Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1914-01-14
THE CIVIC LEAGUE
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
Shows Good Spirit Of Women
Citizens.
WORKING FOR CITY RETIREMENT.
Not Much Accomplished But a Few
Things That Will Tell.


a idress which was ordered engrosseC
nous vote, was requested to be pub
lished in the Evenino Capital anc
Maryland Gazette. The preside nj
spoke as follows
As the second year Of our League !
existence comes to a close, we must
all feel a certain sense of disappoint.
ment-a keen feeling that we have
not accomplished what, perhaps, with
greater effort, we could have accomp-
lished. There is nothing gained by
not looking squsrely at facts, and the
| fact stares us in the face that in re
gard to positive results we have
done but little. True, we have
the pleasure of knowing that
through our efforts the City Council
have made the park at Market Square
an attractive spot; also that we have
obtained the consent of that honor.
able body TO place there a public
drilkihy fountain of the latest saDi-
tary invention. and that the work for
this end is now being carried on by
our Sanitation and Health Commit
tee.
We have failed in soms things.
but we feel that through these fail
ures we have gained experience.
We have also re-organized into bet
ter working machine, if may 90 ex-
press it, and this one thing,
though producing no immediate re
suits, ought to give us great en-
courage ment. We had gotten to
that point when. with the first
things accomplished, 0uder the in
spiraton Of first enthusiasm, were
splendidly accomplished through the
leadership of our former able presi-
dent. Nevertheless, after all the
action, reaction set in and as is
generally the case, we were attack
ed by that insidious disease adj
ing to Reorganization inertia.
Therefore we may we'll feel en-
couraged that W. have re-organized
into better working methods and may
now look to the near future for out
ward results. But I want to impress
upon all, that nothing can be accom-
plished without personal sacrifice,
and if, as an organization for the bet
terment of oar city, we do not begin
the new year with the determination
as members Of this League, that we
will each make some sacrifice for the
public good, the Leagus. as whole,
can accomplish but little There is
no more discouraging work than that
upon which we have embarked that
Of civic betterment, for the simple
reason that our poor human nature,
is very selfish. and what does not touch
just our own little plot Cf ground, so
to speak, we do not bother ourselves
much about. Still, in spite Of all
this, our watchword is to Ego for
ward.
The mor1 we meet together on the
common ground of womAnhood and
citizenship and discuss these condi-
tons that really do effect each one of
as, whether we realize il or not, the
more interesting il becomes and the
more we see how much there is that
might be accomplished for the com
mon welfare. 1t is certaiIly inspir-
ing, also. to feel that by organizs-
ton, by uniting in effort for the com
mon welfare of each and every one, we
draw closer to one another, bound by
a common tie; also that through our
organization we are able to help
those who, without us. would not be
as we u off, for everything we do eff
fects and helps the very poorest and
weakest among Us.
Lastly, ] want TO urge upon all the
| principle, as take it, upon which we
should work as a civic organization.
Ii is not for us, generally spe aking,
to undertake civic improvements
such things should he done by the city
authorities. But it is for as to
create public opinion in regard to all
the vital needs of the community, and
thus assist and urge the city auhori-
ties TO action. What we want, as
citizens, and if we are willing TO put
our shoulders to the wheel, be it in
the way of taxation or effort, the
city authorities, in my opinion,
should and will be glad to give US.
And why should they not? If we,
as citizens, decide that we want
our houses plscarded when there il
a contagious disease, why should
the City Council not give as the
ordinance. u we, as citizens, flee
that our market is insanitary and g
menace to the public health, why
should not the city authorities want
to do their utmost to rectify tbs
wrong condition of things7
Our City Council is our friend
ready to do all in its power to sccomp
lish all reforms that we earnestly de
sire, but, let US be sure of the earn
estness of purpose on our part, anC
let US begin the new year with en-
enlargement in spite Of the realizati
that the past year has not brought
about greater results. Since we fe
assured that we are now stronger ii
organization, and since we know thEt
in organization there is power, rhere
fore let US hope that our Civi,
League viii have a long life of use
fitness. In closing let me also sal
that ! think we have ste adily beer
growing in influence and that is
distinct gain.