The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1916-02-04

Or economy and efficiency in NUM-
cipal government, or the improve
ment of streets, or the laying OF
sewers, or the promotion of garden
ing, or any of the other move
ments that make for health and
and progress and attrac-
tiveness in cities. He sees that he
should take an interest and an &C
tive part in those movements, for
the city that leads in civic pro-
gress, that has happy, contented
people living under good social and
civic conditions, is a prosperous
city as well.
In each city in which this new
movement has taken hold, it has
expanded so that to the first group
of citizens have been attracted
others. Men who themselves APP
preciated their duty to give time
and thought and effort to the
solution of community problems
and the furtherance of public well
fare have impressed that duty upon
their fellow citizens. Personal
considerations are laid aside. The
merchants who are most bitter in
competition in private business
work together, shoulder to shoulder
tor the common good, and with
them are associated the bankers
and the lawyers and the doctors
and the school men and the preach
ers and the community idealists
and the city money grubbers and
all who have the least interest in
the Improvement of their town.
These men, actuated by spirit
that says, This is my home and l
will make it as beautiful and pros
porous as 1 may be able" work
tremendously together to beautify
and build up that home which is
their city. They do not ask each
other why don't you fellows do
something to improve conditions?"
They say, What can we do that
will benefit us all?
1t is not to be expected that all
members of the community will
enlist in the organization in any
city. Some men there are who
will never learn the great lesson
that no man is sufficient unto him
self, that no business or class of
business is sufficient unto itself,
that no city is sufficient unto
itself. Every city mas these lag
CARDS who are parasites on the
COMMUNICATING freely the
benefits conferred upon them by
the workers, but contributing moth
ing toward them except probably
These men should not
discourage the workers; they are
not to be considered as of any
importance. AS the community
organization is made up of men so
situated that they can give some
time and a little money to public
work, the field of membership is
somewhat limited in any city, but
the field of influence is not limited.
Every such organization that is
really abreast of the times attempts
to consummate no movement with
out calling to its aid all the other
forces that may be able to assist.
Woman's clubs-potent factors in
any city; men who by reason of
character of employment or lack of
means may not be able to join
actively in the organization, and
even the school children can be
called to the assistance of almost
any movement having for its
object city betterment. The COM
mercial organization-the COM
munity organization as l like to
call it's in any city the center
of community thought and effort,
and around that center are drawn
all the other agencies that can
contribute to civic progress. It
seeks to arouse, to correlate and to
express public opinion-the great
est force in. our country. The
expression of public opinion must
be directed to be effective. Public
officers are seldom initiators.
They are swayed by public opinion
and properly so. If no individ-
ual had an opinion on public
affairs, there would be no public
opinion. Obviously the more
people can be induced to form an
opinion and take stand on public
matters, the more forceful any
collected opinion is. And unless
the opinions of citizens of a COM
munity are collected and expressed
in concentrated form. they are as
shot scattered in the air.
How do these organizations of
good citizens work? Sanely, svs-
tematically, efficiently. TIL y
study their towns. Wherein are
we deficient? Wherein do we
differ from other cities? What
have we to offer those whom we
would attract from outside? What
are the most pressing needs of our
city? What is the best method of
supplying them? They take stock
of their city, and when the prob
lens are disclosed, the lines of
endeavor marked out, plans are
laid in conformity with the results
of their study-the most pressing
problems being marked for first
attack.
The plans may contemplate