The independent-reporter., 1910-03-17
LOCAL PATRIOTISM
MUCH NEEDED
Prof. Sprague Sets High
Ideal for Skowhegan
Urged His Hearers to be Active in
Town Improvement.

Prof. Robert J. Sprague's address
auspices of the Skowhegan Grange,
Wednesday evening, March 8, was
the best we have ever heard on this
subject in Skowhegan.
Prof. Sprague was introduced by
Roy Marston. In making an intro
duction of the speakers subject, Mr.
Marston said amongst other things
that tlle kind of government in
given locality depends somewhat
upon the kind of people who enjoy
the government; that in some places
the people do not seem to know what
sort of people they are, but that in
crirnuIraoop whora Lns~ tmai'ra
women's clubs. we know all about
the people. Then he ducked bit as
if he expected a brick.
The opening remarks of the ad-
dress were generalties about the
comparative power of government
and the church in working peace in
Il community vi Il huiloh' ~
speaker said that if there were not
good government the church would
be so hampered as to fail in its best
purposes; that the first requisite for
a strong church is a strong govern
ment.
Touching on democracy he init
mo that Government RACKS
much in the way of making equal
rights for all its citizens. He said
that the coal we use is bloodstained;
that on it are the marks of poverty
stricken miners families, and the
grief of those that mourn the loss of
husbands and fathers killed in the
bowels of the earth. We do not pay
for our coal; no amount of gold
could pay for it. Our government
should zee to it that the bereaved
and HELPLESS should be well cared
for both given life's necessities and
education for the children.
Coming directly to the subject of
municipal government Prof. Sprague
aunounced that as many as wished
had better get into easy positions for
a nap as he himself was going on
trip to Europe to look into city gov
ernments. France was his first stop.
He told how in that country there are
S6 large divisions of territory over
which a pTefect presides, that these
large divisions are subdivided and are
directed by a sub7prefect, that in turn
these second divisions are divided,
etc, until nganlioipal government Is
reached. In the municipalities no
executive Is eleeted by the people;
the people elect roOuncilmen and the
councilmen chus0,ae the mayor All
power lies with the cOuncilmen, bu'
all authority is generally centerod in
Paris. leading out Through the sew
era1 grades of Office.
In Germany the system is much
the same. The Germans being great
scientists are naturally specialists
and look for specialists to attend to
the government. In choosing a bur
gomaster corresponding TO the Am
ercan mayor, they do not look for
prominent men of wealth or social
position, nor for men who have sue
ceeded in medicine or law. but for
men who know government. have
studied government, and plaI TO
make government a life work. He
cited case or example in which a
young man studied government as a
college student in Berlin, then made
postgraduate study of paving
blocks and wrote his doctors thesis
on paving Later he was called by
the council of a small city to be
their burgomaster. and when he had
succeeded there for a few years he
attracted the attention of the coun-
ciI of larger city and he was asked
by their council to resign his posi-
ton and come to serve them as
burgomaster. A few years later he
was heard of by the council of Leip-
sic which was looking for a burgo-
master and was called there. There
he was practically elected for life, as
the terms are twelve years and bur-
gomasters when efficient usually
serve at least three terms and are
then retired on nearly full pay.
In England as well as in all other
European cities no executive is elect
ed by the people. The English may
or Is little more than a figurehead.
Continued on Page Nine.)