684 SOCIAL SCIENCE 



class, a rising standard of living for the mass, a stronger defense 

 against the aggression of one class upon another, and a firmer basis 

 and more authoritative power to make and maintain peaceful and 

 permanent settlements of industrial differences. More slowly and 

 yet surely there are developing legal forms and sanctions, which not 

 only make for justice and peace between the parties of the first and 

 second parts, but for the recognition of the rights and the final au- 

 thority of that third and greatest party to every industrial interest 

 and difference - - the public. 



Urban conditions most persistently deteriorated under the most 

 persistent neglect through the whole period of the abnormal growth 

 and complexity of city populations attending the establishment of 

 the factory system. But they have fairly begun to show the hope- 

 ful and widespread indications of reorganization, of a constructive 

 policy, and of a more democratic intelligence, interest, and control. 

 Most conspicuous of the movements for civic betterment and funda- 

 mental to the success of all others is the rescue of municipal adminis- 

 tration from partisan political control. The seizure of the balance of 

 power between parties by voters who thus declare their independ- 

 ence of the national issues in municipal action, has proved to be the 

 only hope of emancipating urban life from the exploitation for party 

 spoils. 



In Great Britain it has broken new lines of cleavage upon which 

 the citizens divide on local issues according to their predilections 

 and ideals. The marvelous rise of civic enterprise and administra- 

 tion out of the degraded corruption in which English cities were 

 sunk prior to the middle of the last century is largely due to ex- 

 changing the names and issues of " Tories " and " Liberals " for 

 those of " Moderates " and " Progressives " in policies and politics. 

 In this country the redemption of our second largest city from the 

 most avowedly debased control of thoroughly commercialized par- 

 tisan politics is the most marked achievement in the American 

 municipal reform movement that is destined to set the type of 

 method by which only other cities are likely to attain their freedom 

 and progress. Chicago's Municipal Voters' League has proved to 

 be the simplest and most effective organization of independent 

 citizens for the information, cooperation, and perpetuation of an 

 electorate loyal to civic patriotism as w r ell as for the restraint and 

 purification of the management of political parties in cities. 



More efficient departmental administration quickly follows every 

 real gain in political regeneration. Such improvement in housing 

 conditions as promises well-nigh to abolish the slums in Glasgow, 

 Liverpool, and London; hygienic development of bathing-beaches, 

 bath-houses, and gymnasiums by the city of Boston; the inspection, 

 licensing, and regulation of manufacturing in New York City 



