80 FIRST COUNTY PARK SYSTEM 
the confidence and generosity extended on all sides to the 
first commission, of the sincere and loyal support of the 
various elements in the county and State, of the direct 
pledge we had made in the reciprocation of that confidence, 
and of the possible—or what seemed to me almost certain— 
dangers involved from such a radical change of policy, the 
more I shrank from it. Not content in relying upon my 
own judgment, I sought the counsel and advice of those out- 
side of the scene of action, away from any of the persons or 
influences directly involved, and in whose character 
and judgment I believed I could place implicit confi- 
dence in such matters. Among my acquaintances there was 
one for whose judgment I entertained the highest regard— 
Mr. D. Willis James. I had known of his philanthropic 
deeds, his kindly nature, his public spirit and withal excep- 
tional judgment on large financial operations, and on 
matters pertaining to the carrying out of large undertak- 
ings. I met Mr. James at his summer place at Madison. 
Without mentioning the names of the commission or giving 
any intimation as to which side of the question any of 
them stood on, or the slightest inkling of my own views 
on the subject, I presented the matter to him precisely as 
it was then before the park board; stated the claims at issue, 
which had been put forward by each of the commissioners ; 
explained to him the amount of the appropriation and that 
it was intended and was appropriated for a park system for 
the whole county; and set forth the plan that had up to that 
time been followed by those having the enterprise in charge. 
His reply was earnest, emphatic and directly to the point. 
It made a lasting impression upon my mind. 
A PIECEMEAL POLICY. 
“Do not make the mistake,” he said, “of attempting to 
carry out any piecemeal policy in such an undertaking as 
that. It will cost you more than twice what you anticipate 
before you get through, and if you start that way you will 
never be through. 
“In my judgment,” he added, “there is but one way to 
