zat!onaI--n The magnificent CauiraI in
which he IS privileged 10 live. must give
10 any we-l-directed movement for the
oette-meut o. conditions here his cordial
cooperation and approval Already Il IS
evident that the cleaning-up crusade bv
the health department was begun none
TOO soon Of course, the agents charged
with The enforcement Of the health laws
are not i-f1ll5Le- Mistakes, with result
ant injustice, are bound 70 occur. But
conditions have been disclosed here and
rLere shocking n the extreme and cali
Ing for drastic action II is 70 be hoped.
therefore. that this is not q mere svaz-
mode show OF duty-doing by the health
department. but that once the public
places are cleaned Up there VII be sun-
cie7t of--iaI zeal and vigilance 10 see
thac they are kept clean
We are IN fun sympathy. too. with The
Efforts OF the authorities 70 put the civ
upon its good behavior and keep IL s..
Notling sho-; os Uniform o-se-Isness IS
becoming in this Capital As we have
said, Il ought TO be the best-behaved. rs
vel as the clea2esr and most attractive
CITY in the and
Unnecessary noises should be SUPPRESS
ed 50 far IS possible TEe-e IS pract-
eel com1on-sense way OF going about
t1-z. and an impractical. ridiculous
way Mai Sylvester. we have 70 doubt
Il spite Of facetiOus comment. coaten-
plates the practical. common-senss way.
Nobody expects even the Capital Of the
n2--on 70 De as quiet as a graveyard At
any hour. Cats indulge in their nocturnal
serenaces, ROSTERS crow al dawn, street
cars 60 rUmbllng through the town AZ
regular intervals. beIated automobiles
break the midnight silence Of our best
thoroughfares. and market wagons dis
tUrb our sweetest morning sIurbers.
They VIII continue 10 90 so. regardless Of
preventive measures These things are
part ot life Petty annoyances VIII be
encountered until the millennium comes
But the roistere-s. the street-co-ner. loaf
ers. and the waaton 6isturbers Of the
peace who thrive after sundown and de-
light 10 make the night hideous-shess
UndesirabIes are the public nufsances
that can be, and ought 10 be, suppressed;
that need TO be rounded Up and suenced
sUmuariIy
II IS a good work the police department
has set out 10 do. Overzealousness IN
spots. as in all such movements. IS IN
evitable, but the watchfuI eve Of 50
level-headed an Official as MAJ Sylvester
may be depended upon 10 see thatkno in
justice IS done and that the communitv,s
real interests be inteIligeatIy conserved
Il is wel not 70 be TOO squeamish in cor
sider-ng reformatory efforts along the
line here indicated, and TO keep IN mind
an irresponsible element Of population
wiki which this fair Capital OF OUTS Is
afflicted.
Police espionage Of citizens, even in
Questionable territory, Is rarely to be
commended The pedestrian proceeding
quietly on his way at any hour should be
secure from nolestation. Nothing more
quickly brings a police system into dis
favor than the Introduction Of the spy
system No one, however. understands
this better than MAJ. Sylvester himself.
We can have e clean and orderly and
attractive city without paternalisu run
ming mad That Is the sort OF CITY
The authorities intend We shall have. or.
rather. continue 70 have. and we second
their efforts heartily.