New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-20
Taking the Public with You

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| The now famous Save New York move
ment has become more than a striking
piece Of local improvement-or ever local
Improvement interesting and affecting the
whole country. It is being recognized as
model of community effort, Of the one
right way Of accomplishing any reform
that affects a whole community and is de-
pendent upon public support for its sue
cess.
| "a Boycott with Brass Band" is what
Mr.. James H. Collins calls that method in
"The Saturday Evening Post and the
| title lays a very fair stress on each of the
two striking features Of the movement
The first was the exceedingly dangerous
weapon which the committee was obliged
to use if it was to succeed. The second
was the utter openness, frankness and in
telligent publicity with which they welded
that weapon. Boycotts are not popular
either in the public mind or before the
courts. Yet a prospective boycott by the
great stores Of manufacturers who per-
sisted in remaining in the Fifth Avenue
section was the only conceivable means by
which the salvation Of that section could
be gained The weapon was, unfortu-
Inately, twO-faced. 1t was unquestionably
keen enough to accomplish the end; but it
might easily destroy those who used it.
I The least suspicion on the part Of the pub
lie, any real misunderstanding Of the mo-
tives of the committee, would have ended
the usefulness Of the committee then and
there Hence the brass band. As Mr.. Col
'lins states the case:
To put matters buntly the committee
I had all the weapons for a vigorous little
boycott BY using only its club and knife
/ it could have prevented more factory build
ing in the zone, and probably il would have
driven out all the manufacturers already
established there With q bit of secrecy
and some high-handedness evacuation
might have been secured quickly, effectively
= and intolerably. However the commit
tee took the curse OFF its boycott and here
is a suggestion for making a boycott pleas
ant and popular:
From the beginning everything was con
Quoted as openly as possible The Ftit1
Avenue merchants subscribed fund Of
twenty-five thousand dollars, which was
spent for big page advertisements in the
New York newspapers. telling everybody
all about everything. The danger TO the
city's finest district was shown and the
way to save it pointed out. The committee
told exactly what IT was doing. and why
and how, and this very openness took OIL
all the curse, purified all the motives, dis
armed resentment and criticism, and
aroused public spirit and support every
where.
Every public official, whether If vii
Ilage. or a city, or a railroad or the nation,
can learn a lesson from this example
Where the pubic's rights are affected il
is not enough to have high motives and
excellent aims. 1t is first of all necessary
to be frank and open The public must be
treated not as small child to be invited
in to say Thank you" at the end but as a
Ifull-grown partner, to be consulted from
start TO finish. Just how that consultation
shall take place is for experts TO decide in
each case. Where the public is so gigantic
as il was in the Save New York movement
the means used there, large scale adver-
ltising in the newspapers, offers the only
possible channel The main point is TO
realize the necessity of the public's atten-
ton and interest. When that realization
exists it is always possible so to present
the facts that the public will heed and help.