Evening star., 1921-10-27
A Developing Community.

.,. In his fine address at the laying of
- the corner stone Of the new City Club
building yesterday Vice President
Coolidge made a remark that should
:; he considered thoughtfully not only
v'hy the residents Of Washington, but
by all who have to do with its admin
is tration and with legislation affect
ing it. He said:
rt This building typifies the great change
That has come t" the city OF Washing
ton. Laid out with the thought that It
would be only the seat of the federal
hgovernment, the home OF the executive.
y The Congress and the Supreme Court,
which decides what Is Law, it has since
gathered around II a metropolitan and
cosmopolitan life composed OF those not
= in the service Of the government-men
of affairs, leaders in the Industrial and
~ business life Of the great city fast ap-
. preaching million population.
The evolution Of Washington as a
community has not been even In its
degrees. 1t has advanced by impulses,
'iehiefiy impaired by great events af-
81 fecttng the national life. The civil
=. war added very greatly to the city's
population. The Spanish-American
'S war made another contribution. The
y great war brought about the most
marked change in the size and char
acter Of the Capital city Of any in its
history.
OF course. Washington remains and
will always be primarily the seat of
government. removal Of which, often
threatened in the remote past. would
treduce the city to a meager size with
no particular reason for being. Outside
;oi those of the government there are
located because Of many great natural
sor economic advantages. In fact, Con-
iSress has by its legislation in the past
:, discouraged the development Of an in
-, dustrial city here. Lacking that foun-
dation, Washington could not ever
aspire to rank with the great business
centers Of the country. 1t must draw
its strength from other sources.
Business, as developed here, is
-.ehiefly that of municipal selfsupply.
This city is trading center for a
considerable area, but is mainly con-
cerned In its own sustenance. Conse-
uuently its business men are inter-
.,sted almost exclusively in the local
welfare, ard this makes for spirit Of
:, the best citizenship. The City Club
is one of the means Of the expression
rr that spirit. being wisely expanded
and planned in equipment to meet
g" this need. ..'..
Because this IS the capital it is the
meeting place and headquarters Of
:. many national organizations which
{ are found in Washington. Facilities
for the transaction Of their affairs are
impossible elsewhere. The represent
,rstites of these bodies add TO the per-
.planent population, and in turn add
to the business volume in a steadily
increasing proportion. This is the
most satisfactory and wholesome sort
Hf growth. The chief problem Of the
washingtonian is to assinilate these
scnewcomers into the civic body polite.
a task, however, which proves easier
- than in most cities despite the handi-
cap OF disfranchisement under which
:. the, community suffers unjustly.
=. Through its civic organizations, it's
clubs, its associations OF citizens Wash
49, ington is functionins as an American
x ,s,c progressive, enterprising,
- intelligent and alert in all matters af-
fectins its welfare.