The Detroit times., 1912-07-29
BROAD MOVEMENT
: IS ON FOR UPL|FT
OF CIVIC AFFAIRS
Leading Church Members, Head
ed by Henry M. Leland, Have
Formed Organization
PEOPLES NEEDS SUPREME
Aim Is to Take Fearless Stand
for Honest Conduct of Mu-
nicipal Machinery

BY a singular coincidence leading
members OF Detroit churches have
been working out broad plan for
the improvement of civic affairs In
Detroit simultaneously with the in
yestigation OF Detroit alderman by
Burns detectives. The sweeping in
uuiry which resulted in the arrest or
ImembeTs OF the common council. or
course, was not known to these
church members when they launched
the plan late in the sIring. Gatner-
ing elements of dissatisfaction over
the caliber of men in olflce ana the
general results obtained led prom
nent citizens TO take the bit In their
4 own teeth and an organization was
formed which had for its aim the
elimination of these defects and
members OF religious organizations
were urged to take more definite
and fearless stand for civic better
ment.
A banquet In the Cadillac hotel
given by Henry M. Leland two
months ago was the initial step. Half
dozen ministers and presidents of
the mems associations OF at least 10
churches in Detroit attended. Among
the ministers present were the Rev.
DR.. S. s. Marquis, of st. Pauls Epis-
copal cathedral. the Rcv John Brit
tan Clark. OF Westminster Presby-
terian church; the Rev. Frederick T.
Ga;pin, of the First Baptist church.
aud the Rev. J. Perclval Huget, OF
the First Congregational church.
I al ln a1
Plan and aims of the movement. 1t
was set forth that members OF
churches should awaken to the re-
eponsibility that res.ed upon them;
that conditions In certain depart
,nents of the city government were
unsatisfactory: that the citizen
ought to give more Of his time to
civic affairs with a view 10 bringing
about an Improvement, and TO re-
strict the influence OF the saloon in
sofar as IL might figure in public af-
fairs to the detriment OF fearless
and honest government. The min
listers and heads OF the Mems asso-
siations agreed heartily with the
plan, speeches were made in which
various defects were cited, and a gen.
eral outline was presented to each
man at the banquet which was 10 be
weighed and discussed more thor
oughly at the next meeting.
The movement gained impetus
rapidly after the initial step and at
a second meeting, held In the Elliott
Woolfenden cafe. the general outline
was amplifed and the movement
took concrete form. II was pointed
out more emphatically that while
the business man and the leading
church members devote their time TO
other things the conduct nf the city's
affairs In general is left 10 certain
men who become frozen TO political
standards: they become part OF ma
chine and preferment usually goes
to the members of this organization
instead OF to more capable men be-
cause of the failure of The citizens
to assert their rights and effect an
improvement.
A third banquet at which bylaws
Were 10 be adopted, and the finish
ing touches put on the organization
plan, was called for the Elliott -Tay-
Woolfenden cafe week ago last
night. Speeches were made and.
with the movement formally launch
ed, IL was decided to put il In force
as soon as possible Ii was the senti-
ment OF those present that the day
has passed when the political boss
will be allowed to hold barriers
against reforms which will work for
the betterment OF the people, and
that offices ought to be held by men
who are not part of, but foes of
any political machinery that Is
detrimental to the interests of the
voters in general
While the movement was taking
definite form no suspicion was direct
ed at the city council, certain mem
bers OF which are now under arrest on
charges Of graft, but IL was set foI th
that the citizens should put forth
more efforts TO direct the affairs not
only of this branch OF the city gov
ernment, but others as well; that the
fght would be waged not only on
the influences of the saloon in pol
itics, but on other unsatisfactory fix
lures, with the principal aim of
striking at things behind which the
shidden hand OF dishonesty or incom-
potency might lurk.
Job Printing Done Right. Times
Printing Co., 3 John R.-st.