encourage, yea, insist, that their husbands and brothers attend the caucus and the polls. In the language of a young lady in Florida, "if I can't have a vote I can have a voter." The ladies of Brooklyn, a few years ago, by their general interest did their full part with the men in arousing public interest and redeeming the city. In some cities they have visited the homes in the tenement house districts, to talk with the wives and daughters and to distribute literature. They went because there was a common danger, and they could join hands with their less favored sisters in an attempt to avert the peril. There is work enough everywhere and a place for each to fill if we only will. In one of the great battles of our civil war a general at the head of a fresh army corps came on to the field in the midst of the conflict. Saluting the officer in command, he said: "Where do you want my men, General ?" and the reply came, "Go in anywhere; there is good fighting all along the line." So in our nation to-day, in this great battle which is being fought out for better municipal government, the conflict is most desperate, and we can go in anywhere almost, for there is need of help at almost every point. It is time to call out the reserves and put the enemy to rout. This is the final work of the nineteenth century—a united effort to purify the governments of our cities.

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Fourth Annual Meeting of the National Municipal League

AND

Sixth National Conference for Good City Government,

HELD AT

Indianapolis, Ind., November 30, December 1-2, 1898.

Wednesday, November 30, 1898, 3 P. M.

The Fourth Annual Meeting of the National Municipal League and the Sixth National Conference for Good City Government were called to order in the Assembly Room of the Commercial Club of Indianapolis by First Vice President Charles Richardson, who introduced Hon. James A. Mount, Governor of Indiana, who extended a welcome to the Conference on behalf of the State.

GOVERNOR MOUNT: Gentlemen of the National Conference for Good City Government: I esteem it an honor, and I assure you that it affords me pleasure, to welcome you to the capital of our Commonwealth. Our people are in full accord with the motives that actuate your coming. Your purposes, gentlemen, are most commendable.

Good laws for the government of the whole people are demanded by the governed. Wise laws, honestly and faithfully

enforced, are demanded in the general government, in the States, cities, towns, counties and townships. Wise tax laws, impartially executed, laws that will require all kinds of property to bear its just proportion of the tax burden, is the foundation principle upon which to build. Then sound economic principles should be applied and the same business methods introduced that characterize successful management of business enterprises. Competent men, with business sense and administrative ability and unquestioned honesty, are needed to fill official places. It has been said that "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." In the future, gentlemen, more than in the past, eternal vigilance is to be the price paid for good laws and honest administration.

I commend your purposes, gentlemen. You are seeking, through the multitude of counsel, that wisdom and safety which will result in better city government. It is the exercise of that vigilance that gives abundant fruitage, secures the best city charter and the best city government. I welcome you to a State that is fully imbued with the spirit of progress and reform. Indiana has the best tax laws of any of the States. Those laws are being faithfully executed. In State affairs economy and honesty are being enforced. The benevolent work of the State is exalted above political reward, competency and fitness of character being the requisites. Our institutions are above reproach in their management. We are now paying our State debt at the rate of nearly one million a year.

This spirit of reform has seized our people, and they are now actively engaged in preparing laws for reform in county and township government. I can assure you, gentlemen, that Indiana is going to lead the States in wise laws and in the faithful administration of the same, from the highest down to the township trustee and road supervisor. You have come into the midst of a people who reciprocate your efforts and who will bid you God-speed. Again I welcome you to a Commonwealth the patriotism of whose people is attested by the greatest monument ever erected to commemorate the deeds of brave men, and into our beautiful capital city, that reflects the prosperity and progress of all our people.

THE CHAIRMAN: Hon. Thomas Taggart, Mayor of Indian

apolis, will extend a welcome to the delegates on behalf of the city of Indianapolis.

MAYOR TAGGART: Indianapolis can appreciate the efforts of the League towards good city government, having gone through the experience of striving for and obtaining a new charter, six or seven years ago. At that time we had no improved streets, very few sewers, and the city was, in fact, regarded as little better than an overgrown country village. Now the city has miles of good streets and sidewalks, a fine system of sewers and a largely increased population, due very largely to the new form of government. While the new charter has made these advanced conditions possible, the people have learned by experience that it is not perfect in all particulars, and are anxious to get ideas that will aid them to secure even a more perfect system.

On behalf of the city I extend to you a cordial welcome. THE CHAIRMAN: President D. M. Parry of the Commercial Club will now welcome the delegates on behalf of that organization.

MR. PARRY: We are happy to have you as our guests and we are ready to make your stay pleasant and enjoyable to the best of our ability. Our latch-string is out, and we hope you will frequently pull it.

RESPONSE OF VICE-PRESIDENT RICHARDSON.

The Program for this convention is so full and includes so much that has been prepared with great care and deliberation that it would be very unwise for me to occupy your time with anything more than a few words in regard to the present status of the movement in which we are enlisted, and in regard to the special subject which is to be submitted for your consideration at this Conference.

During the last few years both the friends and the opponents of good government have acquired a much clearer conception of the irreconcilable nature of the conflict in which they are engaged. They realize now that it is a fight to the death; that good government cannot exist under the spoils system, that the spoils system cannot exist under good government, and that the extermination of one or the other is the only possible result.

The perception of this fact has made the spoilsmen more active and united, more audacious and unscrupulous than ever before. And it must be admitted that in some directions the desperate efforts of

shrewd leaders, and the combinations of all the worst and most mercenary elements, have resulted in temporarily checking our advance or forcing back our lines. But the successes of venal politicians are sure to be followed by new exhibitions of corruption and unfitness which strengthen the popular desire for reform. As there is no stronger argument for a revolution than the tyranny of a merciless despot, so there are no more convincing proofs of the necessity for the destruc tion of the spoils system than the exactions and abuses of officials for whom it is responsible. The progress of reform sentiment may be helped more than it is hindered by the success of its opponents in their reckless pursuit of public plunder. We have as yet no means for ascertaining the exact proportion of our fellow-citizens who want better government, or for knowing how soon there may be a majority who will be willing, if necessary, to ignore party ties and other preferences in order to secure it. But we have ample reason to believe that throughout the United States there is a constant and rapid increase in the number of those who appreciate the vital importance of the cause we are endeavoring to promote. This will be more fully treated, however, in the report of your Secretary.

In this convention the National Municipal League is entering upon a new path. Heretofore we have confined curselves to a comparison of experiences and individual views. Now we are attempting to embody our deliberate and carefully considered conclusions in a form suitable for legislative enactment. In this effort we should have the earnest thought and co-operation of every member of this Conference. The task is by no means easy, but its importance far exceeds its difficulty. There is no human agency which can have such a powerful influence as good local government on the health and education, the mental and moral development, the comfort and prosperity of a modern community. The difference between good and bad city government is the difference between cleanliness and foulness, health and disease, intelligence and bad management, economy and waste, honesty and theft, education and ignorance, security and danger, an environment of purity and an atmosphere of corruption and moral degradation.

But it is not only the inhabitants of our cities who are vitally interested in the problems we are striving to solve. Local government is the training school for the American voter, and as he learns to vote there for the wrong or the right, for good or ill, so will he exercise his sovereign power as one of the rulers of our great Republic. We must remember, also, that at their present rate of increase the voters of our cities will soon control the national government and determine its character and influence at home and abroad.

It is therefore no exaggeration to say that if we can do our work here wisely and well, we may be able to confer a great and lasting benefit, not only upon ourselves and our fellow-citizens, but upon our whole country, upon other nations, and upon the generations yet to

come.