172 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE AMERICAN CIVIC ASSOCIATION 
Milwaukee, October 24, 25 and 26 
The American Civic 
Association, at its an- 
N nual convention in Mil- 
s waukee, October 24, 
A 25 and 26, presented a 
T record of civic achieve- 
u ment that gives it defi- 
s nite place as the na- 
D . 
A tional leader in the 
F ever-broadening, rap- 
^ idly growing sentiment 
for a cleaner and more 
beautiful America. Its 
remarkable campaign 
for the Preservation of 
Niagara Falls, told by 
President McFarland 
on another page, would alone earn it high place in the 
gratitude of the nation. The success of this movement 
demonstrates two facts : The association’s growth in 
power and capacity for national work ; and the strength 
of the people’s interest in preserving a great natural 
treasure. It was unmistakable evidence that the people 
are awake and responsive to the spirit of civic improve- 
ment, and need only to be called to the work of mak- 
ing the city beautiful and keeping the country natural. 
When such a flood of public sentiment is aroused as 
to induce our slowly-moving Congress to sit up and 
take notice of what many are still pleased to call an 
“esthetic” question in the midst of a session that passed 
more important legislation than any in history, it is 
unmistakably plain that America is alive to the value 
of civic beauty. 
Nor is this the only evidence of the widespread civic 
awakening. From every corner of the country came 
stories of magnificent city plans for future growth ; of 
broad and comprehensive plans for park systems ; of 
,‘imerican Civic ^^ssocialion 
^4nnual t^Cceling 
Oiu^rf 24. ’ 5 . 26. 
Mil 1 AT/rt It ViCO.VS/.V 
cleaning-up days for cities, towns and villages ; of 
abatement of nuisances ; of home and school graden- 
ing, and numberless other evidences that the biggest 
and richest of the nations materially is going to dress 
up and look the part. 
A few physical facts about the association’s growth 
indicate but faintly the far-reaching influence of its 
work. It means much that the contributions to the 
work for the past twelve months were $3,104 greater 
than for the previous fifteen; that 210,000 pieces of lit- 
erature were distributed ; that the membership grew 
during the year from 1,552 to 2,215. It means far 
more that these modest contributions saved a great 
natural wonder for all the people ; that one small piece 
of printed paper has often sown the seed that led to 
the awakening and beautifying of an entire commu- 
nity ; that one of these memberships may represent an 
as.sociation of hundreds of individual members, each 
working for the uplifting of a city. 
The convention itself showed marked progress over 
previous meetings both in point of attendance, which 
numbered about 100, in interest shown, and in the 
worth of material presented. A new feature that gives 
promise of being of much value was the innovation of 
having one meeting for consideration of national topics 
of vital interest to the public, to which residents of the 
city particularly are invited. This meeting was held 
in Conservatory Hall, and President McFarland’s story 
of the Niagara campaign was enthusiastically received 
by Milwaukee people. 
The local hosts were unsparing in their efforts to 
entertain, and no detail was overlooked to give pleas- 
ure and profit to the visitors. Sessions were held in 
the red room of the Hotel Pfister and the club room 
was the association headquarters, with some members 
of the enthusiastic local committee always in attend- 
ance. It was a particularly appropriate time and 
