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PIEST COUNTY PARK SYSTEM 



the confidence m'd generosity extended on all sides to the 

 first coinmission, of the sincere and loyal support of the 

 various elements in the county arid 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 snch 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 pu.blic 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 



