The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-06-12

man ingenuity has been exercised
through years OF cumulated expert
ence in an endeayor TO place the af-
fairs OF municipalities under such re-
strictions as to best serve the inter
ests OF society and install ideals into
tangible form that will best subserve
the interest of communities.
1t has been long and tedious evo-
luton from the unrestricted and prim.
Tive conditions OF barbarism to the
organized and cooperative demands
OF social and Industrial society, to
the formation OF cities OF the modern
class where it is the purpose OF doing
the greatest amount of good to the
greatest number.
The predatory bands OF the early
days organized Tor self-protection and
purposes of conquest and plunde',
We're governed largely by dominating
chieftains who eXacted tribute from
his followers and obedience to his
commands.
The increase in population, the col
lecting together Unto limited boun'
daries of people whose vocation re-
moved them from the pursuits of the
forest and agriculture, necessitated
the formation of rules that would
operate as a restraint on those who
would profit by the weakness of his
neighbzor or secure unjust advantages
by the eXertion of strength and men
tai characteristics that enabled aim
to assert his desire for privileges to
which he was not entitled.
For the protection of mutual righ,s
laws We're formulated which ascribed
the limitations and privileges 20
which individuals must conform anu
thus society gradually became crystal
lied and the progress OF humanity
proceeded to fulfill the destiny fer
which mankind was created.
Governments were formed which
include large areas of territory ana
many classes of people. These gov
ernments were divided into domains
OF smaller dimensions and the do
mains into municipalities of smaller
dimensions, all of them bound to-
gether by socitl contract, all of them
tributary to the main head, all OF
them separate and distinct in their
powers of local government.
l. is with these municipalities that
We wish to deal, as it is with the,r
government that the problems have
arisen that affect the entire body
polite.
No nation was ever better than the
character of its individual members.
1t is from this source that it derives
its power, it is from this source that
the character Of the government is
made and it is from this source that
10 llllutllNt lOl 6OOu vi CIV IL bll lht
affairs of the world is derived.
II is, therefore, incumbent on So
ciety to place its smaller collections
of organized government in a state
of order so that the larger government
shall reflect the character of it's peo-
pie.
How to do this, how to best govern
our municipalities so as to make the
burdens OF government fall as liglt,,
as possible on the people and at the
same time provide such a government
as will equalize conditions develop
our tendencies to better living, elimin-
ale the evils that are frequently CO.
incident with delegated power pro
vide the necessary adjuncts to a well
regulated system of privileges and re
impress the obligations and
duties OF the individual to society ami
the mutual duties We owe each other; .
has been the aim OF the students .. .
20 lJicaI economy, and constitutes the .
science OF government. In the Unit
ed States there have been several
methods of obtaining these things in
the municipalities OF the land. The
old town meeting where the people
assembled and gave expression to the
views. established by viva voce vote
the regulations that We're to control
the citizens in their relations to each
ether, was one of the rst in vogue
which eventually gave way to the eau
Gus. the convention which selected
who were delegated
he power TO act for the entire peo
pie. Divisions of our larger munici.
palities into wards which sent their
to central body
which constituted the delegated au-
hority OF the city has for many years
md in almost every city in the coun.
ny been the system which has been
ne most popular and which has re