Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-07

iiOin Sdtc ana nation Dy
means OF nonpartisan charter provision
Inc present administration has been in
ofnce only since January IA and, therefore
makes no claim to having brought about
many or the improvements in our govern.
ment. The credit goes TO the individual
Detroiter. He has learned co-operation
and has changed his though, processes.
Again the French phrase, "C'est la guerre -
Is most expressive. The war changed our
municipal political tendencies
Detroit's civic officials are no better than
those OF many other cities, but the tech.
nical details Of how Detroit assured her.
self better city government may aid other
communities seeking an awakened civic
conscience. Fortunately. Detroit was
arousing itself in governmental way
when the war overlook US. We had laid
the keystones by few legislative revisions,
but perhaps they would have been lost sight
OF without the rejuvenation Of the social
conscience.
THE war period was like the early sea
son training days OF football outfit
We had teamwork forced upon us and
found its value. We have found out that
spiritually fit men are just as necessary
TO civic progress in times of peace as the
physically fit are to national in wartime
1t is my aim to have Detroit known as a
city with soul. 1t sounds idealistic, but
we have the chance of generations to
achieve our goal during this immediate
post-bellum period.
AS the recent issue Of the paper Of the
Detroit Bureau of Governmental Research
remarks, 'Detroit's rededicaton problem is
to build a city which will be as worth
while to live in as it was to fight for"
Some day somebody is going to give us
synonym for patriotism which may be ap.
piled to our love of city-where there is
any.
TT I were to be asked to explain how De.
l. troit has reorganized its government. in
ten words I would say. 1T has fired the
man with an AK to grind" OF course. the
ability to accomplish such a thing goes
right back to what we have been talking
about. You have to educate the citzens to
cease casting ballot for somebody be.
cause he thinks that fellow will do some.
thing for him when he gets into office.
hc iSoooIl "iliSli lile Idukul
Americans-the greatest advertisers in the
world-on the use Of propaganda ought to
remain with us for long time. I would
like to see every city and town in the
United States start to drive the man with
an ak to grind to the bushes. 1t can be
done, because that was the job Detroit ac-
complished. Only in this way can we
hope to have city officials without obliga.
tions-in the odious sense of the word.
The real American citizen does not want a
favor If he does not believe it is being
extended TO any one else.
MY BASIC suggestion, therefore, is to get
A!A this propaganda to your voting popu.
lation and 70 your nonvoting population
through every possible source Of publicity
Before the awakened consciousness of war
days is lost. The heatless. wheatless, meat.
less. gasless days of last year were the
greatest holidays America has ever
known. They celebrated the coming of
the DO yourself as you would have others
DO" era. We learned to think for the first
time of people whom we had never met
and to weigh their rights in our .considera-
tions just as we did those of folks in the
same block. -
1t is my earnest belief and conviction
that If this conscience can be aroused in
any municipality and the mans ballot pro.
tected from tampering fingers after it is
cast, that city is bound to have the type
of government its best citizens aspire to.
Detroit's experience proves that it can be
done. 81.
TAKE care Of the city's soul and con-
L science and everything else takes care
of itself, is my conviction.
OF course. Detroit has been aided not
only by the unity which the war engen.
dered, but also by state prohibition. How.
ever, the rest Of the nation is to have pro.
hibition and, as remarked before, American
cities have the opportunity Of generations
TO raise their political morale.
WE ARE all negligent who have to do
w with city government If we do not take
advantage of our opportunity. We are
losing one of the greatest benefits OF the
war"if we do not see that our city govern.
ments profit ;by the citizens present ten.
dency to think of others as he never did
before. The columns or discussion of the
league OF nations. based upon the theory
that the strong shall think of the weak,
may have their reflection in our municipal
relations II we only arouse ourselves
We have been living in an age where
mans will to do as, he pleased has been
uncircumscribed. 1t hearkens back TO the
,enceless days of pioneer times The
.,-ea,er mart of the better thinking world IS
agreed that the act OF one country affects
all others, and so Detroit has learned to
know that the act of one. individual affects
all others.
II this gospel can be impaired to city's
industrial leaders as well to its munici.
nal executives. Ambassador Bryce's former
arraignment OF our cities must be with
drawn. g.
IThe second article IN the series t0tH op.