The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-10-16

as the headquarters or citixenship II
the ballot box 10 not there
There were famous men and WON
en- present AZ the Sank City pageant;
they saw re-enacted before their eyes
by the citizens OF the village the en-
tire history OF the place since the day
when Il was the site OF q camp OF Sac
Indians
Miss IONA Gale, the Wisconsin suf-
fragist, chairman OF the Civics for the
General Federation OF Women's clubs
and author OF "Friendship Village"
and many other stories and poems,
said:
This unquestionably means a new
form OF political organization. II
means the abolition or party plat
forms: the establishment OF the old
New England town meeting principle
without town meeting limitations.
The town meeting was yearly; this
citizens assembly il weekly. The
town meeting considered only local
affairs; the citizens assembly con-
siders all relationships. local, state.
national, human."
Judge r. @. Siebecker. justice OF
the Wisconsin supreme court. said:
Placing the ballot box In the
school house, which Is the common
civic center OF the community, Will
give added dignity and power to the
act OF voting. II will do much to
purge elections OF the intrigues and
baneful influences OF the partisan
spirit"
Said c. p. Cary, wisconsin state
superintendent OF public instruction:
"The people OF Sank City, In max
Ing the school their polling place.
have perfected President Wilson's
great and nobly-stated program OF
democracy: citizens going to school
to one another In the common school
house to understand and answer pub
lie questions, as hitherto only the
representatives OF the people have
gone to school TO one another In the
buildings provided for them.
Finally. consulted Prof. Edward
j. Ward, Of the University OF Wis
consin extension division. Ward Ii
intimately known from San Francisco
to New York, not only by leaders In
progressive movements, social CELL
tiers which he has organized. II 10
well to remember the name OF Ed
ward J. Ward. He is one Of the men
In this nation who are doing things.
'You have witnessed today" said
Ward, "the filling OF the greatest Of
fee In America! Sank City Is the
first community to recognize that the
schoolmaster Is the American prime
minister-he Is prime minister to the
sovereign citizenship.
In q personal talk with me when
she was In Madison two years ago.
Baroness Bertha Won Suttner, the
first recipient OF the Nobel peace
prize. spoke enthusiastically OF the
social center as the people Of Sank
City have now developed 1t. and made
this extraordinary statement:
More powerfully than any peace
propaganda In the world, this move
ment will tend TO make war impos-
sible, for IL removes the very germs
OF antagonism
and develops among the people the
habit OF common counsel and rational
settlement OF differences.
ION the practical side" Ward re-
sumed, think what this scheme
rental OF polling places. A great
part Of the million dollars which Is
spent annually for elections In Chi
cago would be saved. Moreover. be
cause Of the dignity and familiar and
pleasant associations Of the school
house. II would bring out a great In
crease OF the vote-in fact. II has
done so, where tried. A. In Los An.
geles.
Us II practical? Can II be done!
Why, II is being done" Il.