The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-05-21
PLAN A CENTRAL
CIVIC BODY


fContiuusd from rasr une)
medical inapertinn, infant mortality, H.
dusifisi heiiermsht. public baths. pc
vent inn ~ tuberculosis. forestry play
grounds milk inspection. civic service
housing reform, supervision 81 chart.
allie organizations all these como
within the province uf Che chamber
lts memhorship includes elergymen.
educators, physicians. rrllicistt. social
workers. business men. aud, IN fact
earnest workers from Oh Wake w life
So mark cd has been The loyalty and
support of u.s. citizens Co the undertak
ing and so gratifying the business-like
solution Of its public problems by this
body. that other cities-l3oston. De-
tinit. San Francisco. Pittsburgh, and
ookane, and many others-haye
adopted similar plan for the cen
tralization Of their civic effort. These
cities now have each Chamber Of
Commerce which is acknowledged by
the entire community M the head cen
ter of civic activity, having as the I'M
DERIVING motive the communal welfare
rather than that Of any particular in
terest or a group of interests.
Cleveland's Aim.
"what prompted Cleveland to depart
from the traditional conservatism
which has so long been associated with
commercial bodies in general was the
belief that a Chamber of Commerce, to
be effective. should be as well cham
Der of citizenship; that it should be
the strongest organization in the com
munity not alone in the city's wealth
| but also in its intelligence, and that IL
\ should take the lead in all civic under
takings. Experience has long since
demonstrated the fact that such pub
| lie body is not enough to be clearing
! house for industrial statistics or to be
promotion agency: its energies should
| be foscused on everything that relates
to make the community good-richer
in its resources. more widely known for
its advantages and distinguished for
the care of its people. 1t will be seen,
| therefore, that the most important ele-
ment in successful civic endeavor is the
development of a spirit of cooperation
| With us, we have failed to take the
position that all our civic needs are
but component parts of the same gen
eral problem of civic betterment
What might have been considered good
organization twenty years ago would
not be able to stand criticism in the
light of modern methods. Too otter
the making of parks, the planting Of
trees, the identifying of Residential
property, the preservation and enhanc
ing of natural scenic beauty is regarded
as purely aesthetic. Those holdinl
such views are woefully in error. lie
us use familiar illustration.
He Illustrates.
"When an individual invites CUES
to his house, he sees to it, or his gOO,
wife does so for him, that his home i
Immediately clean and that every pro
vision is made for his guest IS conven
fence, and pleasure: but in the face o
what he would do as an individual, tn
member of a civic organization inVite'
not as guests for a few days, but d
permanent residents, men, women an
children to city too often lacking i
practically all the essentials that cor
tribute to good living. When car
italist goes to new community he
thinking about some other things tina
plenty of territory for development
cheap water rates and fuel supplies
AS in our case, if he becomes mud b,
spattered or dust Uttered upon his al