The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-11-12
Voluntary Civic Reform


The administration of municipal and public
affairs is professional work. For It's successful
and efficient MANAGEMENT at least five items Of
equipment are necessary. Of these the most I'M
portant is knowledge or skill. No civic reform
can be lasting economical unless based on
this foundation of expert knowledge. Next is
money Many associations and voluntary organ
izations rush into some movement without count
ing the cost and thus are compelled to suddenly
rush out of it at the very time their activities
begin to bear fruit. Time is equally essential.
An agitator can paint a vivid and compelling
picture of the magnificent results from some
reform movement and stir his hearers to action
but in many forgets to paint the equally
important picture of the cost in time to do thor
oughly any work of public extent. And finally
there is the need of responsibility. No organ
ization has the right to undertake any large
public work unless it is thoroughly responsible
for it's own acts. Communities up and down the
land are studded with monuments of costly and
extravagant enterprises founded by enthusiastic
people who pulled out from under them when
the burden began to grow too heavy. No group
of persons has right to leave white elephant
on the public's hands, however earnest, laudable
and sincere are their efforts.
This has been the bane of reform movements
by voluntary organizations of earnest citizens.
While enthusiasm waxed hot they were eager in
the work but when the thing began to drag and
perseverance and sacrifice were necessary up
went the sponge and another "busted' reform
added to the gaiety of nations and machine poll
ticians, and threw one more obstacle in the way
of progress.
Because of this the leading municipal author
tiles frown upon municipal activities conducted
by enthusiastic voluntary organizations. They
point out that by inviting failure through lack
of thorough preparation these efforts bring
about reaction and postpone the inevitable
day of efficient administration
But there is one field which peculiarly be-
longs to voluntary organizations, good citizen
ship movements and kindred enterprises, and
that is agitation. Public opinion is mighter
than laws and may be created by intelligent and
systematic publicity, agitation and education.
This rich field still lies almost virgin in Rich
mond. Those familiar with our situation know
how much lasting benefit such associations
might achieve by scientifically managed cam
paign of publicity.
There is, in instance, the question of public
health. At present writing our municipal SAM
tation is in the stone age. And all because of
public indifference and ignorance. What great
work it would be if some league would make it
its business to scatter folders, leaflets and
pamphlets broadcast in which were set forth
simply and clearly the elementary facts and
principles of public and domestic hygiene! Isn't
there some public spirited group here which can
take hold of this much needed work? 1t could
accomplish lasting good to the community and
increase its standard of living we'll as the
value of its industries and real estate
There is the question of street advertising
and bilboards. In progressive foreign towns,
especially in Germany this receives much at
tention; it would here if there were some one to
call the pubc's attention to the matter And
there is the problem of civic beauty. Very few
property owners and real estate men know the
latent possibilities in identifying the town. The
value difference between medium price resi-
dence district and high price district is very
often only in general appearances. Most i'm
portant of all there is the great question of social
hygiene. Seattle has at present an organiza-
ton doing yeoman service through carrying the
simple facts Of social purity to shop men and
laborers
There is almost limit to the possibilities
in the field of public education.