Smyrna times., 1927-06-15
CIVIC CONFERENCE URGED BY
TAXPAYERS RESEARCH LEAGUE
STEPS TAKEN TO FORMULATE
MORE COMPREHENSIVE PLANS
League Met in Wilmington, Reorgan-
ized for Year-W. w. Hynson, Vice
President; Mrs.H.D. Boyer, Trustee

The Taxpayers Research League,
whose notable work in scanning the
appropriation and other bills passed
by the recent session Of the Delaware
Legislature, won approval throughout
the State, met in session last week,
reelected its officers and outlined
work for the future. At this meeting
the officers and trustees unanimously
adopted a resolution calling for a
civic conference of Representatives Of
all organizations in the State The
purpose of the conference according
to the resolution will be ''for the con
sideration of such conditions as call
for citizen action, for the formulation
of measures best adapted to the meet
ing Of such conditions, for the presen-
tation Of all the facts to the whole
body of citizens, for the crystalization
Of public opinion thereon, and for de-
vising and putting into effect plans
for the adoption of such measures for
the public good as have general citi-
zen approval" The meeting was held
at the Wilmington New Century Club.
Edward W. Cooch, Of Wilmington,was
reelected president for a second
term; Walter M. Hynson, Smyrna,
and Landreth T.. Layton, Georgetown,
were elected vice presidents, and Hal
deman Q. Stout, Wilmington, treas
urer Russell Ramsey, director of the
league, speaking of the proposed civic
conference. said: "The heart of the
plan of the Taxpayers Research
League is to srystalize public opinion
and to unity civic effort. The resolu-
ton adopted points out the past his
tory of the efforts Of the various or
ganizations to bring about commend
able changes in law or in administra-
ton. II is the old story of the bundle
of sticks, any one of which can easily
be broken by itself, but which tied to-
gether are of great strength. In the
last Legislature, for instance, there
were a number Of good measures
which went down to defeat because
they were not properly understood
and appreciated by civic-minded peo-
pie as a whole, and because conse-
quently they did not have proper citi-
zen backing-to say nothing of the
fact that the logical process was re-
versed and members of the Legisla-
ture We're selected with insufficient
knowledge on the part Of the voters
as to what they stood for. The fate
of the legislative program of the Del
aware Safety Council is a good ex-
ample If instead of this condition,
we could have a body of citizens rep
of all civic organizations
in the State to come together in
Civic Conference, well in advance of
the next Legislature, to formulate af
ter careful study comprehensive leg
islative program for the general good.
we would have much greater hope Of
definite accomplishment. Such pro-
gram, after general consideration and
might be made largely the
basis on which the members of the
next Legislature are selected. There
are, of course, numerous difficulties to
be solved before such a Civic Confer
ence can function successfully. 1t
would seem, however,that such Con-
ference is essential if the citizens Of
the State are to become their own
masters The Board of Trustees
elected, which includes the officers,
follows: Edward v Baker, Selbyville;
Frank @. Bancroft, Wyoming; Mrs.
H. D. Boyer, Smyrna; Mrs. Frederick
Bringhurst, Wilmington; Samuel n.
Culver, Delmar; Mrs. Frank Hall Da-
Wis, Dover; Willard f. Deputy, Laurel
NJ. Dickson, Woodside; Mrs.
Clarence Fraim, Wilmington; Henry
R. Isaacs, Wilmington; Joseph NJ.
Lank, Milton; T. Clarence Marshall,
Yorklyn; Mrs. John D. McCabe, Reho- |
both; j. NJ. Mendenhall, New Castle.