The Washington times., 1914-10-29
City Club Organization Need
OF Capital, Say Cipic Workers
Focal Point for Progress and
Crucible for Recommended
tions for COMMUNICATE
Large Urged in Discussion.

Washington needs representa-
tipe citizen organization, accord
inp to many cipic workers.
Among them, Commissioner
Newman, E. P. Bicknell, Charles
F. Nesbit and William d. Mdcken-
zie favor the idea of a city club.
Such an organization could be
made of incalculable value to the
community, they declare, furnish
ing a focal point for cipic progress
CITY clubs have been found sue
cessful in Boston, Baltimore, Men
York and Chicago.
Bv KENDR1cK sc0FIELD.
A City Club-which shall be a
focal point for civic progress,
crucible in which recommenda-
d tions for city improvements may
be crystallized to afford the great
est good to the greatest NUMBER
and be shorn Of their strictly
neiehborhood applications; forum
for the discussion Of such Vital
topics which are now beyond the
pale" in most Of Washingtons
citizen organizations-is the need
NJ the National Capital.
Commissioner Oliver p. Newman
believes that, properly organized.
such a. club could be Of untold
good to the community.
E.. P. Bicknell. of the Red Cross.
Is an enthusiastic supporter OF
the idea, as are also Charles F.
Nesbit. Superintendent Of insur-
ance for the District, and William
d Mackenzie who Is an enthusi-
astic worker in civic matters.
City clubs are today prominent
centers Of civic activity In most
of the larger Eastern and Middle
Western cities. Boston claims one
of the oldest organizations In the
country, with a present member
ship Of 5000, housed in building
which cost nearly $1.500.oO0. Tho
CITY Club, Of Baltimore. one OF the
most recent Of such organizatioms,
mas B. HSuUCA ohAp VIZ
CITY Club Of New York also has
an exceptionally large member,
ship: that Of Chicago has reached
the $500 mark. and even the small
fnterurban town Of New Rochelie,
n z, has successfully established
such a civic center.
Some Reasons For Suggestion.
Many of those favor:ng the City
Club for Washington idea point TO
the fact that free discussion Of vital
subjects, such as suffrage, tho single
tax. the half-and-half plan. and
other matters Of purely city in
terest as differentiated from social
service. philanthropy and correction.
cannot be had before any Of the ex-
istinr organizations in Washington.
From time to time, In the past. dis
cussions Of some of these subjects
came up in the meetings OF the Mon
day Evening Club. but only week
| proposal to throw open the club to
| such discussions. on the ground that
| they were outside Of the purposes OF
| the club.
ington has moro citizens assocla-
| tions than perhaps any other city OF
| its size, and that these associations
are city clubs in embryo. that they
| take account Of purely neighborhood
| needs far more than they do the
| broad needs of the city as whole
Besides the citizens associations:
there are in Washington the Board
of Trade. the chamber Of Commerce.
the Retail Merchants Association.
tho Central Labor Union: the BulioI
inc Trades Council. and the social
service bodies. all Of whom, and In
most cases directly. exert marked
influence upon the development Of