Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1913-05-22
CITY FEDERATION
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tnree OfnCerS constitute an executive
committee which should propose
plans and arrange programs for the
Federation meetings. 1t was propo-
sed that all officers should be elect
ed by informal ballot The recon-
mendations of the committee were
unanimously adopted, and over fifty
of the membership cards have now
been signed
DIR. T. c. Blaisdell, of Alma college
was asked to speak on "The Posi-
bilities of a City Federation" The
Dr. called attention to the number
present as being one per cent of the
city's population, or seven per cent of
the voters, yet force if banded to-
gether which would give mighty
uplift TO moral reform and social adj
vancement which would make a bet
ter Alma to rear boys and girls in.
The most important thing in any city
is a band of few men who will work
to do good, and not to do the city.
This band Of men can affect Alma's
history. A most desirable brother
hood which will strengthen the power
of the churches and enable them to
work together for the betterment of
the city There are some things to
be got rid of and some new things
needed and we must have the power
of unity to correct evils or establish
reforms. We men should make it
possible for our city officials to give
rs the very best municipal govern
ment am Bull Mooser' but |
regard the running of a progressive
ticket in Alma this spring as a grave
mistake 1t was unnecessary. Ma
tional issues are not local and should
not be considered in the decision of
local affairs. The time is coming,
when partisanship will be put aside
and municipal matters will be decid
ed upon the merit of local issues
alone.
Mr.. Ezra L. Smith opened the dis
cusson by endorsing DR.. Blaisdell's
position and asserting that to his
mind this was the best public meet
ing ever called in this city. Politics
and exclusive church circles natural
ly perpetuate evil in community
This organization is broad enough to
unite the best men, not for politics,
but for the good of the town. ! con-
cur with DR.. Blaisdell on municipal
affairs that party politics in local
government is wrong. The majority
ticket may or may not stand for mis-
rule In Detroit there are seven sa-
loon-keepers on the board Of Alder
men and and one of them is a Pole,
who is unable to write his own name
If there had been an organization like
this in every ward of that city such
a condition would have been imposs-
IDLE. Such men can be placed in
power only by the power of party
politics. | am aware that even the
school board of Detroit is a political
machine, distributing political favors
instead of intelligently directing the
education of the city's children. This
is a reform movement which Detroit
needs and we men Of the churches
of Alma can prevent any such condi-
tons here.
Prof. Cook spoke of the failure to
remove the rubbish piled along the
street on the clean up days as an
nOunced by explaining the misunder-
standing between the city council and
the Civic Improvement League which
would be taken care of at the next
meeting of the Council
Rev. Jackson was asked to discuss
'ha A 81
He said the rocks and shoals were
evident on every hand Men have
not yet gained self control. The open
forum is the ideal place for the man
who thinks and the man without
fear, just so long as he exercises self
control. But | have seen even Chris
tan men who did not always use self
control. Here we would be one body
one unit but all human and if one
man prominent among us should be
guilty of gross misconduct day after
day, his lack of self control would
lead to an uncontrolled denounce-
ment by others. Then all men may
not like the best things and what
some do not like may be best Of all.
Second-Men who are not intelli-
gent and usually those least capable
push themselves forward. This or
ganization must be guided by intelli-
gent men. In politics | have always
voted split ticket, but what we like
others may not like, and the millennium
is not here yet. The man with
vision will lead and this organization
must move forward as one man along
the line of social progress until the
whole city catches up. Many things
must be cast out, but like sorting fish
out of a net it requires intelligence
and experience to do the sorting. To-
day we have too many laws that are
made before public opinion is ripe.
Prof. West mentioned the work
done by the good citizenship league
of former years and the removal OF
unsightly buildings. The Wright