Evening star., 1923-04-18
Selling" Washington.

The American Civic Association is
going to "sell Washington to the
american people. This organization,
Composed of pubiic-spirited men and
women devoted to the idea of civic
development in the United States, real
izes that Washington is the model
municipality, the central point of
American thought. the truly national
city. 1t proposes to make the Ameri-
can people keenly interested in it to
the point of demanding its develop
ment and the maintenance of the high
cst possible standard OF civic efficiency
and attractiveness.
The project of selling the capital
TO the. country involves first survey
here of local conditions. then an ex-
1enslve and intensive campaign of
education throughout the country.
lnasmuch as Congress is the District $
legislature. passing all laws affecting
the capital, appropriating all moneys
for its maintenance and determining
the manner in which the money shall
he raised as we'll as expended, it is
necessary. in order TO give effect TO an
American demand for the bettcrment
and development of the capital. that
the folks back home" should be in
duced 70 bring pressure to bear upon
the national legislators to discharge
their full duty toward the capital.
The average American is today
proud of Washington. Many millions
of the citizens Of this country have
visited this city. on individual trips
and in attendance at conventions. For
instance, it is estimated that some
100000 will come next June to the
great meeting Of the Shriners. Many
of them will have never been here be-
fore. Every one who has ever been in
Washington recognizes it as a city Of
great beauty, and those with discrim-
ination see that much is yet needed to
he done to attain to the ideals of the
founders and Of the latter-day de-
velopers OF Washington.
What is chiefly needed is an appre-
citation back in the districts from
which como the members who consti-
tute Washington's legislature Of the
fact that both on the national and on
the local lines works of improvement
must be undertaken. that the govern
Inent's equipment must be improved
and enlarged, and that the municipal.
i;y which. so TO speak, presides over
ne capital establishment must be
made in every manner model in ad-
ministration and in it's own equipment.
1t should not be difficult to effect
this sale Of Washington to the
American people. They are reading
people. if not all of them are travelling
people. They know that here center
both national and world interests, that
hither come great numbers from every
quarter. not merely of this country,
but of other lands. They visualize
Washington AS place sacred TO
American ideals. The majority of our
people are highly intelligent, and
know that a. prosperous, progressive
business cannot be conducted properly
in a, shabby plant, and that the great
est successes in American industry
and commerce are attended by con-
siderations of artistic factors. All
through this country are commercial
establishments that are pleasing to
the eye. They are made SO deliberate.
1y for q. dual purpose, to get better
work out of the organization and to
attract public attention favorably.
A slovenly National Capital is a
poor advertisement for the United
States. The present proposition is to
sell that idea, o. rather the affirmative
Of that idea, to the people Of the
United States, and the American Civic
Association is to proceed with that
task, beginning with a meeting in this
city next Saturday, from which may
come great developments to hasten
works now in hand and contemplated,
and to establish permanently the high.
est possible municipal standard for
Washington.