Evening star., 1934-03-04
CIVIC UNITS SEEN
OF INFINITE GOOD
Oliver Owen Kuhn Urges
Support in Membership
Drive Broadcast.
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compiishment by civic bodies In our
National Capital. I would Like to tell
you Of the thrilling battles that have
been fought against inecuity and in
behalf of great civic improvements
which have contributed so essentially
to the progress OF the city. It Is an
amazing history and too long to bear
repetition at this time, but it Is my
firm belief, that II every citizen Of this
metropolitan area should affiliate him.
self directly with the organization in
his own particular community, one
which is recognized as the mouthpiece
Of that community-the great Nation
al Capital would be infinitely greater.
Not only communities which 60 to
make up the whole, but the individual
as well, would feel a sense Of deepest
pride in the accomplishment. Ger
tainly those interests designed for ex-
ploitation, those which abandon or
ignore individual and community well
fare to further selfish ends, would
fold their tents and flee to the realms
In the District Of Columbia there is
every reason why its citizenship
should now stand as united phalanx
in furtherance of the best interests
Of the National Capital. In no other
section of the United States are cit
izenS deprived of universal heritage
the right to vote. 1t is not sufficient
that we have able District officials
it is not sufficient that most sympa-
thetic committees In Congress pass
upon our needs. It Is vitally impor-
tant that, deprived Of the one COM
mon American method of voicing the
will of the people namely, the vote
that citizens rally around the present
leadership, and vitalize, perpetuate,
and make valuable the one common
medium of individual expression, that
Of the civic body.
Support Is Urged.
unless you, as an individual lend
your support to these mediums, un-
less you are ready to take an ad-
vanced position in the front lines of
attack, or defense, as the case may be,
you surrender the right to criticize
those things which may befall.
There is no more graphic example
of things that may be accomplished
by co-ordinated activity Of citizens
than the good works of the civic
bodies operating in the territories ad-
Jacent to the District of Columbia.
They are the pioneers in the city's
expansion outward. They have been
beset with great problems-truly the
problems of the city builder. Public
officials who have had vision, who
have really desired to learn of public
opinion, that Improvements and other
advances might be kept in step with
the general needs, have welcomed the
advent of the citizens association.
In individual suburban communi-
ties all Of those material improve
ments which so enhance our city life
have been fostered and achieved. Fire
departments have been organized and
are functOning with amazing success.
Streets have been improved, libraries
established, and schools that were but
typical OF the little old red buildings
OF yore, have been organized into
great educational systems which have
done their work SO well they have
aroused the interest of educators
throughout the United States. In
fact, all public improvements paving
the way for the extension Of the
greater National Capital have been
conceived and carried out, in q large
measure. through the inspiration Of
civic associations and helpful CO.
operation OF wise public officials.
Nuisances Opposed.
In many communities incessant
battles have been waged against those
things which might become public
nuisances. That the responsibility Of
the nearby States to the cause of a
logical development of the National
Capital may be carried out, park and
planning commissions have been Gre
ated and orderliness established where
chaotic development and eye-sores
might well have appeared.
That the individual community as
sociation may have a larger voice.
great civic federations representing
| scores Of communities are now func-
tioning. That the activities of these
declarations may have greater weight.
that they may be in position to CO.
ordinate their activities to the best
possible interest of all, there exists
today an Interfederation Conference
which guides and counsels in the
larger metropolitan projects.
Tens Of thousands of people have
enlsted IN the cause of a greater
Capital. but think Of the added
weight they undoubtedly will have
when other tens Of thousands jotn
with them In the common cause.
1t Is your duty and it is mine to
dedicate ourselves to q broader con-
ception Of our civic responsibilities.
1t is your duty and mine to join
hands with that ever alert body of
men and women who today are unself-
ishly giving without stint, to the
cause of greater Capital and to the
building up Of an unselfish and ALL
embracing civic consciousness and
better citizenship.